Fitness is considered one of the most effective ways to maintain good physical and mental health. But as a group exercise instructor, leading classes and all that comes with it can take a mental toll.
However, there are so many ways that you can support your own instructor mental health. As group exercise instructors and fitness professionals, our EMD UK Team know how it feels on the ground. We asked them for their top tips on how they support their own mental health. Here’s what they said:
Tip 1.
Put boundaries in place – Lucy Carpenter
My top tip for supporting mental health is to make sure you put boundaries in place.
You want to support your participants, but you can’t be there for them 24/7, so set times for yourself when you can answer enquiries. You wouldn’t expect a reply to an email at 10.00pm from a traditional business, so why are you replying at that time? Put your phone down and get some rest.
Tip 2.
Look after yourself – Chloe Greer
Someone once told me to imagine my body is like a car. If you don’t put petrol in the tank, it won’t run. If you don’t give it a service/MOT, it’ll slow down and become rusty etc.
You can take this and apply it to your physical and mental health as an instructor. If you want to be the best you can be you’ve got to make a conscious effort to look after yourself.
Tip 3.
Practice Self-Compassion- Sue Wilkie
In the fast-paced world of group fitness instructing, it’s easy to get caught up in the demands of planning, teaching, and constant interaction.
Remember to be kind to yourself and acknowledge that it’s okay not to be perfect. Embrace self-compassion by understanding that mistakes are opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally.
Taking care of your mental health not only enhances your overall well-being but also positively influences your ability to inspire and motivate others. A healthy and balanced instructor is better equipped to lead vibrant, engaging, and effective group exercise sessions.
Tip 4.
Turn those notifications off – Viktoria Gebei-Tari
Limit screen time in the evening. I activated the sleep mode on my iPhone, and I don’t receive any notifications between 9.00pm and 7.00am. It really helps me to switch off and get ready for a good night sleep.
Also, I love a bit of quiet time. If I don’t have the time to do a longer meditation, sitting in stillness for even five minutes helps me to bring my attention back to the present moment.
Tip 5.
Schedule in some “me” time- Charlie Mann
Scheduling in some “me” time throughout the week is super important for your mental health. It can be super easy to get caught up in the demands of being a group exercise instructor, however taking some time out of your busy week can really help to reset your mind and recharge your batteries.
Doing something for you like going for walk, meeting up with friends, maybe attending a class as an attendee or just watching your favourite film. If you don’t take time out for yourself regularly, you stand the risk of becoming burnt out. Remember you can’t pour from an empty cup.
It goes without saying, your mental health is super important and it’s important to look after you. By practising even just one of the tips above, you can make sure that you are on your A game with your classes and with your mental health too. If you don’t look after you, then you ultimately won’t be able to teach the classes you love.
