Ch. 7 - Class Planning & Preparation Flashcards
Planning begins with
A defined vision of the intent of the class
CLASS VISION - a clearly defined intention of a class experience from the participant perspective that drives the outcome and components of a complete class
—class outcome is derived from a defined class goal
—objectives - milestones that lead up to and support the overall goal
Class vision is realized by instructor’s movement order, music planning, equipment, prepped exercise modifications and overall teaching style
Planning helps the instructor
—create safe and effective workouts
—maintain variety
—maximize use of time
—engage participants of all types
—incorporate class “performance”
—create reusable experiences
Identifying class outcomes and objectives
Systematic process starting with class vision, identifying objectives to support vision
—intensity, duration, movements, equipment, sequencing
- Process of achieving objectives begins by looking at intensity
—ex. Intensity of yoga varies compared to strength class
—identify intensity goals to ensure you are maximizing effectiveness - Duration - consider intensity and how long participants can sustain chosen intensity
—consider timing for each component of workout - Movements - choose exercises, dance moves, positions, and modifications to match intensity and duration
- Equipment - knowledge of modalities and what is available in facility
- Sequencing - looking at movements and organizing in a way that flows as safe and easy to learn, but also keeps intensity at desired level
In order to identify outcomes and class objectives, instructors should ask themselves
—What do participants expect to get out of this class, based on the title and description?
—What type of movement supports this outcome?
—What equipment is available?
—How much time is available to achieve the class vision?
—How can I manipulate intensity to accomplish the class goals?
—How should I arrange or sequence the class elements?
Instructor checklist
- Pre-class planning: design class blueprint
- Intro
—greet participants
—be available to orient
—have background music cued
—provide equipment recs
—introduce self and class format
—explain modifications - Movement prep
—demonstrate movement selection with proper tech.
—transition into body of workout - Body
—build movement sequences logically, gradually and progressively y
—use all 3 planes of motion and balance muscle groups
—monitor intensity using training zones, the talk test, or RPE scales
Transition
—create a motivating and educational atmosphere
—conduct the transition w/ body awareness exercises
Outro
—specific praise to group on effort and progress
—invite participants to come back
—request feedback or questions after class
Sample planning sheet included
Vision
Format
Music
Equipment needs
Pre-class setup
Intro
Movement prep
Body
Transition
Outro
Music selection and planning
Use music to set pace, drive timing of verbal cues, enhance motivation, and support overall outcome
—supports mood and atmosphere
Overall benefit to participant is improved exercise performance and experience
—can also assist instructors in creating, planning, teaching and organizing class content
Up-tempo music helps participants push harder w/o a corresponding inc. in RPE
—down-tempo (slow) music promotes faster HR recovery and reduced blood lactate levels
Dissociation
Synchronization
Motor learning
Dissociation - diverting the mind from feelings of fatigue and lowering perception of effort
Synchronization - moving to music results improves movement efficiency
Motor learning - music replicates forms of human locomotion
Beat and downbeat
Measures
Beat
—the audible, metrical division that occurs w/in the foundational layer of music
—foundation upon which everything works together to create sonic experiences
Downbeat
—the first beat of a measure
—often when someone is off beat, its bc they missed the downbeat and did not start a movement on count
Measures
—grouped together to form phrases
32-count phrasing
8-count phrasing - there is an audible emphasis every 8 counts
32-count phrasing - a common musical structure used in group fitness - audible emphasis every 32 counts
—audio emphasis starts a few counts before 32nd to cute to begin new 32-count phrase
32-count provides steady, clear and distinct beats that are easy to follow
—create movement patterns that are 32 counts to make movements feel connected and complete
—also used to count or track reps
—at 128 BPM (common tempo in group fitness), one 32-count phrase will take about 15 seconds to complete
Tempo and rhythm
Musical tempo is the speed or pace of a piece of music and is denoted by beats per minute (BPM)
—number of beats in one min.
Rhythm - pattern or repeated movement or sound
—repeated pattern structures the count
Shifting tempo can cause us to go too fast, which compromises form and inc. risk of injury
—always test movements with planned tempo to ensure full range of motion can be performed safely
Pre-chorus is the build - obvious inc. in intensity - transitions to a dramatic release w/ chorus
Tempo is important to promote safe movement patterns - should allow proper time for full range of motion of intended movement
Foreground music
Background music
Foreground music
—using tempo, lyrics or song components to drive the movements
—if music plays a central role in movement cueing and exercise selection
Background music
—using music to set mood and support atmosphere
—if music is not central to support atmosphere (yoga, bootcamp, etc.)
Can use music as both - strength class may use music to direct movements and others may choreograph and ignore beat
To quickly find tempo of your music…
To quickly find tempo of your music, you can tap the # of beats you hear in 10 seconds and multiply by 6
Recommended BPM for common formats
- Resistance training - 125-135 BPM
- High-intensity / tabard - 150-160 BPM
- Bootcamp - 130-140 BPM
- Step - 128-132 BPM
- Barre, Pilates - 124-128 BPM
- Kickboxing - 140-150 BPM
- Aqua/water/seniors - 122-128 BPM
Musical style
A subset of a genre or classification of music from certain eras or cultures
—sound, rhythm and lyrical structure should support objectives of class
Consider:
—Tempo - is music right tempo for class?
—non-stop mix - does music need to be non-stop or need gaps?
—style - right genre/style to support activity?
—energy - music energy support intended music
—variety - does music match variety of participants attending class
—audience - appropriate and engaging to entire audience
Music genres/styles recommended for class types
—weight training or sculpting
—HIIT/TA at a
—bootcamp
—cardio dance/Latin
—step
- weight training or sculpting
—top 40 pop, alternative, classic rock, deep house, progressive house - HIIT/Tabata
—electronic (house techno), fast top 40 pop. Alternative, indie rock - bootcamp
—dubstep, alternative, indie rock - cardio dance/Latin
—Latin, dance, pop, hip-hop, R&B - step
—Pop, thematic or decade compilations
Music genres/styles recommended for class types
—barre, Pilates
—kickboxing
—aqua/water/seniors
—yoga
- Barre, Pilates
—tropical house, classical, jazz, soul, soft rock - Kickboxing
—techno, progressive house, dubstep - Aqua/water/seniors
—oldies, Motown, dance, top 40 pop - Yoga
—down-tempo (exotic or ambient), world, indie or alternative
Exercise modality
Equipment is an example of a MODALITY
—a form or mode of exercise that creates a challenge to its user by presenting a specific stress to the body
—instructors must be familiar with various modalities, know how to best incorporate into workout regimen and understand when a given modality is most valuable
There are several factors which may determine what modalities are incorporated
Best choices depend on class vision and participant-related factors such as
—age
—fitness level
—fitness goals
—personal preference
Class vision - intended outcome - needs of participants
Potential progressions or regressions of an exercise may directly affect the choice to implement a new modality for a participant
10 exercise modality categories commonly used in group fitness
- Body weight training
One of the simplest and most basic modalities - no equipment needed
—leverages body weight and position to create a challenge w/ wide variety of movements and positions
—can be used for strength, balance (single leg squat), plyometrics (speed-skaters), and yoga (crow pose)
Plyometrics should be chosen with caution as they require higher levels of conditioning to safely perform, specifically on the deceleration of movement
10 exercise modality categories commonly used in group fitness
- Weighted equipment
Dumbbells, barbell, kettlebell, medicine ball
—medicine balls are common tools used for POWER TRAINING (a form of exercise where the focus is on ability of the neuromuscular system to increase the rate of force production)
—medicine ball is leather/rubber and can bounce back - slam ball is sand-filled, supple, and will not bounce
10 exercise modality categories commonly used in group fitness
- Elastic resistance
Bands, tubing, figure-8 tubes, looped bands
—provide resistance to body when stretched
—tubes are hollow, circular elastic material that usually have handles