Home » Group Exercise » Club Culture as a Group-X Instructor is Important

March 12th, 2017 | Updated: April 23rd, 2025

An essential part of a successful gym or health club is that ALL employees buy into and follow the culture enacted by management. The “flow” or process in which a new member meets and is assimilated into the gym can increase the chance of retention and potentially lead to increased sales through other income-generating opportunities, such as personal training, dietary consultations, and spa treatments. But how does a group exercise instructor fit into this equation? Often, a group exercise instructor comes for their respective classes and then leaves after. Even though a group exercise instructor may not be as engulfed in the day-to-day operations of a gym, his/her participation in gym culture is just as meaningful. A group exercise instructor will typically see the most members in a health club, and this has a direct effect on how a member views the club. Below are three tips to help every group exercise instructor stay a part of the club culture and help drive in more revenue!

What is club culture?

Club culture in an organization refers to the shared values, beliefs, and practices that define the work environment for employees. It fosters a sense of community and belonging, where teamwork, camaraderie, and mutual support are prioritized. This culture often encourages open communication, inclusivity, and a fun atmosphere, making employees feel more engaged and motivated. Strong club culture can lead to increased collaboration, innovation, and overall job satisfaction, ultimately benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.

1. Weekly Check-in with Your Manager.

On a weekly and monthly basis, the club for which you teach group exercise will have special promotions or items they are trying to emphasize. For example, at the beginning of each year, a health club will typically have a promotion for personal training. At the end of a class, promoting this information could help someone on the fence leap into purchasing personal training. To take this one step further, having a trainer on staff promotes the special on personal training, which could add another familiar face for these members and increase the chance of future personal training sales.

Another example that helps increase retention is when a health club holds a member contest, such as a weight loss or check-in contest. Since an overwhelming number of members participate in group exercise, ensuring that each member is aware of the contest and signs up is key to retention. These small contests help improve usage numbers while increasing “word-of-mouth” promotion. How many times do you hear someone say that they “can’t” eat something or need to go to the gym because of a contest? These word-of-mouth promotions have a high chance of new business, since the information is coming from a trusted source.

2. Know Your Gym’s Hierarchy.

The worst scenario in any health club is that a member asks a question and the employee has no answer and nobody to refer the member to. While getting to know different employees is typically a part of the onboarding process, proactively introducing yourself as a new group exercise instructor helps you stay up to date with new hires.

In an ideal situation, the group exercise instructor already knows the appropriate coworker to refer a member with a question. But what if they don’t? A proper response should include an apology and a personal introduction to someone at the front desk. Going above and beyond in these types of situations will help keep the scenario positive and ensure that this member gets the correct answer.

3. Always Promote the Appropriate Culture.

It’s no secret that group exercise instructors often teach at multiple clubs. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, as it keeps the bills paid and puts the instructor in front of different audiences. However, ensuring that the appropriate message is conveyed should be at the forefront of each instructor’s priorities. With so many different formats being offered and various cultures involved in these formats, it’s essential to ensure that your attire, language used, and demeanor align with the health club where you are instructing. For example, I can teach HIIT and boot camp formats, which are typically louder and involve participants moving around. If I were to teach a HIIT class in an industrial area where music is blasting and the clothing required is more casual, I would want to make sure that I “re-assess” myself if I was going to instruct at a health club that typically has a strict dress attire and a different population of members.

Even though it’s essential to build your brand within the fitness industry, bills need to be paid, and a job is better than no job. It’s still possible to be yourself and add your flair to a class, but swearing inside a gym that doesn’t have that culture could be a quick trip to an open time slot on your schedule.

Conclusion

Too often, we forget that being a group exercise instructor is a crucial part of a gym and that we play a significant role in the overall success of the gym, despite spending only 1 to 3 hours there. Health club members trust what you have to say, and often, you’re the reason why they come. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, utilizing group exercise as a tool to build your personal training business enables you to showcase your talents and knowledge on a weekly basis. If a member believes in your skills and feels that you will help them get closer to their goal, they will gladly and willingly hand over their payment information.

Group exercise is a key component of a gym. Make sure you stay a part of the gym culture and utilize it to your advantage!