Pump it up!

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

My kind of BP instructor

I've become more and more critical about BP instructors along the way. It's sad because it keeps me from enjoying the class 100%. I truly admire good instructors who give me their best while I go to their classes. All respect to those people, they are stars of my life.

At first I need to tell you that all the instructors are female at my gym. I'd be excited to visit some class where there would be a male instructor, just to see if it's somehow different.

And now... The technique can be ok, but the instructor doesn't know the song that well. It really bothers me, because I like the idea of getting the same workout every time. It's something that is not about the instructors personality. Of course there are differences between instructors -thank God, they're not clones- BUT the choreography should be the same every time. I think most of people recognize when the chorus-part of the song begins. Usually the counting of the moves changes that ,moment. It's frustrating when the instructor is always "late". My dream instructor always knows where the song is going and what's coming next and gives the right instructions at the right time.

There are instructors who don't care to learn the new programs. Some seem to think the BP 55's biceps-song, "Galvanize" by The Chemical Brothers, is too darn difficult and they just switch it to some old song and either get more time to learn the new song or just kill time and wait for the new program.

Those instructors are ladies, who have been teaching Bodypump for too long. They are not that enthusiastic anymore, maybe they have their busy life with their family and normal full-time-job. They probably know that nobody's going to take their license away from them anyway.

My dream instructor would have the new program as soon as it's released (meaning: she/he should learn it quickly but still well) and then later, after few months, play something the class wants to have. Is it normal elsewhere to start the new program bit by bit, not having the whole program at once, but slowly changing the songs to new ones? Because here most of the instructors do that. That way they have more time to practice, but I think, maybe it would better to have the whole program at once but just later.

There should be more testing for instructors. Some time ago there was an instructor whose technique was terrible, and I just couldn't concentrate at all while watching her doing her terrible moves and all the people following her mistakes. But there's no way of telling the instructor that her technique sucks, is there? I mean, if I could tell precisely what she's doing wrong, I didn't have the guts to go there and say it aloud to a so-called professional.

Some instructors won't mind if you're doing your workout totally wrong, probably hurting your back or shoulders. They are having their own show in front of the class, and not having much interaction with the group. I think it would be a great idea to have lessons with two instructors, one doing the workout in front of the class and other moving in the crowd and correcting the moves.

People like different things. I like an instructor who doesn't shout all the time, but gives instructions with a gentle voice so that I can hear the song and get it's rhythm. If the instructor yells something to the mic, I usually can't get any sense of what she's saying -it just hurts me ears.

It really shows if the person in front of the room loves the workout and the songs and the moves... you can tell it by looking at her face. It says "we're having this great workout together" and "I really hope you guys love this as much as I do". That makes me feel I'm not the only person who appreciates the great program. If the instructor believes we can get both results and good vibes from it, I just have to agree with her.

I really wish I could be someday the instructor who gives great moments to people, not the one people like me are writing and complaining about. It's really demanding to have that kind of a job, being vulnerable and open to all critic from people who don't even know what it's like to be there teaching Bodypump and giving your all for that.

4 Comments:

At 8:52 PM, Blogger Reymond said...

Hi there, thanks for visiting and linking my site to yours. Looking forward to read more entries. Keep pumping!

Regards from New Zealand

 
At 3:40 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi there-
I am a bodypump instructor in the United States. I completely agree with your statement. I, as everyone else, have a busy schedule, however, learning choreography is always a priority. If instructors don't know the choreography, it cheats the members out of getting the workout that they deserve and came for. Maybe not so much with pump but with other programs, such as combat (which I also teach) and step. Anyhow, I was amazed to hear that in your area, pump instructors are allowed to interchange different tracks from the new release with old releases as soon as the new release comes out. From what I've heard, this can lead to failure of a program. It lacks interest and excitement about the program. I don't know if you could recommend to your group fitness director what we do over here...when a new release (for any program) comes out we have a launch weekend, where we hype up the new release, get memebers to come, and we are obligated to teach that release for four weeks straight. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. If instructors don't like a song, they shouldn't make their comment known to the class...you never know who just may like that particular song. Learn the choreography...pump choreography is not that hard...even the kind of strange "Galvanize" bicep track. Honestly, because of instructors doing exactly what you made your comments about, is the very reason I became an instructor. Lack of motivation, boredom, no rythm, no inspiration, horrible form...I could go on. From the sound of it, if you're like me, (which you sound like you are before I became an instructor), you would be the most likely candidate of becoming a great instructor. But if that doesn't interest you, at least be comforted in the fact that I completely agree with you! Hope this tid bit helps in some way... :-)

 
At 10:04 AM, Blogger Hanna P. said...

Thank you for your comment!
Becoming an instructor - and a good one! - is definitely my dream. :)

 
At 1:34 PM, Blogger admin said...

To be honest there has not been a release I did not like. The music just gets better and better. Music in the last few releases has changed. Instructors need to sell a release and give it a go. They need to make sure that people are able to enjoy the release and be able to do the release for awhile to get used to the music and new moves. To trash a track that you may not like is not giving the class what they may want to hear or do. I love track 6 of Bodypump 55 it is a great track. Generally Bodypump 55 is a personal fav of mine now.

I hope one day you become an awesome Bodypump Instructor :)

 

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