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Agree with OP.  As a male instructor for 3 years, I've noticed some releases worse than others in this regard. Our gym struggles to get men to take Bodystep.  How are you going to get men through the door when they see us doing:
Thriller (fun, but not too manly)
Strut
Cha Cha
Candy Man (heel kicks)
Boogie Shoes (heel flick at the end)
Any track 8 with a Chasse/Mambo


 

stevieleej:

Agree with OP.  As a male instructor for 3 years, I've noticed some releases worse than others in this regard. Our gym struggles to get men to take Bodystep.  How are you going to get men through the door when they see us doing:
Thriller (fun, but not too manly)
Strut
Cha Cha
Candy Man (heel kicks)
Boogie Shoes (heel flick at the end)
Any track 8 with a Chasse/Mambo


 

Surely you fella's can't be thinking certain moves and tracks are for girls only??? ie. mambo & 'kicks' - surely there would be no men in body attack either if this were the case...

My opinion is that there aren't as many men in the aerobics room (period), we can only work on 'keeping' the men in there that we first have come into the room... The ones that 'try' it, generally 'buy' it in my experience. 

I think the subject heading should be 'aerobics for men' rather than pin pointing bodystep - we can have 'frilly' fun in most classes if that is what our personality puts forward... Its been said a few times through this thread, if you don't like the frill, dont' do it....  as for tracks and moves being 'fun but not too manly'..... drop the fancy hands in strut (or the hand on the hip etc - common sense really) that's about all the frill there is... Candy man!! come on, we're just running on and off the step - is that not manly???  and Thriller??? just drop the theatrics.. it just comes back to this time and time again - - The most common reason I here from men not coming into the aerobic room is they are worried about there lack of co ordination, ..  I think the aerobic/group fitness room is considered a 'girl zone' in many male minds.. but is slowly changing. BODYSTEP is a great program, maybe some of you guys are actually looking for a new program, something else that is more aggresive, almost a mix of combat and step maybe? or something else, but at the end of the day, on this thread.. if we can pick on the theatrics or 'frill' and knock the moves (kicks, mambo etc), what's stopping us from picking on the step? Step aerobics has been big with the girls for years...

Thank god more men are trying it out - but maybe a new program suggestion is more what is being looked for here...in addition to our existing programs...?

 

have a great day all - and happy stepping! 

<<Surely you fella's can't be thinking certain moves and tracks are for girls only??? ie. mambo & 'kicks' - surely there would be no men in body attack either if this were the case...

My opinion is that there aren't as many men in the aerobics room (period), we can only work on 'keeping' the men in there that we first have come into the room... The ones that 'try' it, generally 'buy' it in my experience. 

I think the subject heading should be 'aerobics for men' rather than pin pointing bodystep - we can have 'frilly' fun in most classes if that is what our personality puts forward... Its been said a few times through this thread, if you don't like the frill, dont' do it....  as for tracks and moves being 'fun but not too manly'..... drop the fancy hands in strut (or the hand on the hip etc - common sense really) that's about all the frill there is... Candy man!! come on, we're just running on and off the step - is that not manly???  and Thriller??? just drop the theatrics.. it just comes back to this time and time again - - The most common reason I here from men not coming into the aerobic room is they are worried about there lack of co ordination, ..  I think the aerobic/group fitness room is considered a 'girl zone' in many male minds.. but is slowly changing. BODYSTEP is a great program, maybe some of you guys are actually looking for a new program, something else that is more aggresive, almost a mix of combat and step maybe? or something else, but at the end of the day, on this thread.. if we can pick on the theatrics or 'frill' and knock the moves (kicks, mambo etc), what's stopping us from picking on the step? Step aerobics has been big with the girls for years...

Thank god more men are trying it out - but maybe a new program suggestion is more what is being looked for here...in addition to our existing programs...?>>

I wasn't sure about entering this discussion.  But after reading this, decided to add some thoughts.  TrakAO1....do you realize you gave 2 different reasons for men not coming into the aerobic room?  Worrying about their own lack of coordination is a big reason.  Thinking the room is considered a 'girl zone' is a completely different reason.  Even though I've done step classes for 20 years and teach both BodyStep and BodyJam, I can tell you it's still a hard real choice whether I'm going to do the Naomi Campbell Walk in BS 71.  For many of the men who might come in to a step class, even one as aggressive and athletic as BodyStep, they are still walking in to a class of mostly or all women.  To then be lead in to a frilly move like that can be too much.  Especially for the men who are concerned about the first reason, their own coordination (or lack thereof).  I won't speak for the previous posters, but I believe that's what they are identifying.

I don't understand your apparent impatience with this.  Or your presumption that the male posters are talking about something else than what they are saying, that somehow maybe they need a different class or something.

Point taken about "keeping" the ones who come in.  Point missed is that men can watch the class and decide before taking it whether they want to.  Simply telling the male instructors/participants to drop the frilly moves doesn't actually address what men on the outside are seeing most often, since most instructors and participants are women.         Now, please, do not mis-read my comment.  I am not saying that the female instructors/participants should drop any of the frilly moves (or that the men who are comfortable enough to do them should stop).  But in considering what might attract and what might turn off a potential participant, the frilly moves might have an impact.

So might the past.  A story from my workout past....several years ago...BodyStep class, I was a participant....the only man in the room of about 35 people (2 instructors).  The 2 instructors were both miked, and they really got into the class....with their own back and forth comments and joking...and started making comments about the lyrics of a song that really took my mind of working out (let me just say it was more vulgar than sexy), and then somehow they started talking about getting their periods.  Over the mikes.  With me the only man in the room.  Obviously invisible.  And very uncomfortable (even though I had taken aerobics classes for many years by that point).  I didn't go back to classes with those instructors after that.     I share that not for any instruction about what I should have done.  But simply to point out that it might not be the one particular move that is making some men uncomfortable.

Ultimately, of course, it is up to the individual to enter the room, risk the frustration, embarrassment, and discomfort of trying something new, something challenging, something outside the ordinary.  So we can't own too much of that.  But the points should be considered, not dismissed.  Because otherwise how can you coach the men to try to do it.....to feel the success they can have in actually moving their hips a little (the mambo) without feeling like a girl? 

orkanbob:

<<Surely you fella's can't be thinking certain moves and tracks are for girls only??? ie. mambo & 'kicks' - surely there would be no men in body attack either if this were the case...

My opinion is that there aren't as many men in the aerobics room (period), we can only work on 'keeping' the men in there that we first have come into the room... The ones that 'try' it, generally 'buy' it in my experience. 

I think the subject heading should be 'aerobics for men' rather than pin pointing bodystep - we can have 'frilly' fun in most classes if that is what our personality puts forward... Its been said a few times through this thread, if you don't like the frill, dont' do it....  as for tracks and moves being 'fun but not too manly'..... drop the fancy hands in strut (or the hand on the hip etc - common sense really) that's about all the frill there is... Candy man!! come on, we're just running on and off the step - is that not manly???  and Thriller??? just drop the theatrics.. it just comes back to this time and time again - - The most common reason I here from men not coming into the aerobic room is they are worried about there lack of co ordination, ..  I think the aerobic/group fitness room is considered a 'girl zone' in many male minds.. but is slowly changing. BODYSTEP is a great program, maybe some of you guys are actually looking for a new program, something else that is more aggresive, almost a mix of combat and step maybe? or something else, but at the end of the day, on this thread.. if we can pick on the theatrics or 'frill' and knock the moves (kicks, mambo etc), what's stopping us from picking on the step? Step aerobics has been big with the girls for years...

Thank god more men are trying it out - but maybe a new program suggestion is more what is being looked for here...in addition to our existing programs...?>>

I wasn't sure about entering this discussion.  But after reading this, decided to add some thoughts.  TrakAO1....do you realize you gave 2 different reasons for men not coming into the aerobic room?  Worrying about their own lack of coordination is a big reason.  Thinking the room is considered a 'girl zone' is a completely different reason.  Even though I've done step classes for 20 years and teach both BodyStep and BodyJam, I can tell you it's still a hard real choice whether I'm going to do the Naomi Campbell Walk in BS 71.  For many of the men who might come in to a step class, even one as aggressive and athletic as BodyStep, they are still walking in to a class of mostly or all women.  To then be lead in to a frilly move like that can be too much.  Especially for the men who are concerned about the first reason, their own coordination (or lack thereof).  I won't speak for the previous posters, but I believe that's what they are identifying.

I don't understand your apparent impatience with this.  Or your presumption that the male posters are talking about something else than what they are saying, that somehow maybe they need a different class or something.

Point taken about "keeping" the ones who come in.  Point missed is that men can watch the class and decide before taking it whether they want to.  Simply telling the male instructors/participants to drop the frilly moves doesn't actually address what men on the outside are seeing most often, since most instructors and participants are women.         Now, please, do not mis-read my comment.  I am not saying that the female instructors/participants should drop any of the frilly moves (or that the men who are comfortable enough to do them should stop).  But in considering what might attract and what might turn off a potential participant, the frilly moves might have an impact.

So might the past.  A story from my workout past....several years ago...BodyStep class, I was a participant....the only man in the room of about 35 people (2 instructors).  The 2 instructors were both miked, and they really got into the class....with their own back and forth comments and joking...and started making comments about the lyrics of a song that really took my mind of working out (let me just say it was more vulgar than sexy), and then somehow they started talking about getting their periods.  Over the mikes.  With me the only man in the room.  Obviously invisible.  And very uncomfortable (even though I had taken aerobics classes for many years by that point).  I didn't go back to classes with those instructors after that.     I share that not for any instruction about what I should have done.  But simply to point out that it might not be the one particular move that is making some men uncomfortable.

Ultimately, of course, it is up to the individual to enter the room, risk the frustration, embarrassment, and discomfort of trying something new, something challenging, something outside the ordinary.  So we can't own too much of that.  But the points should be considered, not dismissed.  Because otherwise how can you coach the men to try to do it.....to feel the success they can have in actually moving their hips a little (the mambo) without feeling like a girl? 

Hi Orkanbob,

writing an opinion or view can read very differently to different people depending on the 'feel' or 'mood' they put behind your words, so I re-read my text as if I were annoyed and YES it does sound quite impatient and rude doesn't it ;op will have to keep that in mind for any future comments (like this one) LOL. Read it again with a playful "say it aint so" undertone (or dont' bother - wouldnt' blame ya)... anyway.. I was on my way out the door when I wrote it - so maybe wrote it too quickly... live and learn ;op

yeah, I meant to note the two (or more) reasons that men wouldnt' come into the aerobic room that wouldnt' just point the finger at 'body step' but instead (I think)highlight its ALL aeorobics that create this feel  - my point was more that it's not just BODYSTEP, theres a bigger issue behind this (in my opinion), and thinking that removing moves from step or tracks (party track - oh my god!!!!!! one of my fav's!!!!!) would be criminal! for a program that works so well and appeals to so many, surely a better result (certainly not dismissing the previous views, instead seeking a remedy) would come from adapting all the things that are being put foward by the fella's (and some girls) and working a new program.. less frilly...

in one breath you could say: not every program is for everyone - that's got to be fair to say?

but in another, we could note that 4 different instructors, though all working with the same choreography - can deliver 4 totally different classes that appeal to totally different participants....

 As for the inappropriate conversation the instructors were having on stage that day in your class - I feel for you.. In your shoes I may have left the room....

 ... ahhhh, dissect my post and trip me up if you will  :o)

have a good day folks!

gotta go unpack that shopping!!!!

catcha!

Thanks for the clarification.  The astonished, say it ain't so attitude is clear, now that you've said it.  And, just for the record, I think we should be encouraging people to try new things, sometimes uncomfortable things, rather than simply dismissing them out of hand because a person is uncomfortable......whether it's trying a new move, doing it with a certain flair, or taking it to breakout level.  It's just that those oftentimes need to be nutured and encouraged for those who are uncomfortable (in this example men doing very feminine moves, but in other posts people have talked about overweight people who are just starting to workout who feel intimidated, for example).  That's the challenge.

As for the story from the past...yes, believe me I considered for every remaining minute walking out of the class.  But thought at the time that would be even more uncomfortable.  And since they didn't even see me in the room, figured I'd try to stay invisible until it was over. lol

oh good :o) i'm glad it reads better now - thanks for that.

I was just in reading the comments in attack - and yeah, not easy getting started.. certainly acts as a reminder, easy to forget how it felt getting started.. these posts serve us well (instructors) I think. Even just a quick check in here and there without comment.

Its such a great industry. A constant learning.. and re-learning....

 

After 4 years of teaching all female Bodystep classes I had a man in his fifties turn up the other week. He had just moved to the area and was thrilled to find a Body Step class as he had been doing it for years. He is brilliant and was right in the front row last week.......doing the Naomi Campbell walk with the rest of us girls!

 

 

And I've had a couple people do BodyJam, so afraid because they had 2 left feet, who never did "get it", but who actually got it by trying, having a great time, and giving me more enjoyment in seeing their willingness and grab the gusto attitude.  They were the 2 best people in the room, including me, when it came to success.  It was great.

I also teach BodyJam...they do a great job of finding moves that are "OK" for guys to do.

We have quite a few guys who take Jam, I guess thats why.

---

Tim

Kia ora

 

I’m a Body Step Instructor (MALE) and I don’t agree with “body step is getting girly”!

 

You should teach Body STEP like you are! If you are a MAN then teach it as a man. Team TEACH with the music… use the lyrics and play with your participants! EVEN MEN can dance…… you have always options… show the female option on the Party TRACK “Naomi is in the house” and show the “Bodyguard walk” for the male participants.

 

On Track 10 use the lyrics to give more intensity and play with the different sex in your class. Use “hey MEN let me see your hands up in the AIR!!!” Make a kind of competition between men and women. You will see, the workout will get harder cause of them. I have 20% male in my class and they get always a MALE OPTION. And the girls in my class they LOVE to do the Party Tracks. And guess what, they all work always very hard… Body Step 71 is one of the best release I have ever teached!

 

Guys, just be authentic and enjoy the music and the athletic workout…..

 

And if once somebody needs more athletic programm.. harder.. then change to Body ATTACK. Trust me, it is a very hot hot hot PROGRAMM! And this is UNISEX if you are looking for this.

 

Enjoy teaching

I din't know there wos a male alternativ in in the party Tracks. But I will also say I am not an instructer.

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Liv hard, train hard, Die hard:-D!!!

Whats that saying?  YOu can please some of the people some of the time?  or whatever it is.  Anyway, I say strip it out if you don't like it and change it up as soon as you can.  I think they throw a good mix of stuff at us and you can always go back to your favs after 3-4 weeks of the release.  I personally like the frilly stuff, but i could see why the men wouldn't.  I guess just grin and keep on going, there will be new stuff awaiting soon!

 M

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Check out our podcast at www.lifewithtwins.net!!!

Please get back to some "old time rock n' roll" and be done with the last 5 releases - Suck Much??

What's the bodyguard walk??? That sounds fun---and a great option for my guys!

---

Katie

i gotta say that i have just started doing step (past 3 releases) and ive dropped attack to do step as i have found that step is awesome at the moment and attack just dont do it for me and i think its got a lot to do with the music choice. Love this release and i have noticed a huge increase in male participants and more than in attack. The only thing i do not agree with is the rule that you HAVE to do the speed step with no risers. I understand that this is a safety issue but if the instructor points the potential hazards out to participants then i would say leave it to the participant to decide how many they want under their step. I just dont get enough of a workout with no risers. Great programme though with great music : )

im also confused as to the point of this thread though cus you dont have to do any add ons if you dont want to, i just think the girls are having fun and it does not stop me from getting a great workout...with two risers ; )