sh1ft fitness

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably tried a number of different products and supplements over the years to help you deliver the best possible class. Pre-workouts, a certain amount of protein within a particular window after exercise - or just a hit of caffeine before class. 

My guest this week is Babak Brazell, the founder of Level Out, a nootropics company with a particular focus on the fitness industry. If you’re wondering what nootropics are - then keep listening. It’s essentially a cover-all term for supplements designed to improve brain function… and as you’ll hear they are becoming more and more popular with everyone from high performance athletes to silicon valley CEOs.

If you’re interested in optimal physical and mental performance, then this episode is for you. 

**If you’re interested in giving some Level Out products a try, Babak was kind enough to give out listeners a discount code for 10% off. Use promo code SH1FT at checkout!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Connect with Babak Brazell
• Level Out’s Instagram and Website
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Today on the podcast, I'm sharing a snackable, shorter episode dealing with one specific question that keeps coming up again and again and that is this: “How can I get participants to improve what they're doing? How can I give feedback in a way which actually lands with those people in my class that need it, and encourages them to improve on the things that they're doing to allow them to get better results?”

The good news? There is a really, really simple answer to this. I'm teaching you the #1 tried and true way of delivering feedback and creating positive change during class for your participants. It’s known as a CRC and stands for “Connect”, “Recommend” and “Commend”. Listen to the full episode for my tips for incorporating this feedback strategy into your classes today!

If you already know what a CRC is, this will be a little bit of a refresher for you and if you haven't come across the term before, have a listen and then put it into play in your next class.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• EP39: Creating Meaningful In-Class Connections
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Imagine you’re one of the leading Group Fitness instructors on the planet, you’re sitting at the doctor’s office and they tell you that you will never teach GX again. 

That’s exactly what happened to today’s guest, Lisa Osborne. If you’re a Les Mills Instructor, you’ll likely be very familiar with Lisa. For those of you that don’t know Lisa, do a quick google of “Lisa Osborne Les Mills” and you’ll find a fair few articles on her. She’s been the programme director for Body Attack for a number of years, the creative director for Body Step, and she’s an all-around Group Fitness Legend. Lisa is also a great friend and mentor who has had such a massive impact on my teaching and way I approach fitness, which you’ll hear in the podcast.

So why was Lisa told she would never teach again? It was due to a pretty serious situation with her hip, which required a full hip replacement. But...spoiler alert, she did teach again and she came back stronger than ever. 

If you’ve been teaching Group Fitness for a while, it’s likely you have suffered an injury of some sort. It’s almost a right of passage - and as you age, the years of wear and tear on the body can take their toll. Although you can’t always prevent injury and aging, there is a huge amount you can do to ensure it doesn’t end your Group Fitness career.

Lisa has a really powerful story and today she’s going to share her secrets as to how she’s still one of the most influential people in Group Fitness decades on from when she started.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Find Lisa on Instagram and Facebook
• The Bevan James Eyles Show, Episode 184 - Lisa Osborne
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

On this week’s solo episode, I'm talking about a topic that I get asked frequently by instructors. It's something that the Group Fitness industry, and also the wider community, now understand to be an important role of a Group Fitness Instructor, and that's creating community and building connection with clients and in classes. Group Fitness Instructors now assume the role of helping people, in what is becoming more and more a disconnected world, to find community, connection, and fulfillment, all while learning to embrace exercise. 

So today, I'm is going to do a deep dive into how to create meaningful connections. I will be discussing why making connections is so important, what you need to do and be aware of before you can really create those meaningful bonds, and some specific tactics that you can use to become a better at it. Best of all, I'm sharing how these principles apply to both live and digital classes. 

So no matter what you're teaching, whatever type of instructor you are, there's something that you'll be able to take away from today's session. Enjoy the episode!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Bevan James Eyles Episode, The Secret to Longevity as a GX Instructor
• 5 Teaching Tips from an Indoor Cycling Master with Cameron Chinatti
• Making a World-Class Instructor with Jack Base
• Live and Digital Connections Worksheet
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

What makes a world class fitness instructor? That's the million dollar question. Becoming a world class instructor doesn't just happen by luck and there isn't one key trait that makes an instructor world class, as every single instructor has a different style. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to Group Fitness instructing, there are absolutely common things that every group fitness instructor can do to be better in their own unique way.

Today on the podcast, I'm chatting with Jack Thomas. Jack owns Base in Thailand, a group of boutique fitness clubs that are leading the way in fitness in Asia. Jack also does a lot of work in the Asia fitness industry to promote group fitness classes in general. Jack has a massive passion for recruiting and training new instructors to deliver world class fitness experiences.

Today, he's here to share what he looks for when he's recruiting and the key things he focuses on when developing instructor talent to take them from beginner to good to great. Enjoy the episode!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• What’s Your Group Fitness Superpower?
• Base Bangkok
• Jack’s Instagram and LinkedIn
• Jack’s podcast, Fitness Business Asia
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

As anyone that has been involved in fitness for a long time will know, September is a key month for the fitness industry, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. Instructors are coming back from their summer holidays, and it's a little bit like January in that they're refreshing their approach to fitness. September also presents an opportunity, particularly this year when the rest of the year has been so difficult with COVID, to focus on getting people back into fitness and creating habits they will actually stick to.

In today's podcast, we're going to split it into three short sections. In the first section, I'm going to give a little bit of real talk on a topic that I'm hearing a lot about as we come back into live classes, which is Instructor pay. Then I'm going to ask fitness authority, Emma Barry, what she thinks Instructors should be thinking about as we go into September. Finally, we're going to finish up with some data based on what we saw during the pandemic and now coming out of the pandemic. I'll share what I think Instructors can do to really make the most of the data, the learnings, and the changes that have happened. 

I know you'll get a lot of value from this episode!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 3 Key Predictions for Group Fitness in 2021
• The Future of Fitness with Emma Barry
• 5 Pro Tips for Creating Better Virtual Classes with Richard Playfair
• Understand Your Value: 5 Things Every Instructor Should Know with Barbara Brodowsky
• 5 Ways to Supercharge the Growth of your Community with Corinne

I'm so excited to welcome Kirsten Potenz to today’s podcast. Kirsten is someone that I really admire in the Fitness industry. She is the creator and founder of the Group Fitness format, Pound. Now, if you haven't heard of Pound, be sure to check them out in the show notes. Pound is unlike anything else in the industry, and you need to see it to fully appreciate it. 

As you're going to hear on the show, I'm a massive fan of what Kirsten and Pound have accomplished, their authenticity, their style, their brand -- it really, really resonates. And what also resonates with me is that they have an approach to Fitness that's all about fun and escapism. It's not about losing weight. It's not about before-and-afters. It's not about getting abs. If you've been listening to this show for a while, you know that that's exactly my philosophy as well. 

Now, this type of approach and workout definitely isn't for everyone, but Kirsten has carved out a niche and is very particular on what the brand stands for. This shines through in everything that Pound does, from their branding to their instructor mentality to the trainings they offer in the community they’ve created. There are some great lessons here for every Group Fitness instructor around understanding your purpose and knowing the environment that you're looking to create. I just know you'll take a lot away from this chat, and I really hope you enjoy it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Kirsten’s Instagram and Facebook
• Pound’s Website and Instagram
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Today on the podcast, Will is talking to Jeffrey Scott. Jeffrey is Vice President of Fitness, Nutrition, & Results at Beachbody, which for those of you who follow the news will know, has just gone public in very spectacular fashion.

As you'll hear, Jeffrey has worked with everyone: Reebok, Les Mills, 24-Hour Fitness, Equinox, and now Beachbody. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge on what it means to be a Fitness presenter, a Fitness educator, and someone whose job it is to select and inspire instructors.

Whether you teach for a big gym or for your local community, it's important to stay informed on the  industry as a whole — and this is an area where Jeffrey is an expert. Not only does Jeffrey have a really interesting career story, but we also talk a lot about what makes an instructor special and the future of fitness. 

You're going to also hear some sneak peeks on what Beachbody has in the store with their brand new program, BODi, coming out very soon. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jeffrey’s Instagram and LinkedIn
• Beachbody’s BODi trailer (Beachbody On-Demand Interactive)
• Info about BODi
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

We have heard a lot about China in the last 18 months...but not a lot about what's happening there in the fitness industry. Today on the show, I'm talking to Matt Thraxton. Matt has been at the top of the Les Mills world for a long time and in the view of many, is one of the best Body Pump presenters there is. He has spent time working in the USA, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and most recently, he took on the role of Training Manager for Les Mills in China. 

Matt has firsthand knowledge of how China has been, not only dealing with the pandemic, but also how fitness has continued to grow and thrive during that time. You're going to hear Matt talk about his experience being an expat in China and watching what happened to the fitness industry in his home nation of the UK and around the world, as opposed to what he himself experienced while he was in China. Spoiler: You're going to be a little bit gutted about how quickly they got back to teaching. 

You're also going to hear Matt talk about how his priorities, when it comes to fitness, have changed, how the role of a group fitness instructor has changed during that time, and what he now looks for when he's recruiting his exceptional talent in China. 

I really enjoyed this conversation with Matt and hope you do, too!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Matt’s Instagram and Facebook
• Supermonkey
• Keep App
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Have you ever felt like you don’t fit into a certain fitness ‘image’? Or have you struggled to find a place in fitness that really makes you feel great about yourself? 

Today on the show, I'm talking to good friend, Laura Hoggins. If you’re in the UK, you may know “Laura Biceps” already. She’s built a name for herself in the fitness industry by being authentically her. Laura has inspired a new generation of women to be proud of their strength - both inner and physical. But if you’re not a woman, don’t think this episode isn’t relevant to you. Everyone can learn a lot from Laura’s story! 

Laura has built an incredible online community of empowered followers, is the director of a top London boutique studio network and has an incredible knack for building communities that make people feel included and celebrated for their individuality. 

In a world that seems to praise you for ‘losing weight’ or ‘toning up’, that promotes 8-week shreds and beachbody challenges, Laura’s approach to health, fitness and body image is a breath of fresh air.

This episode is full of great perspectives on body image, building a community, fitness business, and much more!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Laura Hoggins website, Instagram, and Facebook
• The Foundry website, Instagram, and Facebook
• Laura’s Book, “Lift Yourself”
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

As live Group Fitness comes back and we all start to breathe a sigh of relief, many of us might be very keen to ditch the online workouts we’ve been forced into over the past year. But if today’s guest is proof of anything, it’s that there’s so much value in having an online presence and it’s important to think long and hard about your long term strategy and goals when it comes to teaching Group Fitness. 

Today’s podcast guest is Corinne Blight. Corinne is the founder of Limitless Fitness & Nutrition. She’s been working in the fitness industry for nearly a decade as a Group Fitness Instructor, PT & Nutrition Coach, and since the start of the pandemic, she quickly pivoted and established an award- winning women's online group fitness community. 

Corinne has won many awards and been featured in a lot of different media publications. But how has she gone from not having an online presence a year ago, to being a super successful business owner with a very bright future and a sideline in the corporate space? 

Corinne has been wonderful to take us through how she did it, step by step, and I think you’re really going to enjoy this chat!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Download Corinne’s Top 5 Tips for Building Online Community Here
• Limitless Fitness & Nutrition
• Corinne’s Instagram and Facebook
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Welcome back to the new season of Group Fitness Real Talk! This season is going to be filled with a lot of hope and excitement for the future. There is still a long way to go in our collective journey to recovering from the pandemic, but I’m feeling really optimistic about the future and I hope you are too. 

In the first episode, we are getting the perspective of an area of the Industry that we haven’t covered on the podcast before and that’s regulatory bodies and national governing bodies for Group Fitness. Today I’m interviewing Sue Wilkie from EMD, the governing body for group exercise across the UK. Sue played a crucial role for Instructors during the pandemic, acting as their voice to government and she and the team at EMD worked incredibly hard, not only to support instructors, but also to ensure the Group Fitness industry was heard.

Now I know many of you are not UK based, but no matter where in the world you are listening from, it’s likely you had a governing body that was doing very similar to what the EMD UK team have undertaken in the last year so it’s well worth a listen to this chat to gain a perspective on this side of the Industry. 

Now onto my chat with Sue...

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The National Governing Body of Group Exercise, EMD
• EMD UK Youtube Channel
• EMD UK on Instagram and Facebook
• Sue Wilkie’s Instagram
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Today on the podcast we are tackling the million dollar question of how to re-discover your passion and happiness in life and to help me answer this, I’m excited to welcome back Sacha Coburn to the show. Sacha first appeared in episode 7 of the podcast but she is such a wealth of knowledge I just had to get her back on.

In this episode, Sacha is going to help you to understand the four key areas of your life that contribute to achieving ‘flow’. Many of us neglect one or more of these areas, and by doing that we are depriving ourselves of achieving that brilliant purpose - and believe me you don’t want to miss out on this as nothing feels better! 

But if this all sounds a little ‘too-hard basket’, don’t worry as she’s also going to give you some brilliant but simple tactics to help you get there. 

I strongly believe that right now is the perfect time to focus on YOU, so I urge you to keep an open mind during this episode and take the time to really reflect on where you are right now and what changes you could make to reignite that passion!

Also - make sure you listen right to the end of the podcast as I’ve got a really exciting opportunity that I can’t wait to share with you - trust me, you don’t want to miss this!  

Now onto my chat with Sacha... 

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The Not So Breakfast Show
• Sacha’s previous podcast appearance: Mindset 101: The Key To A Happier Life
• Sacha Coburn’s website, Instagram and Facebook
• Advanced Instructing in The Phygital Age Course
• What’s Your Group Fitness Superpower Quiz
• Advanced Instructing in the Phygital Age Course
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

In a world with almost unlimited options for fitness, the one thing that you have to differentiate yourself is that you're unique. 

We have been conditioned to work on our weaknesses, but by doing this we neglect the strengths that makes us special.

We at SH1FT believe that every instructor has a superpower and by embracing it, you can become a better teacher. In this podcast, Will talks about instructor superpowers, and he’s going to take it really high level with the intention of starting a conversation and a process for self-reflection that we think will really help you to develop and hone your skills in a way that will make you better at not only leaning into your unique strengths, but also to start understanding what your weaknesses might be.

PLUS - to make this topic even easier to digest, we’ve created a quiz! In a few simple questions, we’ll help you identify your superpower and give you some actionable strategies to SUPERcharge your teaching performance.

You can take the quiz right here:

www.gxsuperpower.com

Enjoy this solo episode with Will!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• What’s Your Group Fitness Superpower Quiz
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

While we may not be zooming around in flying cars just yet, perhaps we can all agree that the future is here and technology is changing our lives at a faster rate than ever before. Whether you love or hate technology, there is no doubt that it has and will continue to have a big impact on the Group Fitness industry, so you don’t have to love it, but you do NEED to be across it.  

In this podcast, you’re about to hear some big, bold predictions about what is coming just around the corner in the fitness industry. We’re talking wearables, augmented reality, heads up displays and real time class performance data fed directly into your 5g enabled contact lens. Full sci-fi fiction territory. Today’s guest is Ian Mullane, an AI expert and the CEO of Keepme. He has pulled together a really interesting white paper entitled ‘The Fitness Future: Rules of Engagement’, which looks at how tech can improve gyms’ businesses not just in the future but now using AI, AR, 5G, and personalisation.  As a former club operator, Ian brings an interesting perspective to the discussion of what comes next in fitness.

If this talk of AI and the future has got you a bit concerned - relax. You don’t need to be a tech expert to succeed in the future of fitness. Ian provides some simple, actionable tips that every fitness instructor can follow (regardless of tech abilities) to get ahead of the inevitable changes that are coming to not just our industry, but everyday life.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ian’s LinkedIn and  Instagram 
• Keepme.ai
• The Fitness Future: Rules of Engagement
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

This week on the podcast, Will talks about a principle that is close to his heart and forms a big part of his approach to fitness. That principle is novelty. Novelty, by definition, is the quality of being new, original or unusual and is incredibly important if you want to train for longevity in fitness. But it’s also a concept that is often lacking in Group Fitness classes. 

Now, in the Instagram age, the term ‘novelty’ can sometimes foster negative connotations - think fit-fluencers who do kettlebell swings on a swiss ball in a headstand. But that’s definitely NOT what this episode is about! 

In this episode, Will explains why novelty is so important for exercise, staying fit for life, and overall happiness. He also shares how Group Fitness Instructors can incorporate more novelty into their classes, whether you freestyle, or pre-program.

Enjoy this solo episode with Will!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• FREE DOWNLOAD: 3 Key Predictions for Group Fitness in 2021
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Unless you've been living under a rock, you have probably noticed the huge transformation of the indoor cycling sector over the last decade. Just a few years ago, peloton didn't exist. Soulcycle was a crazy fad, and performance metrics were reserved for competitive cyclists. Flash forward to today and indoor cycling is everywhere. And there was a style for everyone. From dancing on a bike to hot out metrics and leaderboards. indoor cycling has evolved hugely. 

Today on the show, I'm interviewing the amazing Cameron Chinatti, who spent most of the last decade as Director of Education for stages cycling. Cameron started out her career in the performing arts, but soon found the love for fitness. And from there, she became a leading instructor, educator and thought leader in the teaching, and particularly the indoor cycling space. Cameron has trained 1000s of instructors and today she is sharing five incredible tips that will help you improve your teaching skills immediately. 

But trust me, these tips aren't just relevant if you're a cycling instructor. There's something that's here for every group fitness instructor to take on board. So whether you're a cycling instructor fanatic, or you have no interest in ever teaching on a bike, this episode is well worth a listen, as it's peppered with nuggets of pure gold, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Cameron’s Instagram and Facebook
• Surve Productions
• Stages Cycling
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Diversity and inclusion. Two incredibly important concepts, but also two words that can cause a lot of emotion, confusion, apprehension and fear of judgement. 

As a leader and voice in the Group Fitness space, I feel it’s my responsibility to champion diversity and inclusion across the Instructor community, and for you as Instructors, I strongly believe you have an important role to play in championing diversity and inclusion across your classes. 

But that doesn’t mean I or you will always get it right. But rather than not trying at all through fear of missing the mark, how can we approach this subject in a way that acknowledges and respects everyone's differences whilst also being authentic to you and your beliefs? In today’s podcast, I’m tackling this topic with Rodney Morris. Rodney is the founder of myfitpod and  the workplace culture workout, and has been leading voice  in the talent, culture and diversity space for a number of years.

Rodney breaks down this sensitive subject in a really great way, and I personally found it incredibly helpful. Diversity comes in so many forms in Group Fitness - race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, body image. I want you to keep an open mind whilst listening to this episode and think about how you approach diversity and inclusion within your community - no judgement, fear or worry, just observation because it’s with a learning mindset, that we really can grow as a community together...

Over the past 12 months, Instructors have been forced to completely rethink the way we teach. We’ve been forced to wear more ‘hats’ than we ever have before. Not only are we the Instructor, but we also have to be the tech set-up, the marketeer, hone our digital delivery all whilst also acting as a rock to our class goers to help them through this tough time. 

It’s a lot! And when you’re doing it on your own and feeling WAY out of your comfort zone, it’s easy to fall into some traps or make some mistakes along the way. 

Today on the show, I have host of the Fitpros Connect Group, Kelly Coulter. And Kelly is here to talk about the three biggest business building mistakes that Instructors make when they start out teaching online. Now you’ve probably made a load of mistakes - maybe your video cut out half way through a class one day, maybe you sent the wrong link to your class goers. We’ve all been there and these and these mistakes are all part of the cause - they won’t make or break your business. 

But there are some BIG mistakes, that we see many Instructors falling foul to, that if not dealt with, could mean an end to your teaching career. Kelly explains these mistakes, but also gives tips on what you should be doing instead. And what we love about the focus of these tips are - it’s all about keeping it simple and doing the things that are going to have the biggest impact on your revenue.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Fitpros Connect FB Group
• Fitpros Connect Website
• Fitpros Connect Bootcamp
• Pretty Woman
• The Full Monty
• The Karate Kid
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

This week on the podcast, I'm going to address an issue that I'm hearing more and more from instructors in the Northern Hemisphere. And that is that while they've persevered for a long time during the pandemic, maintaining a positive attitude, being open to virtual, creating community, doing everything they can to bring their classes joy and exercise during lockdowns, numbers in virtual classes are falling. It's harder to get people in. And it's more of a struggle than ever for instructors to keep on trucking. 

If you are starting to really struggle, I want you to understand that what you are feeling is valid, the fatigue is real. You and your classes have pandemic burnout. And it's a completely normal thing to feel at this stage of the crisis. In this solo episode, I'm going to bring awareness around the signs and symptoms of pandemic burnout and share 6 strategies to start to ease your anxiety and bring your classes back to life again. 

Links mentioned in this episode:

• I Am Well and Good article about ‘Hitting the Pandemic Wall’
• James Purtill article about ‘the dreaded 3rd quarter’
• Episode 4 Turning a Pandemic into an Opportunity | A How-To Guide
• Episode 7 Mindset 101: The Key To A Happier Life
• Episode 9The Secret to Longevity as a Group Fitness Instructor w/ Les Mills legend Bevan James Eyles 
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website