83: 5 Ways to Keep Participants' Attention in a Distracted World

We're living in an era of constant scrolling, instant gratification, and shrinking attention spans. So what happens when you ask someone to stay focused for a full group fitness class? Some classes feel engaging and fly by—while others feel endless. What's the difference?

In this energetic episode of Group X Appeal, Kimberly and Terry reveal 5 game-changing strategies to capture and keep attention in our distracted world. Discover why breaking classes into "micro moments" transforms the experience, how changing stimulus prevents mental drift, and the psychology behind making people forget to check their watches. 

Learn the power of eye contact and names, how to build anticipation that re-engages participants, and why creating an experience (not just a workout) is what truly earns people's attention.

Whether you're an instructor struggling to keep participants present or someone who's ever wondered why certain classes feel impossibly long while others disappear in a flash, this conversation delivers practical strategies backed by real teaching experience. 

Attention isn't given anymore—it's earned. Ready to learn how?

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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

We're living in a world of 15 second videos, constant scrolling and shrinking attention spans. So what happens when you ask someone to stay focused for a 60 minute class? Today we're talking about how to capture and keep attention in a distracted world.

Kimberly/terry (00:16)
GroupX appeal. I'm Kimberly Spreen Glick here with Terry Shorter. We are so glad you joined us today because today we are talking about attention span. Attention is the new currency my friends. People are used to fast content, constant stimulation, and instant gratification. So when they walk into a GroupX class, their brain is already wired to drift. Yeah, that's why some classes feel engaged while and they fly by by the way while others they might feel long and

5 tips! Let's talk about the deeps. So the first tip we have for you is to, as an instructor, create micro moments. So to break this down, would be like taking your full class, be that a 45-minute or 60-minute class, and break it into small chapters. So it never...

feels like one long, repetitive, continuous, oh my god is it over, keep looking at my watch, keep looking at my phone. So an example would be, you know teach, I just taught cycle this morning, I'm still a little sweaty as matter of Yes you are, and steamy, I can feel it. Don't make me take my ponytail down.

But in my cycle classes, I teach in challenges. So typically in a one hour class, we had four or five challenges where I'll do, for example, maybe it's a climb followed by a flat road jog or, and then another climb to the top of the hill and then the sprint. And those four songs together make one challenge, one chapter of that class. so in for ripped. Yeah, I just taught that this morning and ripped. I think that's one of the reasons why

It's It's ⁓

So I think the reason why it's done so well is it has components. know, it's an acronym and each one of the components represents a different modality of fitness. So we start with a warmup, we go into resistance, we focus on biceps triceps shoulder work, just with dumbbells. Then we'll go into intervals after six minutes, we'll move into power. The first P and Ripped where we use, you know, multi joint multi muscle exercises. Then we move into plyometrics, which is like a sports base, you know, skills and drills section. And then we end

End it with endurance, the Ian Ript, which is like a mixed martial arts section. So you're getting all of this different kind of movement so you're not hanging out in one kind of movement pattern for a long period of time at all. Just when you think that you're busted up and you can't go any further, then we switch it up on you. chapter. Next chapter. We turn the page. So yeah, so small chapters, yeah, it never feels repetitive. People don't look at the clocks, which I love.

because they're engaged. They're Yeah, they just look at the end like, my gosh, how was that an hour? Yeah, how did it get by so fast? Yeah, and we were just talking about yoga as well. The yoga we teach is in these stages so that each one, each stage is like its own chapter. So that's the way to look at your class. See if you, maybe you already do this, but if not, see if you can intentionally break your class into chapters. Yeah, absolutely. So one of the other tips to keep people engaged and to keep their attention, ⁓

for

a longer period of time than 15 seconds than a scroll and Instagram scroll. Change the stimulus. Right. So in what I mean by that is you can switch the tempo up right of the music, which I know in your cycle class, right? A client, the music for client, a client is going to be a lot different than the music in a sprint, right? Change the movement pattern. Like I just talked about with ripped, you know, going from, let's say a sports based skill of drills where you're playing like doing basketball drills and then moving into a

where you're punching and kicking and throwing knees and elbows, right? Change the movement or change the energy frequently enough to kind of reengage people's attention. ⁓ You know, that's one of the things I loved about vinyasa yoga. That's, never thought I'd be teaching. I've said that over and over again, but I love.

fact that you know we change the energy in the room we start we start by creating space we're calm we're focused we're setting our intention and then before you know it you are off to the races you're sweaty you're feeling great you're feeling limber you're feeling empowered

So, change the stimulus. How do you change the stimulus? Well, I think, you know, it depends on what class you're teaching. it happens naturally within the journey. But in other classes, even the way you cue. You know, obviously a lot of how we communicate, 38 % exactly, according to research, comes through the tone of our voice. And so sometimes, have ever been to a class where it's really monotone the entire time? just the fluctuation in the tone of our voice.

Or sometimes we're cueing more instructional, but then we shift gears and get more motivational and then maybe go into inspiration. And so kind of, think that mixes up the stimulus as well. Sure. And then if you have, if you know, there's some clubs that may not have this, but our clubs at Lifetime, they have this, ⁓ that kind of, enhances the atmosphere. guess you can say lighting.

the stimulus ⁓ with lighting is huge too. You you can go from your light blues and calming kind of colors to the flashy strobes, the red lights and so on and so forth to give it more energy. And ⁓ it just really changes the, you know, the pace of, know, how the class feels as well. ⁓ So if you have lights, that's another stimulus. Stimuli,

plural yeah yeah who teach you how to spoke I don't know I'm still waiting for someone to show up so here's another tip for you we've talked about this before but eye contact with people in your class and use their names use your names when you can I know it's hard to remember names I think it's challenging for a lot of us but I tell you nothing pulls someone

back faster than feeling seen. So whether it's know looking at them and if you can't the name right away mention maybe something they're wearing or something they're doing really well. You know on cycle this morning I just happened to notice that

Sandy for example, who normally rides in the back row was up in the second row. So I'm like, Sandy's up in the front row. Nice. And she's like, she noticed me. She's like, yeah, it's on her attention. Not that she was drifting, she was in it, but that can help. just making it a habit to connect with people, to not just act like you're teaching to this blank wall, you're teaching to human beings and human beings want to be seen. Absolutely. I mean, that's one of the,

the parts of the Maslow's hierarchy of needs. We have this need for feeling like we're part of something, for belonging. so when you see people, it helps them feel like they're in it, they're there with you and they're part of this greater thing that you've created, which is really awesome. Yeah, that's the magic of group exercise, right? It's feeling like you're a part of community for sure. Big time. So yeah, one of the folks that, I mean, there's many.

But one that comes to mind right now, right off the bat is Jenny. I don't know if you know, you know, Jenny, I harass Jenny every time I walk by your room. She's always standing in the front corner by the door and she always has a tank top with different sayings, right? And so that's one of the things I love. I love going up to her and say, what does your shirt say today? Absolutely. Absolutely. So what kind of inspiration can Jenny share today? So thank you, Jenny. She listens.

Listen to group X appeal to you. Oh awesome. Hi Danny. you so much. I'm sorry I harassed you and Tina when I walked by class. It's totally on purpose. It's out of love. So there was a guy that I thought I lost today. He was in the back row. mean you thought you lost him? I I lost him. We're talking about people drifting. Their attention. That's what this is about. Oh is it? What are we talking about again?

So he had like a phone holder on top of the bike. His phone set up. I'm like, this dude is watching ESPN. know it. So I made my way to the back door. I got to dance my room around him like this bump and everybody went, I got to the back and I came right around with him. I'm like, so what are we watching? I'm on the microphone and they're like, so what are we watching? And he just looked at me he goes, my numbers. And it was totally connected to his heart rate monitor.

Okay, when you said my numbers I thought I was thinking stocks I use chicken stocks or something Let's not assume that people are present Leave your people alone

But it does help to get out and move around the room and really be able to connect with people. His name was Keith. That's my father's name. nice, you can't forget that. So it's still good to get back there and check out his numbers. Check out his numbers. Not ESPN or a movie. You imagine. That's awesome. I'm just watching Princess Bride. I love it. I love it. My name is Inigo Medoya.

Yeah, let's do another one. So another one you could do to maintain presence and keep people in it to win it. Build anticipation, right? Build anticipation. Tell me more. Tease what's coming next. Everybody loves at least a little bit of a tease, right? So stay with me. Right, right. This also sounds like it should be another episode, but okay.

So maybe something like that like so stay with me you're not gonna believe what's happening right? this next section It's gonna knock your socks off. I hope you're wearing two pairs of socks right now, right? So something like that. You're not gonna believe what's coming up next if you love this section wait till we get to this next section. It's gonna like get you so excited and even more sweaty ⁓

My guess is his next class is going to be wait listed for sure. It's not ripped, it's stripped. You're going start working on that acronym? Oh my goodness. So yeah, so how do you kind of build anticipation and get people Well, not like that. Okay, so you have a different approach. Let's hear your approach.

Yeah, it could be as simple as, know, cycles on my mind since that's what I taught this morning. I teach it in challenges. And so once we get through one challenge, I'm like, oh, OK, guys, you ready? This next challenge is going to be a really fun one. It's one of my favorites, and they're always one of my favorites. But it seems to work. gets everyone kind of re-engaged. I ask them, and then I let them know what's coming. And I'm like, are you in it with me? And they're like, woohoo! And woohoo!

That's the visual. And the headbob.

That's good. That's good. I don't think I wore my waterproof today. This is a problem.

So one more tip we have for you before we make this like such a long episode that you can't maintain your attention to it We have one more tip and it's a really good one. Yeah, I'm gonna miss this one. Do not click away right now. No, now's not the time

practice. So the fifth one make it feel like an experience not just a workout. Yes. Not that a workout isn't important it is it's why we're drawn to to do what we do to move around. still crying from laughing. ⁓

But emotion matters more than repetition. And connection over choreography is more important. So yes, we get in there, we do the reps, we do the choreography, we do the movement, the things that we need to do. But that emotion and that connection, that's what brings the experience to life and allows us to feel like, we're part of something.

But B, makes the time go faster. Because we're in it. We're in it, we're not staring at the clock. So, just remember this, and I hope those five tips helped you, because attention, it's not given anymore. It is owned, earned. It is earned. And then you own it after you earn it. And then you own it. After you earn it, yeah. I'm gonna shut up and you talk about it.

So when you create a class that keeps people engaged, they don't just stay present, they will keep coming back time and time again. So you can expect that, take that to the bank, cash that in. Cash it in. Yeah. So if this hit home for you, we'd love for you to share this episode maybe with another instructor, workout buddy, and tell us what keeps you engaged in a class. What happens in a Group X experience that prevents you from looking at your watch?

Right, is there any of the things we talked about or something completely different? Yeah, we never said it was an all-inclusive list, we just gave five tips. What else you got? Let us know. We would love to hear it. that is it for us today. Thank you so much for tuning in to Group X Appeal. We really appreciate your time, your energy, your presence, of course. attention. Your attention, yes. Thanks for your attention. And as we wrap this up, please make sure that you share this, make sure that you like it. Lee, please, please, please, we'd appreciate this.

It really allows us to continue sharing our passion with you by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast channel or on Spotify or anywhere else or message us if you have any questions, comments, feedback or any requests for any future episodes as well. Absolutely. That was it. So my name is Terry Shorter. I'm Kimberly Springclick. And as always we thank you and wish you a wonderful day. And why Kimberly? Because it is a wonderful day to It is. Take care. Much love. Peace out.