58: How To Master the Art of Cueing To Create an Unforgettable Class Experience

In this game-changing episode of Group X Appeal, Kimberly and Terry unlock the secrets behind one of the most critical yet underestimated instructor skills—cueing. Discover why effective cueing is so much more than just calling out moves; it's the heartbeat of your ability to lead, connect, and create transformational class experiences. 

Whether you're a new instructor struggling to find your voice or a veteran looking to refine your craft, this conversation will revolutionize how you communicate with your participants and elevate every class you teach.

Key Takeaways:

• Master the Fundamentals - Learn why keeping cues simple, clear, and layered progressively builds participant understanding and confidence without overwhelming them
• Cue for All Learning Styles - Discover how to reach visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners simultaneously so no one gets left behind in your class
• Perfect Your Timing - Understanding the crucial art of cueing before the movement happens to set participants up for success and flow
• Infuse Energy and Personality - Why your tone, rhythm, and authentic energy transform basic instruction into magnetic, memorable experiences
• Create Connection Through Communication - How strategic cueing builds trust, enhances participant experience, and transforms movement into meaningful transformation

Essential listening for Group X Instructors and yoga teachers ready to elevate their communication skills and create the kind of classes that participants can't stop raving about. Great cueing can make or break a class—master it and watch your teaching impact soar.

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Stay Connected with Kimberly:
- @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

Have you ever been in a class where the instructor's cues had you more confused than coordinated?

Kimberly/terry (00:48)
Hello, we are back. Welcome to Group X Appeal. I'm Terry Shorter. And I'm Kimberly Spreen Glick We are excited to share this one with you, because this is all about cueing. So what is cueing? Well, cueing from an instructor is a lot more than just calling out the moves or just counting out a bunch of numbers. It's really the heartbeat of an instructor's ability to lead, to inspire, and also to create an unforgettable experience, right?

Whether you're teaching yoga, cycling, dance, or strength training, great cueing makes or can break the class. And today's episode is really going to break down the techniques that transform good instructors into great ones. You ready for this? No, we're ready. Let's play. We're all ready. Yeah, we've got five tips for you. And Kimberly's going to kick the first one off. So write this down if you're there in front of a notepad, a journal, or something. If you're driving, don't pull over and write this down. Just play it again later.

you

Okay.

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closer to the speaker, turn up the volume. Here it comes.

kiss meant it was keep it simple stupid yeah that's not very nice she said stupid ⁓

I like that much better. It's nicer. It's a nicer approach. Yeah. Yeah. clear action based words like step, squat, lift, you know, so often we get too wordy like myself.

on silly

created a better experience with just more effective short, simple cues. To the point cues. Yep. Absolutely. So we were mentioning, ⁓ earlier before we pushed record today, this training or this, this episode rather could literally be an entire workshop that we could teach on. Yeah, it definitely should be, but maybe in the future. Absolutely. So tip number two is layer your cues, right?

Kimberly just shared, keep it simple, silly, right? Start with very simple, quick, to the point cues. Start with the basics. Then from there, then you add some form tips, some form recommendations, right? Some form technique things. And then from there, then add the inspiration after that, right? So just kind of- Yeah, every once in while, but don't do that in every single phrase.

That's I'll tell you what that is one of my pet peeves is hearing an instructor woohoo every single phrase or count out every single beat

Yeah, so those are the layers that we recommend. Start simple, basics, then add the tips, the form and technique tips, and then add the inspiration. It just adds variety. It keeps it dynamic. It is very step by step. It's progressive. Yeah. Right?

basics, like get them doing, get them moving. mean, then you could throw one of your dad jokes even.

Mom jokes

you know once you get them going getting moving then there is time for other things that bring you know the experience to life. Absolutely. So we also suggest that you of course and this kind of goes back to queuing 101 but recognize the different learning styles use them all in your queuing some people are more

verbal, audio learners, they learn through verbal cueing. Others are more visual learners. They need to kind of see the movement pattern or the exercise to really get it. And others are more kinesthetic. They're gonna need to kind of feel it in their body as they go, which is why often repetition can be necessary. And so ⁓ as you're moving through the cues, think about different ways you can say it to help those kinesthetic learners. Because sometimes we get kind

stuck in a rut of saying the same cue for the same thing every single time. If you look around and notice that there's like a person or two not getting it, maybe find a different way. Change the verbiage. cue the movement pattern, the exercise, et cetera. But remember, you have verbal, visual, kinesthetic learners. So make that all part of the class experience. Yeah. In our RIPT and RUMBLE instructor certification, we have a method that we call Tell Show Try Do.

So we use that patterning. First, we're going to tell them what to do for the auditory learners. Then we show them what to do for the visual learners. Then they get to try it for the kinesthetic learners. And then they do it. And if there's something that needs to be ⁓ changed or corrected, we make those changes and we start the process all over again. Tell, show, try, do. So that's the method that we use to address all those different kinds of learning styles out there.

Thank you so much. ⁓ So. So those are for the different learning styles catering to them. Number four would be timing. Timing of your cue is also everything, right? The recommendation is to cue before the move, not during the move, not after the move. It's kind of like if you're driving a car down the road, right? And you're behind a car that, you know, very last minute just.

Takes a hard right, takes a right turn, right? Or takes a hard left or switches lanes on you, right? No turning signal whatsoever, maybe until after they're in the turn. That is probably, what would you do if that happened to you with a driver in front of your following?

Good. I'm glad you're not going to say you're so nice. Silly. No, you would not be happy. Right. And there's some gestures out there.

Right. Stop it, silly. Stop it, silly. What would you do? I'm really curious. come on, man. Do better.

That works. That works. That works. So yeah, so that's what your participants do in class. If you're a participant, let us know what you think about cues that come way after the fact or not at all. But it's frustrating, is the bottom line. It's frustrating if you're trying to follow somebody. In the case of the driver, if you're driving behind someone that you're following or in the class, we like to get some of, we like a little bit of prior notice.

It doesn't give you the direction.

said go straight through the next light and then prepare to turn right. Yeah there's some preparation. And you could talk to your ⁓ computer system in your car. Do you talk to your GPS? Thank you. Thank you so much.

Come on Terry, do better.

do all the time all the time all the time so bossy

necessity for the basics and the form and technique cues and everything but don't let that stop you from infusing your energy and personality. be you boo. So the tone, the rhythm that you cue with and humor. mean I know this is gonna surprise everyone listening or watching but we both...

are very passionate about bringing lightness and humor into the classes that we teach regarding the format because I think it's powerful. For sure. It's a powerful part of the experience and it is something that can come through your cueing and dad or mom jokes for sure. But the energy and the tonality is a big one because we've certainly learned that a lot of what

feel from you in the energy when you're talking is your tone. So try to avoid being monotone. Let some energy and emotion come through when you're teaching because I promise you that will be received by the participants for sure. For sure. I think when you just mentioned tone, think ⁓ as an instructor, it helps a lot if we recognize the environment that we're in, the audience that we're serving, that we're catering to ⁓ because your tone in a

kickboxing class is going to be a lot different than the tone in your yoga class. But still, each of those tones ⁓ will merit a different kind or call for a different kind of ⁓ energy, but still really good energy to enhance the experience.

it should be an experience. Absolutely. Even if it's kickboxing, a higher energy class, shouldn't be like this the entire time. Just mad. That's another thing that's like now.

Absolutely. Yeah. then, and, yoga, have you ever gone to a yoga class where the yoga teacher is clearly using like their yoga voice? voice. Oh, that how that goes? Do they have those? Do they have those still?

Infection and shifts in energy create more of an experience as opposed to it being one thing, either high or low or whatever. Absolutely. As a musician, that's all I have to say. You can say whatever you like. Your mic's on. So yeah, I always liken to it as a musician. I like to liken it to a musical piece, right? You have your introduction that really sets the tone. It sets the mood, it sets the environment, sets the stage for what you're about to present.

And there's build, there's crescendos, there's ebbs, there's flows, you know, throughout the musical piece. That's what your class should feel like, look like and feel like in order to again, make an experience. So that's important. those are our five tips and hopefully they've helped you. If you are a participant, now you know what to look out for, you know, when it comes to an instructor who's, who's cueing or not doing it at all.

to that. Come on, silly. So queuing is not just about instruction. It really is about connection. And so it's how you turn movement into meaning. Right. So do you have a queuing?

Yeah.

there otherwise just send us a message. We love hearing your stories.

And when you share, just know that you inspire us and you inspire others. So we really want to keep this community growing and communicating. So definitely that share with us, but also pass along to another instructor or past participant, someone who's passionate about group exercise and keep the conversation going. Yes. So thank you so much for joining us for another episode of Group X Appeal. I'm Terry Shorter.

I thought you were trying to get tips. She's trying to get tips y'all. So you can tap into our Venmo account. We'll leave the QR code down below. Kimberly has earned whatever you're willing to donate.

that's what you were doing? I thought she was like...

And as always, we encourage you to make it a great day and why Kimberly? it is. Yeah. Way to keep it simple. Silly. Have a great day. Peace out.