95: The Top 5 Qualities of Life-Changing Fitness Instructors

You've probably noticed it before: one instructor can have perfect choreography, cutting-edge music, and high-tech equipment - yet their classes feel off. Meanwhile, another instructor with simpler tools creates an experience people never forget. The difference isn't what they teach. It's how they show up.

In this episode of Group X Appeal, Kimberly and Terry break down the five qualities that distinguish instructors who merely lead workouts from instructors who change lives. 

Discover why seeing people before performance is a game-changer, why creating safety before challenge transforms trust, and how coaching possibility instead of limitations unlocks human potential. 

Learn why your authenticity is your superpower, why people connect with humanity (not perfection), and how you can inspire confidence that extends far beyond the class itself.

This isn't about choreography, playlists, or microphones. It's about understanding something deeper: people don't remember every cue you gave them - they remember how you made them feel. Through real stories and practical wisdom, Kimberly and Terry reveal what it actually takes to leave a lasting legacy in someone's life. And spoiler alert: you don't have to be perfect to do it.

Whether you're an instructor seeking to elevate your impact, or someone curious about what makes a great leader in the group x world, this conversation will shift how you think about movement, teaching, and human connection.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - @groupxappeal.

Questions or topic ideas? Email us @ groupxappeal@gmail.com

Get your FREE Guide To Holistic Well-Being here: https://gxaguide.com/

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

Hey, welcome to Group X Appeal or welcome back. My name is Kimberly Spreen Glick I'm here with Terry Shorter. Hey, hey. Hey, hey. We're so glad that you are here with us today. every gym we know has instructors. Yeah. Some teach exercises, some coach movement, but every once in a while you meet someone who changes your entire day. Sometimes your week or even your life. For sure. Rarely because they have the perfect choreography or the loudest microphone or the newest, hottest playlist. It's really

Because they understand something at a much deeper level, people don't remember every cue you gave. They remember how you made them feel, right? So today we're sharing the five qualities that we've seen in the instructors who really do create a lifelong impact. Definitely. And you know, one of the things

We were inspired just kind of looking back at all the wonderful guests we were blessed to have here on Group X Appeal over the last, I don't know, year and a half, two years now. Yes. Right. Over the last hundred episodes practically. And one of the things, the common denominator with all of these instructors who have been in the industry, you know, whether they're brand new or whether they've been teaching for decades, they h all have those five qualities of of life ch like life changing qualities. Yeah. Right? Absolutely.

And so they're difference makers. Absolutely. And so if you haven't had an opportunity to to listen to some of the guests, the incredible guests that we've had here, please go back, listen to those episodes, and I'm sure that your life will change as well. Yeah, you won't regret it. It's time well spent. They they drop some major we call it golden nuggets. Nuggets. Each and every one of them were dropping golden nuggets. Yeah.

for us so really appreciate it. Absolutely. So we're gonna share five of the quality. Shall I kick it off? Kick it off. Kicking it off. Kick it girl. Number one. And and I would say there are probably more than five, but we like to to keep this in a bit of a nutshell. So the top five we'll call it. First one is they see people before they see performance. So the best instructors from what we have noticed and what we look up to and admire and what we aspire to be like is that

The best instructors notice the person, the whole person, not just how they do a squat or a lunge or a push-up or a burpee. Because everyone, as as much as in in life, we've talked about this before as humans, we have this desire to be seen and also this kind of fear of being seen. I think we as instructors have a tremendous opportunity to help people feel not only seen, but in a way that is completely wrapped up in acceptance, like unconditionally seen. Yeah. And

That way we have a better opportunity to connect with them and through that connection, through that authentic connection, then we can coach them. Yeah. So everyone wants to feel seen, and if we can do it in a way that knocks away that fear of being seen to where they do feel accepted, I think that's just one of the most powerful qualities we can bring to what we do. It is home run. And it makes what we do extremely unique from I think any other type of coaching that's out there. you know, be noticing the mood, not just we're talking about not just the

movement but the person the energy the spirit of the people that show up to class and that you know that's that's why I love showing up. Yeah. And I think that when you do really see and connect to that person because you can't connect to them until you fully see them authentically right then we have a better opportunity to maybe coach in a way that helps them get more out of the movement. Yeah. Which is at the end of the day what we also want. They want results and that comes from the movement and so it just starts from seeing them as people. Simple. Yeah. So keep your eyes up

No, not difficult at all. So the second quality that that we came up with was that that instructor creates safety before the challenge, right? one of the things that that that I I don't know, I think it's it's a pet peeve of mine are instructors who have the intention of go I do, I have this is this is a big one when it comes to instructors who are out to kill their their students, kill their members or

Participants, right? Yeah. but if we can all understand that people push harder when they know they're accepted first, exactly where they are, those great instructors they really have this this knack of building the trust first, right? And then people will kind of follow suit. But if your intention is to go out there and initially

Kill It's hard to trust somebody who wants to try to kill me. yeah, I know. Why are you trying to hurt me? Don't hurt me. It's true. Some instructors wear that like a badge of honor, how hard they are. Yeah. And and don't even really consider the safety of pushing people like that. Right. Safety first. So so that's important. Safety first. Safety first, people. Yes. All right. The third quality is that

the greatest instructors, coaches, they coach possibility. So instead of reminding people of what they can't do, because often I'll hear instructors say, we know this do this is like a beginner level level. If you can't do this, do this. If you can't do that, do this. But can't. And it's like it's an it's another pet peeve. It's like nails on a chalkboard. So I'm with you on the first one and this is another one we'll throw in there. Like we don't strike you as the type of people that would have many pet peeves, but these are a couple. You're hearing it here. You're hearing it here first. And I think people

People need to be reminded of what they can do. And in fact, how many conversations have we had with people who come to our class and maybe they're coming back from an injury or they're dealing with some kind of overuse issue or whatever and they they'll say, you know, I'm here but I can't do what I used to, or you know, I I I need to modify and they feel, you know, bad about it. I'm like, No, no, don't feel bad about that. Don't worry about what you did a year ago. Like

Think about what you can do now. You're here. You modify whatever you need to modify. You honor yourself. You take breaks when you need to, you you challenge yourself to the point that feels good for you, that still allows you to to feel good about coming, to feel stronger, to grow, to evolve. Yeah. But I think that the more we can position every workout we lead, every practice we lead as an opportunity for possibility for people, instead of for people to constantly feel like they're hitting a wall focused on

Solely what they can't do, can't accomplish, you know, the more opportunity we have to make a positive impact in people's lives. So it's all about the possibility. Love it. Yeah, I love that as well. Yeah, there are several people who do that right at the top of class. Yeah. Right? And I'll I'll always say, listen, again, do what you're able to do today so you can come back strong tomorrow. Right? Be smart, be safe. And I think it's important to note that what you're able to do today might be.

Different than what you did yesterday or last Like we have to recognize no matter what the workout is, we talk about it more in yoga because we have kind of a platform to do so. Sure. But it applies to every workout. Our body is ever evolving for so many different reasons. How well we slept, what we ate yesterday, how hydrated we are, what kind of workout we did yesterday. It's like so many factors play a role in the body we're in. We just have to honor that. Yeah, and I think in yoga I think it's a little easier because again, you do have that platform as an instructor, but

we still can promote that, encourage that, you know, that same messaging in any group exercise. For sure, 100%. I agree with you. that's a good one. So another all-star quality of you know these these instructors who

have end up leaving this legacy, they truly lead with authenticity. Right? People connect with people. They don't connect with perfection, unfortunately. Right? Your humanity really is no. Fortunately. Yeah, I'd be in trouble. Yeah, half the time I'm forgetting forgetting my choreography, forgetting what song I'm in. Sometimes I forget my name. So I just lost my purse about 20 minutes ago. And it was under my shirt.

Right where I came in. Right. It's all good. So your humanity is your superpower. So wear that badge of honor proudly, that big S on your chest, and you'll be just fine. You'll be just fine. So and you can tell people can tell when you are not being authentic, right? sure. They can see straight through if you are faking it. And I know there's that what's that adage people have used quite a bit. Fake it till you make it. Yeah. Right.

It applies in some areas. In some areas. But not definitely not this one. No. Definitely not this one. People can see straight through and and they can feel that energy and you know, they're either going to accept it or they're just gonna simply kick it to the curb. Yeah. So don't get kicked to the curb. And yeah, I don't wanna get kicked to the curb. Just be you boo.

So the fifth and final quality what we wanted to share with you today is that the best instructors, coaches, teachers, they inspire far beyond the studio, the room that they teach in. Because the very best instructors, they teach a level of confidence that lives beyond the workout. Yeah. It is it is confidence and self-esteem and

strength that people can take with them into their work, their home, their relationships, into all the other aspects of their life. You know, we often talk about the fact that if we're teaching, we maybe have 45 to 60 minutes with this group of people. Well let's call it 60, let's call it an hour. What about the other 23 hours of the day? Yeah. So if we're only focused on motivating them to do what we, you know, want them to do for that hour, knowing they're gonna get benefit from it physically, that's one thing.

That's

Great. You know, it's it's wonderful to be able to teach a great workout and people get, you know, great physical benefit from it. But if we can go a level deeper to inspire confidence and strength beyond the squats, lunges, and push-ups that they can then carry with them into their day and into all the other interactions and and experiences that they have, that's powerful. It's powerful. Yeah, you've created an experience. And speaking of, I was mentioning to Kimberly earlier, our our last guest, Jeffrey Scott. I I was I was

really yeah so good what struck me what i loved about one of the things that he shared was how he prepares for class he gets excited prepping his class you know you know really visualizing all not just the music playlist again he's he's wanting to create an experience that goes beyond the classroom that people can take into their everyday life so he's really wanting to inspire

and it I think a lot of that comes from h you know having that true passion, that true love for what you do and and really wanting to take people on a journey with you. I think that's it starts there, you know, being inspired to And I think from a logistical standpoint for just instructors, if you're looking at the idea that you want to see your classes grow, when you provide an experience like this that inspires people beyond the workout, they're gonna talk more about your class. Like if they get a great work.

If someone asks them about it, they'll be like, yeah, it's great workout. But if you get them on an emotional level where they're feeling inspired, they're gonna share with friends, family, and others in the the club, gym, wherever it is you teach, like, my gosh, you've got to take that class. And they might not even be able to articulate exactly why it's it's such a great experience. And that's okay. Yeah. Because sometimes emotions are are harder to articulate. But if we can inspire people in that way, it can help grow our programs too.

You know, the greatest compliment an instructor can receive isn't great workout. It's really about you changed my life. Yeah. You know, and that that like just that kind of praise is you know the that's like the the golden hour. Absolutely, 100%. Right. That makes you feel so good when you can create that that kind of impact. Absolutely.

I agree wholeheartedly. Well, if an instructor has ever made that kind of impact on you, we would love to hear about it. Whether you're an instructor yourself, or you take classes, we'd love to hear your story. And remember, if you're an instructor, you may never fully know how much your words matter. But they do. They do. They're huge. Huge. We can't take it for granted for a moment. No, we cannot. So those are our five our top five ways to

qualities of life changing instructors and we hope that you possess all of them. Yeah. Or working on strive to. Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. So so that is it for us today. Hopefully this this episode, episode ninety six. Woo we are getting close to triple digits. Should we just quit now? No there's no stopping us there's no stopping us. Just kidding. There's no quitting. We can't do that. We're having too much fun.

Absolutely. So yeah, episode ninety six. We're moving into those triple digits really soon. make sure to if you made it this far in this episode, thank you so much for joining us. If you made it this far in our show.

Into 96 six episodes. Yeah. Congratulations and thank you as well. Should we should send him a trophy? Do you have any trophies? Metals, trophies, really. Seriously, you've earned a tro like we don't have any trophies to give you, but we just want you to know that you earned the trophy. Right. So stay tuned for the last few episodes. We've had some fun stuff in store for you. So don't miss those. Please feel free to share the group XPL podcast with anybody and everybody you know who loves group exercise or someone you'd like to introduce and expose group exercise to.

This is where it's at. Absolutely. So until next time, I'm Terry Shorter. I Kimberly Spring Glick. And as always, we encourage you to make it a great day. And why, Kimberly? Because it is a great day to have. And it's fantastic. And it's great and it's stupendous. Spectacular. It's spectacular. Take care. Peace out.