Cathe, do you face your live classes?

Connie1

Connie1

Cathlete
Dear Cathe,

Since working out with you I have become more fit than ever before. I got ACE certified (personal trainer) in August, and am now training one-on-one at my local YMCA to be a step instructor.

I will probably start teaching by January 2004, one class a week. I am very very excited about this, and working hard on my first few combinations! My constituency is by and large intermediate.

My question to you is, would it be a good thing for me to start to teach facing my class, or away from them? I think that it is easier to learn step facing the instructor, but that may be because my only experience is with you and your videos, and hi-lo and modern dance before that, where the instructors always faced us.

Or, should I concentrate on just learning the material, teaching my first classes turned away from them (like the other instructors), until I feel more familiar up there, and then try facing the class?

Or, never face the class unless forced to ;) ?

I think it would be just much better to face the class because I could see every participant and they could understand me. These aerobic rooms around even the nicest gyms have so-so to horrible acoustics. I want to optimize the learning potential of my participants!

What do you do, and what would you do if you were me?

Thanks for any insight,
Fondly,
Connie Langan
 
Definitely not Cathe here, but that's a very interesting question. I'd like to hear how Cathe teaches also. I used to teach many years ago. I taught a hi-lo class and a step class. I always faced my students. I got so used to facing them, that it took a very long time for me to get used to working out with videos at home. I started out doing everything on the wrong foot because that is what I was used to. If you decide to face your students, you'll definitely get used to it. Your body will just automatically go the opposite direction of what you say.

I also wanted to say, though, that when I was teaching, I would actually do a little switcharoo whenever we would do any floor work or pretty much anything where I turned sideways for a period of time so that I would be on the same foot. For example, in my hi-lo class we would sometimes do routines where we would end up in a big circle. I would just do a little double hop on one foot to get me on the same foot as the class. They never even realized I did it.
 
Not Cathe either! I definitely think it's easier for the students to follow if you face the direction they are facing. I face the direction they are while doing the Hi/Lo segment of my class but then turn to face them when we do the strength work. Just my thoughts. I am soooo excited for you! You are going to make an awesome instructor! Have you started team teaching YET???
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
I know this question was meant for Cathe but as a step instructor for going on eight years, it is much easier to teach facing away from the class than toward them, especially when the choreography starts moving around the step. When teaching combos that face tha front of the room and stay on the back of the step, mirror imaging is not so difficult to follow. But take those knees corner to corner into around the worlds and you're bound to see some panicked faces in the crowd! :D

During my Step Reebok certificaiton training, we were taught to move back and forth between mirror imaging and same direciton by using tap-up/downs and hop turns and this confused the participants even more. I would say, "Continue the (insert move class was doing here) while I change direction" and they would all try to go with me. And if I sneakily changed direction while they were moving it would freak some people out. Needless to say, I always teach same direction now as long as there are mirrors to keep check on form, etc.

Another thought: You could teach the warm-up and cool-down mirror image and the step routine same direction. This is a nice balance between the two techniques.

Whatever you decide, if you work some of Cathe's choreograpnhy into the classes they won't care how you teach. They'll be having way too much fun to notice! The hop turn-straddle-shuffle back home from Step J&P is already a big hit with my advanced crowd!

-Roe
 
Thanks, Roe! Yes I am using moves I have learned from Cathe! Can't wait to see what you are talking about, when my DVD's arrive!

Debbie, I am going for my third training session today, where I get to try the microphone in the actual room the classes are held in. I have not started team teaching yet! That makes me a little stage-frightened just thinking about it! (And eager at the same time!)

-Connie
 
Hi Connie!

Once again, not Cathe.

I've been taking classes at the gym for years. I personnally find it a lot easier to learn a routine when the instructor is facing the same way I am (and facing a mirror) -- especially when stepping.

I recently joined a new gym where the instructor faces the class. At first, it tripped me up but I'm getting a bit better as I've learned the routine -- but I still prefer the other way!

Have a great weekend!

Patricia
 
Connie - I will be ordering the DVDs too. But I had to get at least one video for new choreogoraphy ideas. Cathe is such an inspiration. Even if you don't end up using her combos as is, there are always pieces that will work for different class levels or something that will inspire you to make up your own. Good luck and remember that the participants just want to be kept moving and feel that the class has a flow. As long as you are confident in what you are teaching and don't try to do too much too soon (I made that mistake BIG TIME during my team-teaching days, and it blew up in my face even bigger...), they will be very receptive!

-Roe
 
Hi Connie!

Congratulations on your first time teaching group classes. You must be so excited!

Personal preference here, but whenever I've been in a group class at a gym I also prefer the instruction to be facing in the same direction as the class. I just found it much easier to follow. I could see the front of her in the mirror and it was much easier to follow along. In fact I've often wished that Cathe would film her tapes reflected in a mirror! I know it would be impossible as we would see the entire film crew as well but, I know it would be easier to follow choreographically.

HTH and good luck with your class! :D

Susan
 
Hi there! When I teach step I do the warm-up facing the students, switch to facing away for the main stepping portion, then switch back to facing them for the cool-down and stretch. Experience has told me that people can follow step moves better when you are facing away from them. When teaching a hi/lo format, I switch back and forth. When teaching Yoga, I'm always facing the class. Same when teaching with weights or any other equipment (except when I'm turned to the side to demonstrate a move). You might want to face away from them until you get more comfortable teaching. I believe that's what I did when I started out some 7+ years ago. Hope this helps! Diana
 
Hi Connie! Congratulations on getting your certification. Now the fun begins ;-)

As for your question, there are a couple of things to consider.

1st) You should consider teaching in a manner that gives you the most confidence since without this, no class will feel smooth.

2nd) If you have not set up a teaching style yet and are starting from scratch, then you may want to consider teaching the classes facing the direction that the members are used to. This will make them more comfortable learning your new choreography and more accepting of "the new kid on the block". People generally resist major change and a new instructor PLUS a new way of being taught choreography could be too much "new" too soon. Also, if you were to face a direction they are not used to, they may be quick to criticize your class or choreography when in fact it may only be that they weren't used to seeing it delivered facing them.

For me personally, I know when I teach class I like to face front, (the same direction as the students), because many of the hop turns and straddle moves can throw participants off. Especially since you would be cueing them in opposition to the foot that you are actually using (ie: your right is their left). I have learned that the students who are not directly behind me and more off to the side of the classroom, do not get the true view of the "opposition approach" and get thrown off wondering what side of the step they should actually be on if/when they make a mistake.

When going to certifications and workshops, you'll often see presenters face the group to make it more personable. Then about 15 minutes into things they may flip flop and face away from the class. Then this flip flop continues throughout the class. I personally do not prefer to use this style of teaching. While there is no right or wrong way to do it, I think that style can be quite confusing to the participant.

I, do, however face the class when teaching weight training classes. In this case it works well because there are hardly any traveling movements, intricate footwork patterns, or lead changes that would confuse students. I actually find the class members working harder and keying into their form much more when I give them direct eye contact while distributing form pointers.

Well, I hope this has helped. Good luck to you. I know you will do well :)
 
Thanks, Cathe, for your thoughtful response. I have received similar feedback from other instructors as well. I really wanted to see what you were going to say, because I find your entire style of cuing and instructing easy and very smooth. Of course, your videos are my primary input!

The participants are used to facing the same way as the instructor, so that's how I'll do it. I just had my third training session today. I will co-teach, just the warm-up and maybe one combo, three weeks from now.

The acoustics of the room are a little difficult, and it's harder to hear the music when I'm talking and concentrating on moves! I find I can go off the beat or phrase (on "Final Cuts, a song in the middle of the CD) but I am going to familiarize myself more with that song.

I will practice yelling out with the music turned down low at home, so I can get good at paying attention to a few things at once!

I'll let you know how it's going, after some time goes by!

Thanks again,
Connie Langan
 
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