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Hey, everyone.
Angie Miller here with AFAA, and I'm
glad you joined me here today for more education, motivation,
and tips to take our teaching to the next level.
Today, I want to talk to you about assumptions,
how that can get in the way of best practices,
causes to take on more responsibility than we need to,
or, even forget how to set healthy boundaries.
So I have four assumptions we never
want to make when it comes to our members.
Number one, never assume we're responsible for their workout.
We're responsible to deliver a safe, quality workout that
is well planned and executed.
They are responsible for what they get out of it.
They have to be willing to pick up whatever we're putting out
there, and make the most of it.
The best thing we can do, is empower them.
Give them the wheel, and remind them
that they're the one driving the car.
It's not us.
If they really want to see change,
they have to work for it.
Number two, never assume that we know
what's best for their body.
It's OK to push them, but it's not OK to take it too far.
To turn up the resistance dial in an indoor cycling bike,
or to get in their face and yell at them to squat deeper, or run
faster, or go longer.
The goal is to teach them to listen to their body.
We may not know if they're nursing an injury,
or they're maxed out emotionally,
and this is all they've got.
Remember, they're the boss.
They get to decide what's best for their body.
Number three, never assume that we have all the answers.
I have members ask me all the time
about an injury, or an area of discomfort or pain.
We have to remember that we're not doctors,
and we don't diagnose.
Even if we are doctors, we know better
than to diagnose in that setting.
I'm a mental health therapist, but I
don't offer mental health services when
I'm teaching group fitness.
We can offer simple tips like ice or elevation
when it applies, and we can show them modifications
and alternate exercises, but I always
ask, have you gone to see your doctor,
and I encourage them to seek medical attention.
Number four, last but not least, never assume
that one negative person should get more space in our head
than 34 positive ones.
We teach a class, and we're on that group fitness high.
Everyone saying thank you, great workout.
And then there's that one person.
Either they stood in the front row the whole time,
and they let us know-- thanks to their body language--
that our workout maybe was sub par.
Or maybe they come up to us after class
and they give us a few tips.
That's the best case scenario, because it beats locker room
talk any day, and it may be that we can learn something
from them.
But whatever the case, we have to maintain perspective.
We don't want that one person to be
the voice that rings in our ears the rest
of the day or the week.
Instead, we want to hear the 34 positive voices who
remind us that we are making a difference.
So I'm so glad you joined me here.
Those are my four assumptions we never want to make.
I hope that you'll continue connecting
with me on social media.
On Instagram I'm AngieMillerFitness,
and on Facebook and Twitter AmandaMillerFit.
My website's AngieMillerFitness.com.
Keep doing what you love and loving what you do.
I'll see you next week.