8 group fitness class ideas for your next session

It can be challenging to come up with new fitness class ideas to keep your clients coming back week after week. But changing up the routines in your group fitness classes can help keep your sessions fun and engaging and encourage your clients to try different forms of exercise.

From ideas for different themes to how you can work fun games into your fitness routines, here are eight group fitness class ideas for all different abilities and fitness levels, that will help keep your clients on their toes.

1. Hula hooping

You may not have tried hula hooping since you were at school, but adding a hula hoop to your fitness routine can add an extra challenge to your exercises and will certainly get some laughs in the process.

If you aren’t sure how to work a hula hoop into your current exercise routine, you can find a wide range of hula hoop workouts online.
 

2. 80s disco

Another great way to mix up your fitness classes is to create a different theme each week. For example, having an 80s disco is a great place to start.

Ask your clients to suggest their favourite 80s music tracks to add to your playlist. Bring along glowsticks and legwarmers to fit the theme, too. You could even have everyone try some Jane Fonda-style aerobics!
 
If you’re looking for more themes, you could try different eras of music or even famous movie soundtracks (the soundtrack for Shrek is sure to be a crowd-pleaser).
 

3. Scavenger hunt

This idea works particularly well if your group enjoy walking or running. To get your group out and about, you can plan a race around your local area in the style of a scavenger hunt, with clues leading them to each point along the route.

Not only will this be a test of their endurance, but their minds will be tested, too!
 

4. Cha Cha Slide

Most people know all the moves to the Cha Cha Slide, but what if you swapped them for exercises? Whenever your clients hear ‘clap your hands,’ they could do jumping jacks, or whenever they hear ‘one hop this time’, they could squat—you get the idea.

There’s also a Cha Cha Slide planking challenge if you really want to test their strength. The great thing about this idea is it works for any song with repetitive phrases, so you can mix up the music you use, too.

5. Musical statues

Music statues is usually a hit at kids’ parties, but it’s a great game to play in your fitness classes, too. All you need to do is start a workout with your class while the music is running, and when you pause the music, everyone has to hold their position. If you time it right, you can test how long they can hold a plank or a squat!

6. Bingo

Fitness bingo is another great way to mix up your classes. To play, you need a stack of cards with a different exercise written on each card (e.g. 10 burpees) and a stack of blank bingo cards (the number of exercise cards you have should be equal or more to the number of squares on your bingo card). 

First, you read out the cards individually and have everyone write an exercise into each square on their bingo card randomly. Then, shuffle the pack and start reading them out. For each exercise you name, if it’s on a person’s card, they must complete the exercise and then tick it off.

The first person to get a line or a full house wins! You can create the cards yourself or find many printable copies online to get you started.
 

7. Hiking trip

Planning a hiking trip with your class will get everyone out and about in a new location. You could set a timer to create more of a challenge or even plan some workout exercises along the route.

8. Host a guest appearance

If you’re trying to think of ways to change up your fitness classes, the chances are you’re not the only one, and you may not even be the only one in your area. So why not talk to other fitness professionals or clubs near you and see if you could run each other’s classes for a session?

From dance teachers to yoga instructors, there are bound to be other classes running locally that could help you build your network and change up your classes!

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