11 February 2016

Why is it so Difficult to Find a Freestyle Step Aerobics Instructor to Cover a Class or a Timeslot?

Why is it so Difficult to Find a Freestyle Step Aerobics Instructor to Cover a Class or a Time-slot?

When you want to get that great all over workout and you enjoy the advantages that freestyle stepping offers, it makes sense that you would want to attend a class in your local gym, with a qualified instructor. Being all the rage, with thousands of enthusiastic Freestylers obsessed with this form of exercise over the years, you would expect to find the majority of gyms running multiple sessions throughout the week. Sadly, this is not the case. So why is it becoming more and more difficult to find gyms that offer the classes, and the instructors to run them? In recent times, there seems to have been a decline in the number of qualified Freestyle Step Aerobic instructors who are taking regular classes, or gyms are struggling to find a replacement to fill in when the regular instructor is unable to attend.

Thinking about the classes that you might have on offer at your local gym, how many of them are Les Mills programs? It is much easier for gyms to find instructors and replacements to cover workouts using these types of pre-choreographed sessions because when all the moves and music are organised for you, it makes the job much easier. The instructors of the Les Mills BodyStep are provided with exactly this; the step-by-step instructions choreographed to specific music. This makes it possible for anyone to become an instructor of pre-choreographed workouts without having to put much thought into the program. Unlike the Les Mills programs, the Freestyle Step Aerobic classes offer unique routines based on the experience and individuality of the instructor.

Freestyle Step aerobics instructors choreograph the classes on their own. They choose the music that best applies to the pace of the routine they are creating. A lot of thought goes into this process and instructors will apply techniques and movements to create workouts that will increase the heart rate and burn those calories. Specific training is needed so that the instructors are more than qualified to create an effective routine.

It takes a lot more training and work to become a Freestyle Step aerobics instructor, however many instructors in gyms feel it is better if they undergo training that is provided by a centralised body such as Les Mills, due to the fact that they are provided with exactly what to do and when to do it. It is also easier for these instructors to fill in on a class because they feel that there are more classes offered for programs such as Les Mills, and therefore, they will acquire more opportunities for work.
This has seen a rise in instructors paying out of their own pockets to train and gain their qualifications through a centralised body, knowing they have a better chance on getting a return for their money.

When it becomes harder to cover a class, there is less incentive to keep that class going. If a Freestyle Step aerobics instructor offered 3 regular sessions a week but was unable to attend one due to illness, and there was no opportunity to find a replacement, the instructor (and the gym) would feel that they were letting their clients down. Cancelling sessions isn’t good for any gym and makes clients feel that they are not reliable. If someone is looking forward to their specific class, they are looking for consistency both in the class being on at the allotted time, and also consistency in knowing the instructor.

Unfortunately, there is no nationally recognised group that can provide support for Freestyle Step aerobic instructors. This is a shame considering the health advantages to using this equipment, the freedom of the style of training, and the variety that can be offered through individually choreographed routines and music. Perhaps gyms around the country feel that because there is no specific governing body, it would be a better option to choose pre-choreographed programs because it would be easier for them to find qualified instructors, and of course, replacement instructors when needed.

The responsibility for developing a Freestyle Step workout rests on the shoulders of the qualified instructor, but this allows for individuality and changing up the routine when the instructor sees fit to do so. This is a definite benefit in favour of a Freestyle Step class in comparison with a structured program with repetitive sessions. While each class will follow the basics, there will be no two classes the same, regardless of the gym sessions you attend. Freestyle Step aerobic instructors have their own unique style and ability level, and often the unknown is what can make a workout particularly enjoyable. At the end, there is a greater sense of achievement because you may have pushed yourself in the moment. Instructors of Freestyle Step aerobic classes also have the opportunity to adapt the structure of a class to suit the participants. If they find they have a class of beginners, for example, they can tailor the workout accordingly. This provides class attendees with greater achievement and satisfaction at the end of the workout because they feel they were able to keep up and complete the step sequences.

Perhaps another explanation for the inability to find qualified Freestyle Step aerobics instructors is because the opportunity to become a PT with your own clients and setting up outdoor workouts, has taken many ‘would be’ instructors out of the physical gym environment. With a focus on body weight exercise in these outdoor classes, there is less of a focus on the equipment used. Many PTs who run the outdoor sessions need you to just turn up with a towel and bottle of water.

There is a place for all types of workouts in a gym, and as long as you are moving and working hard, any exercise is going to be beneficial. The biggest problem for those who love Freestyle stepping, is the fact that they LOVE Freestyle Step aerobics! It is their “go to” workout that keeps their blood pumping and excitement in the air; basically, other programs just won’t cut it for them.

While the Freestyle Step aerobic classes currently offered in gyms appear to be on the decline in some cases, they are thriving in others. The originality of the classes is something that draws in the gym goers who like variety in their routine and who like to feel a challenge. As with many trends that come and go, while the number of classes and qualified instructors are limited when it comes to Freestyle Step, based on their track record of still being a popular class wherever it is offered, it looks like it will be here for many years to come.

That was our article for February 2016. Remember to feel free to comment, or contact me via email to FreestyleStepXTRVGNZ@gmail.com, and comment on what you think of this article, or any article you have read, or just any improvements you may want to see happening.

Next month, we will looking at the subject of "Freestyle Step Around the Globe" here we will looking at the differences in teaching across continents/countries.

In the March 2016 article... I will try to look at what attracts the step-a-holics from across our shores. How difficult is to find freestyle classes, etc....

Bruno Jimenez
February 2016
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Location: Australia
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