This month we’re feeling really inspired by all the instructors around the world who truly go the extra mile to make sure participants enjoy their LES MILLS™ classes.
We asked instructors to tell us how they go about creating great experiences for their members and their ideas impressed us so much we couldn’t keep them to ourselves, so here’s a sample of their responses.
Tanya Heller, RPM™ instructor at The Clubs at River City, Peoria, Illinois, offers her Monday night RPM™ class an extra incentive for joining her workout – it comes with a healthy dinner too. Tanya, a former Family Nutrition Coordinator, prepares a convenient, inexpensive, healthy meal for her class to sample after they ride for what she calls “Club Fed”.
“I love breaking bread with other RPMers,” says Tanya. “We not only eat but we feed off each other’s ideas for other healthy meals and snacks. Reservations fill up fast.”
Heather Stauffer, BODYPUMP™ and RPM™ instructor with Lifestyle Family Fitness in Charlotte, North Carolina, treated everyone in her class to a “Smoochathon” on Valentine’s Day and handed out lip balm to each participant as a reward for keeping all that Valentine’s chocolate from becoming extra love on their hips, thighs and booty.
Michael Daniels, State Trooper with the Michigan State Police, and his girlfriend Toni Lentini-VanderPloeg from Swat Fitness Club in Kalamazoo, Michigan, are helping people fall in love with more than just fitness – they team teach a "couples" class and encourage members to bring in their significant other. Afterwards, members are encouraged to join them at the energy bar for "happy hour" or a continued date night with discounts on protein shakes.
We’ve heard some great stories about what class members have done to thank instructors too. DeDe Cox, Group Fitness Manager at West Forsyth Family YMCA, Clemmons, North Carolina, says members actually took the time to hand write thank-you notes to the team of BODYPUMP™ instructors, when they celebrated the anniversary of the program arriving at their club. After teaching to a packed class of 60 at the birthday class, members and staff then surprised DeDe in the studio with a large cake, balloons and banner all singing Happy Birthday to BODYPUMP™!
And finally, we all know about BFF’s (Best Friends Forever) but Emily Oswald, Les Mills Instructor at Gold’s Gym, James Island, South Carolina, has EFF’s otherwise known as “Emily's Fitness Freaks”. What started out as a few class members who kept in touch by email has turned into a dedicated group of participants. “They are the enthusiastic group who will do the crazy finales and go wild over the fitness magic moments in new releases,” says Emily. “They meet each other at the gym and hold each other accountable if they don't show up - quite simply they are an amazing group of people who inspire me to be the best fitness instructor, role model and coach I can be!”