46: The Invisible Force: How Your Mindset Transforms The Class Experience

In this game-changing episode of Group X Appeal, Kimberly and Terry  reveal the most powerful tool in your instructor toolkit - your mindset. Discover how your energy, intention, and mental approach create the invisible force that determines whether your class is simply a workout or a truly transformational experience. If you've ever wondered why some instructors naturally command the room while others struggle to connect, this episode holds the answers you've been searching for.

What You'll Learn:

• 🔥 Energy Leadership - How to set and control the emotional temperature of your entire class
• 🎯 Purpose Over Performance - Shifting from validation-seeking to service-focused instruction
• 💪 Empowered Responses - Handling challenges, mistakes, and difficult situations with grace and confidence
• ✨ Authentic Impact - Why being real beats being perfect every single time
• 🧠 Growth Mindset Mastery - Moving from fixed limitations to continuous improvement
• 👑 Leader Identity Shift - Reframing from "just an instructor" to "leader who moves people"
• ⚡ Contagious Confidence - How your positive energy spreads throughout the room
• 🎭 The Feel Factor - Why participants remember how you made them feel, not what you taught them

Essential listening for group exercise instructors and yoga teachers ready to elevate their impact beyond the physical workout. Learn the mindset shifts that separate good instructors from transformational leaders who create experiences participants can't stop talking about.

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- @kimberlyspreenglick on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
- email: kimberly@theinspiredlifeuniversity.com
- website: www.theinspiredlifeuniversity.com

Stay Connected with Terry:
- @terryshorter on Instagram & Facebook
- email: terry@rippedplanet.com
- website: www.rippedplanet.com

Transcript

Ever walk into a room and instantly feel someone's presence before they even speak? That's not just confidence. That's mindset in action. As instructors, our mindset is the invisible force that determines whether we just lead a class or lead a transformational experience. In today's episode, we are breaking down the instructor mindset that allows you to command the room, build unshakable confidence, and leave a lasting impact on every participant you serve. Because let's be real, choreography and cueing matter.

but it's your energy, intention and mindset that make people want to come back for more.

Kimberly/terry (01:09)
We are back. Welcome to Group X Appeal. Terry Short are here with Kimberly Spreen Glick and offline. were just kind of joking around. This is called Get Your Mind Right. That's the of this episode number 46. Really? I didn't know we were going to say that on camera. Heck yeah. Why not? This is all about why mindset matters in group.

How does that sound? It's why it's important that you get your mind right. You don't say it like that. Get your mind right. Exactly. Hey, there we go. Get your mind right. I'm so scary. So your mindset really does matter in group exercise. for several reasons, first of all, you lead the emotional temperature of the room. Don't be afraid to tell people, get your mind right. ⁓

Right? Your mindset really does dictate your attitude and your attitude determines your energy and people will feed off that energy. They'll every time they'll feed off that energy. They'll love that energy that you're sharing. And guess what? They're going to go out into the world and share it with others, but it starts with you. So you lead that emotional temperature of the room and, ⁓ and the rest is just, it's snowballs into just a bunch of goodness, bunch of goodness, yummy goodness.

So and then also ⁓ we mentioned this before you're not just teaching movement we mentioned this in episode number 45 yeah not just teaching movement that's back you are influencing lives

Huge affecting lies in the most positive way you can possibly positive way you can possibly imagine, you know, I'll say that five times best Possibly and then the next word is participants, right? Right, so your participants are gonna remember how you made them feel not just what you what you taught, right? Yeah, who said that my my angelo She said people remember what you said people or people won't remember what you said. They won't remember

what you did but they will remember how you made them feel. Right so along the same lines right? They will remember exactly how you made them feel. yeah so just make sure that you know that you're not just teaching movement. So and then an empowered mindset what does it do? Yeah well it's really important and it really is up to you to empower yourself here although we're all in this together so let us assist in the process but you have to be a willing and open participant

because an empowered mindset helps you do a number of things. Number one, when you go into teach, you can handle tough classes or low turnout. mean, one of my greatest pet peeves is when I go into a class and an instructor says, I don't know where everybody is today. ⁓ it's like nails on a chalkboard. That is a huge no-no because

I don't care if it's three or 30 people who are there. They did whatever it is they had to do, knocked whatever they needed to knock off their to-do list, jump through whatever hoops they needed to jump through to get there. And they deserve not only your attention, your focus and a great workout, they deserve your positive mindset. so going in with an empowered mindset, feeling uplifted yourself really helps you handle that experience. Cause we all, you know, we want to have large classes. We get it.

but you've got to be able to handle it with grace and an empowered mindset is going to help you do that. And it's also going to help you bounce back from mistakes. I mean, I don't personally know what it's like to make a mistake. I can't even say that with a straight face. I'm pretty sure I make a mistake in every class. In fact, I just taught fit this morning and I was able, I was talking to a member, Tina afterwards and I'm like,

You you want to know why we did like a second set of this and I'm like, it's cause I forgot to do this the first time she's like, I wouldn't have known. I'm like, yeah, y'all never know. Or most of the time don't know when we're messing up left and right. I'll just stop the music and say great rehearsal guys. Let's go ahead and start from the top. I love it. I don't, I don't know if I can get away with that in a strength training class, but I might try it. I might try it. Yeah, for real. But when you make mistakes, which

Sorry to break the news to you. It is inevitable. It's going to happen. You are going to make mistakes. You're going to be able to bounce back from them really quickly. My mentor always said, if you're to make a mistake, make a big mistake. Hey, why not? Own it and own it. And own it. I tend to make a joke about it. if I make a mistake that is so blatant that like it's obvious, I will make a joke out of it so fast. Oh, for sure. Lighten the mood for everyone, yourself included.

And it's also really important to maintain presence under pressure, to maintain a positive empowered mindset and a positive energy under pressure. What if there's a manager taking your class or someone that intimidates you in some way, shape or form, or someone's evaluating your class, and that puts you under pressure. Maybe there's just a lot of new people in class and that's an additional layer of pressure. Or two members are fighting over a spot.

That happened to him recently. ⁓ my gosh. It's so wild I mean if you're gonna fight over someone you may as well fight over this one, but Your class my guess is it was probably a front row spot if you know what I'm saying ladies, but anyway Maintaining the presence under pressure is is really critical as a pro We want to be professional as well as as leaders and what we do and then of course

You having an empowered mindset, walking in with positive energy inspires confidence in others. So it's huge. It's really important. Yeah. Like that's part of that energy we talked about earlier, right? When you have that mindset, that's the energy that you're exuding. People can feel that. Absolutely. Right? Absolutely. We are, what is it? Electromagnetic energetically. So we feed off that for sure. So in terms of some key instructor mindset,

Shifts here's some you know example Microphone well I tried not Luckily it's a very soft microphone, but And we're back I was just leaning in because what you said Well, I appreciate you leaning in oh my goodness

it's true. We laugh more than we talk, but anyway, you were saying, I'm sorry. So, ⁓ you know, some really key instructor mindset shifts, right? From going from here to there. So before and afters, right? going from a performer to a purpose driven leader, remember that you're not there to impress, right? You're there to impact. Right? So many times I've seen instructors, ⁓

instructor trainings or taking other instructor classes as well. They are just doing their hardest to put on a show, which is entertaining. Got it. You have to get their attention. So yes, attention, but remember you're not there for you. You are not the star of the show. They are the star of the show and your job is to impact. Yeah. And I think often when we, as instructors, if you get in that place where you're just trying to perform and impress,

and only entertain, you're missing your ability to coach. You're missing out on your ability to look around and see what's going on because it's only when you're really engaged with and have your focus on the real reason you're there, which is the people you're serving. mean, that's where all your cues come from to help them improve their form, technique, get the movements down properly. so instead of just being on autopilot, be fully present with your focus.

outward, be very student focused instead of instructor focused. So, know, another big shift is instead of thinking, I hope they like me because I've even been guilty of that in my younger years. I hope they like me, but shift that to, hope I serve them well, because at the end of the day, you're not doing this to seek validation. You are offering value.

Now through the value you offer, you will likely receive validation because people will appreciate that you showed up in a way that you were there to serve them, not just try to get them to like you. So instead of trying to just, and by the way, I also hate to break this to you, but not everybody gonna like you. And that has to be okay. I will never forget the first class I ever taught for a lifetime.

In November of 1999, it was a step class, way back. And the next day, I came in. I was just subbing a class for another instructor. didn't even have a class on the schedule yet, a regular class. And it was a Sunday class. I went in Monday to do my personal training shift. And the group fitness group exercise manager pulled me aside and shared a comment card. And on the front of the comment card, it said, dear Kimberly.

Dot dot dot and an arrow and I'm like, ⁓ crap this could this could like go either way, right? So I flipped it over and it said Stop being such a damn cheerleader. Just teach the class. Wow. Yeah Yeah, didn't take it. Well, I didn't I didn't you know I was in my 20s and I did not take it well because I wanted them to like me I was new new in the city new in this facility new at lifetime and I wanted to be liked

I took it very personally and it wasn't until, you know, it didn't take long to kind of snap out of it. Cause you talked to other instructors and everything. And, and I spoke to the manager who became a good friend of mine, but at the end of the day, you're not for everyone. And that's okay. You know, so much goes into us attracting, you know, the community and you know, sometimes personalities clash or teaching styles aren't what they're looking for. And so I finally realized that there are going to be people who

and let this apply to you. There are going to be people who will literally change their schedule and schedule appointments, doctor's appointments, parent teacher meetings, all those things around when you teach. They will schedule their whole life around your teach. And then there are others who will avoid your class as if they might catch a disease if they stepped in the room. They'll avoid your class like that. And guess what? It's okay. Do you want to know why it's okay? It has to be okay. Because

Had I taken that comment to heart for any length of time, to the point where I started to change who I was and how I taught to try to impress that one person, what about the other 40 people? So you've got to remember that there are people that are going to be there who are recognizing the value you bring and the way you bring it. And appreciate it. And appreciate it. So it's not about being liked. It's just showing up to offer value.

Man, I'm sorry I went. No, that's great. Yeah, we need to hear. Yeah, hear those those antidotes. So that leads to you know going from self-conscious to self-connected. Yes, right and so authenticity

all the time. 100 % of the time is going to be greater than perfection. Yes. Right? Or perfection in other people's eyes. Right? Just being yourself, being, you know, that person that you're put on this earth to be. And of course that is just to simply serve others. Right? I hope. Yeah, exactly. Right. And not worrying about being perfect because you will not be perfect. Yes, you will progress. You will evolve. You will get better with practice, with time, with experience, with, ⁓ with mentors.

You know, yeah, guidance and mentors, but ⁓ perfection is not going to happen. Just be, just keep it real. Keep it real. Keep it real. Get your mind right. So one of, you know, a dear friend for both of us, Petra Colbert said in one of her workshops one time that as humans, we don't connect through perfection. We connect through our cracks. So when you're willing to kind of let a crack show, like show that you're not perfect, show that you are just human.

I think it gives people an opportunity to make a deeper connection with you. And we can't have connection without authenticity. It doesn't work. And we can't make the positive impact we want to make without the connection. So it's all connected. So show us your crack. Don't be afraid to show your crack. You're just sitting there waiting to say that the moment I said crack. She's just like, where can I slide this in? can I slide this in? Not in the crack.

⁓ So another shift that we would definitely recommend you make is to go from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. instead of looking at something to prove in every class and if it goes well, great, you're happy. And if it doesn't go well, now boo, you're sad. No, every class only has two outcomes.

It's either a win because it went great. Like you ever had those classes where you teach a class, everything goes the way you had planned it out and people were really happy and the feedback is great and you walk out and you're like, it was awesome. I deserve a raise. Or a high five at least. A high five at minimum. And then there are those other classes where you walk out feeling like, my God, I suck. I should give this up. I should retire immediately. And we're saying, don't go there. Don't put yourself in that situation because it's either, I know, right?

It's either a win. went the way you wanted. got great feedback, or it is an opportunity to learn and to evolve and to grow and get better. And we're all in this game to grow and evolve and continue to develop to become the best version of ourselves. So you have nothing to prove to anyone other than to show up, to add value and to be open to ⁓ continuing to evolve, to get better at what you do. Good stuff. So the last mindset shift.

is taking this out of your vocabulary. I hear some people say, I'm just an instructor. that drives me crazy. Just, you know, is a minimizer. So first of all, get rid of that word, please. Pretty please. Yes. Instead of saying just an instructor, perhaps say

a leader who moves people. I like that. I'm a leader who moves people that has a ring to it. It makes you feel better. It hopefully makes you feel more important perhaps. Yeah. Well, it hopes you hopefully it makes you realize the value that you bring to the table that you really do bring. It's just reframing your role with

word choice that you pick up on. just know that you are, as a fitness instructor, a fitness professional, a leader who moves people, you are a community builder, a mindset shifter. You are a catalyst for change. Oh, yeah. all that and a bag of chips. And a bag of chips. Air fried chips. Stop it. Yes. With avocado oil? Avocado oil, baby. Yes, please.

I like salty chips. Thank you. ⁓ my goodness. Here's what you need to remember. Your mic is not what gives you power. It's your mic. I totally almost ate that mic like three times on this episode. I don't know what it is. I need to reposition it somehow, but I'm very excited apparently.

But truly, it's not your mic that gives you power. It is your mindset. You can know every move, you can master every exercise, every beat, but it's the belief behind your delivery that turns a workout into a breakthrough. this week, before you teach, pause, breathe, reconnect to your why, remind yourself, I am here to lead. I am here to serve. I am here to make someone's day better.

And then my favorite thing to say before every time I teach, I don't have to do this. I get to do this. Yes. We get to do this. get, we get to do this. So if this episode reminded you of your strength or perhaps helped you find it, please share it with another fellow instructor, somebody that you care about, ⁓ screenshot.

tag us at group X appeal on Instagram, on YouTube as well. Just let us know what mindset shift you're claiming today. And next week, by the way,

Be sure not to miss our very first incredible guest of this brand new season. We're so excited to introduce them to you. so ⁓ tune in, make sure that you again, tell other people too. It's gonna be absolutely incredible. until then keep showing up, keep shining and remember confidence is contagious. So it'll start with you though. So get your mind right.

So that is it for today. We thank you so much for joining us. I'm Terry Shorter. I'm Kimberly Spreen Glick. Until we meet again, make it a great day. And why? Because it's a great day to have. Yes, it is. Much love. Peace out.