Do you really know who your group exercise class instructor is? Okay, before we move on, I just want to inform all that read this that we are no longer just "aerobics" instructors, we are "group exercise" instructors. We do far more than teach the traditional "aerobics" class; we also do weight training, mind/body, and alignment classes. Now that I have cleared that up...

I was thinking about the image most instructors project to their students. Here are some common misconceptions about us and the truths:

1. We are all wanna-be performers just waiting for that big break into "showbiz". Although this used to be true about 15 years ago, an overwhelming majority of instructors are not looking to break into showbiz. Some of us hold down regular desk jobs as account managers and sales representatives. Some work in the education industry as kindergaten teachers and physics professors. There are even a select few of us who work as chefs, emergency room doctors, and nuclear physicists.

2. We are always happy, cheery, and optimistic people. If you believe that, I have a bridge I can sell you cheap. Like all other "human beings", we have our ups and downs. There are days when we can teach four classes in a row and still have the most positive outlook on life. And there are days when we wish nothing but hatred and pain for that person in class who gets on our nerves. Overall, we tend to be optimistic and we tend to understand that we are in a customer service environment BUT cut us some slack when we are not the most attentive or positive person; just smile at us and enjoy our class.

3. We are all health-nuts who watch what we consume and when we consume it. We do watch what we eat and when we eat - mostly plenty and often. We are all very aware of the type of foods we eat. There are a bunch of instructors who are very strict when it comes to eating properly to promote good health - the rest of us like to call them "new to the business". Most of us are sugar/carbohydrate/caffeine addicts; what do you think fuels us for these classes?!?!? A bunch of us are even smokers (hard to believe with all the oxygen we need to intake) and a large chunk of the population even drinks alcohol (some of us work in that industry too).

4. We have infinite amounts of energy and never tire of what we do. Change that to we cope by ingesting a lot of caffeine and we are really good at "phoning it in". When it comes down to it, we do like what we do and we do have the energy and motivation to do it. When your regular instructor decides to sub out their class, the last thing they want to hear is your complaint that you did not like their sub and that we ruined your week by not teaching class. Remember that most instructors do have some sort of life outside of the studio they teach in and sometimes we just need to tend to that. We also have limits to what we can do and need to "recharge our batteries".

5. As instuctors, we only give good and proper advice when it comes to exercise. We can give you advice when it comes to exercising. This advice tends to be tainted by our own judgement, misconception, and biases. Most of us can only speak from what we know plus what we experience. A good instructor will be able to give you sound general advice but speak to a specialist when it comes to things like nutrition and mental health. Giving advice more specific than eating well-balanced meals and exercising regularly puts as in a diagnostic position and the gym setting is not the place for that. Be careful.

So, before you peg us as happy-go-lucky experts who sing & dance, think again. Later.  ¶ 12:00 AM