Step and deliver with cute 'n' clever choreo

by Stephen Parker

Grow, change, evolve and adapt, or.... die

As with all things in life, group exercise must grow, change, evolve and adapt to its surroundings in order to survive. In my time working in the fitness industry, I have seen freestyle step evolve and go through many changes. It is a very different class now to when Gin Miller first convinced Reebok in 1989 that step was a great concept for group fitness. There have been many positive changes that have enhanced freestyle step as a program, such as tap-free choreography and cross phrasing. And on the flipside of that, there have also been changes from which we have learnt valuable lessons, such as overly complex and dangerous choreography.

In the early to mid 1990s when I first started participating in step classes, the popularity of this exercise format was at its highest. Along with many others, I willingly paid $2 to the gym I was member of (on top of my membership fees) to hire a step platform for each class. Then, when I became an instructor, I would go to step workshops that were held on double basketball courts to accommodate the amount of instructors attending. Step was booming and it was during this time that my passion for this type of exercise was born. In my opinion, this is when we were teaching step classes that involved cute and clever choreography, to inspire members and give wow factor, while at the same time being achievable.

As the teaching ability of instructors improved, their skill on the step increased, and so did that of our participants. Then the pressure to keep the front row happy increased, and before we knew it the choreography and music speed were out of control and classes became unachievable for the majority of participants. Members struggled to keep up, so the workout factor decreased.

Some participants were getting injured, others were frustrated, and a lot stopped coming back. There are now a lot more choices on group fitness timetables, so members are more spread out over a variety of programs. As instructors we have to work even harder to ensure the step choreography we deliver is safe, achievable, and will give our members the workout they came for. Only then can they experience the amazing feeling of accomplishment achieved by ‘putting it all together’ at the end. This is what will keep members coming back, and bringing their friends.

As instructors, if we teach a step class that incorporates the positive growth of the program, with solid learning curves and easy progressions, we will see class numbers increase again. Then more step classes will return to club timetables, creating more employment opportunities for freestyle instructors, and incentive for new instructors to become freestyle trained. In turn, this will then help the RTOs and freestyle music companies. And when we take this chain of happy events and ‘put it all together’? Freestyle group fitness will again reach out and benefit more members in our community.

The following is a block of choreography that has multiple layers in the learning curves to progress to the final product gradually, direction changes around the step to keep it interesting and rhythm changes for advanced options. Take it to your class, have fun and build a strong freestyle following.

Watch the choreography by clicking play on the video below:

Stephen Parker
With a background in classical dance, Stephen has been in the fitness industry for over 20 years and currently holds the position of group fitness manager. Having competed successfully in sport aerobics, he is now focusing on helping fellow instructors develop their freestyle teaching skills. Stephen is committed to doing all he can to see more freestyle group exercise on club timetables.

Stephen not only teaches packed step classes, he also teaches a variety of other freestyle classes every week at Virgin Active Sydney. Everyone is welcome to come along to any of them, just ensure you reserve a spot via the Virgin Active website.

If you are interested to attend Stephen's Step Classes, you will find him at Pitt Street Virgin Active Gym, every Wednesday at 5.30pm, for a 45 minute session packed of fun class.

For your information, Step classes at Virgin Active Gyms in Australia, as at today 15th January 2018 are:

Virgin Active - PITT ST Mon - 6:15pm - Step - 45 mins - Studio 2 - Ryan
Virgin Active - PITT ST TUE - 7:35am - Step Attack - 45 mins - Studio 2 - Ally
Virgin Active - PITT ST Wed - 5:30pm - Step - 45 mins - Studio 2 - Stephen
Virgin Active - MOORE PARK - 8:30am - Step - 50 mins - Studio 1 - Ryan
Virgin Active - FRENCHS FOREST - 8:45am - Step - 55 mins - Studio 1 - Nikki
Virgin Active - NORWEST - 9:30am - Step - 60 mins - Studio 2 - Belinda

"The information provided herein is strictly for educational purposes. Always consult your qualified Group Fitness Instructor before implementing any suggestions above."

Disclaimer

You must get your physician's approval before beginning any exercise suggested in this blog or any of its articles. Any recommendations found within these articles are not medical guidelines but are for educational purposes only. You must consult your physician prior to starting any suggestions in this blog, or if you have any medical condition or injury that contraindicates physical activity. The suggestions in this blog article are designed for individuals 18 years and older that have been approved by their physician to take any of the suggestions above.

The information in this blog article is meant to supplement, not replace, proper exercise training. All forms of exercise pose some inherent risks. As such we advise readers to take full responsibility for their safety and know their limits. Before practicing the exercises in this blog article, be sure that your equipment is well-maintained, and do not take risks beyond your level of experience, aptitude, training and fitness. The exercises and dietary programs in this article are not intended as a substitute for any exercise routine or treatment or dietary regime that may have been prescribed by your physician.

Do not lift heavy weights if you are alone, inexperienced, injured, or fatigued. Do not perform any exercises unless you have been shown the proper technique by a certified personal trainer or certified strength and conditioning specialist. Always ask for instruction and assistance when lifting. Do not perform any exercise without proper instruction. Always do a warm-up prior to resistance training and interval training.

See your physician before starting any exercise or nutrition program. If you are taking any medications, you must talk to your physician before starting any exercise program, including Freestyle Step Aerobics. If you experience any light-headedness, dizziness, or shortness of breath while exercising, stop the movement and consult a physician.

You must have a complete physical examination if you are sedentary, if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, if you are overweight, or if you are over 30 years old. Please discuss all nutritional changes with your physician or a registered dietician. If your physician recommends that you do not do Freestyle Step Aerobics, please follow your Doctor's orders.

That was our January 2018 article, the first for the year. 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.

Bruno Jimenez
January 2018

TWITTER - https://twitter.com/FreeStyleStep
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/StepXTRVGNZ
YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVpN8YvJ_2er0rw8B3q-sbA
INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/freestylextrvgnz
# TAGS - #freestyle, #FreestyleStep, #step #XTRVGNZ

Freestyle Fitness XTRVGNZ

15 January 2018