Always bring a water bottle to class — you’ll drink more often, and you’ll
avoid the long lines at the drinking fountain. Finally, come back for more,
even if the class leaves you feeling like a clod. Skills and fitness take time to
develop. You’ll feel pretty darn good when you master a class that used to
wipe you out.
What to expect from your instructor ..............................................
Try to watch a class before you take one. A good instructor has the class
moving in unison and right on cue, even if the steps are complicated. Terry
Walsh, the owner of New York City’s Revolution studio, recently taught a pro-
motional low-impact aerobics class in Central Park to more than 200 people.
Terry is such a good teacher that she had the entire class moving in unison,
as if they were a highly experienced, professional dance troop. On the other
hand, if everyone’s bumping into each other or several people have stopped
completely and are staring off into space, look for another class. No matter
what type of class you’re taking, your teacher should:
Ask questions at the beginning of the class. Some examples include,
“Any newcomers?”, “Anyone with an injury I need to know about?”, or
“Is there anyone here who’s never tried step before?”Include a warm-up and a cooldown period. The cooldown should be
followed by stretching exercises.
Give clear instructions so you always know where you are and what’s
coming next. Your instructor may say, “Two steps right,” and then point
right with two fingers. She should let you know what moves are coming
up next instead of springing a traveling grapevine on you at the last
minute. She should also rehearse new or challenging moves before
the class.Give you plenty of information on technique — but not so much that
you feel overwhelmed.
Speak in plain language. The really obnoxious instructors say things
like “plantar flex at your ankle joint” — rather than “point your foot.”
However, a good teacher should educate you. It’s perfectly okay for an
instructor to say, “Feel this move in your quadriceps.”Watch the class rather than gaze at himself in the mirror. He should
face the students at least some of the time and occasionally walk around
adjusting everyone’s form. Liz once bailed on a step class because the
instructor did little other than look in the mirror and watch her muscles
glisten in the fluorescent light. She never once turned around to acknowl-
edge the existence of the class members, let alone check their form.
Do a pulse or intensity check during the toughest part of the workout.
This goes for toning and strength classes, too, even if the check is as
minimal as asking, “How’s everyone doing?”Chapter 19: Choosing an Exercise Class or DVD 285