At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I watched fellow fitness instructors flawlessly adapt to online/streaming platforms, while I tossed and turned over how I would possibly stay relevant in a world where all instructors were essentially doing the exact same things…in different rooms of the house.
Those first two weeks were a nightmare. One minute I’d be motivated to conquer the world, and the next minute I’d want to crawl on the couch and not move an inch. It was quarantine roulette; I never knew what emotion was coming.
Eventually emotions settled, I put some goals in place, started working day and night on my new website, and continued to stay as active as I possibly could.
And through ups and downs, good and bad days, scary heart days and normal heart days, motivation was at my fingertips. Endless inspirational captions, at-home workouts, confessions of feeling “not ok,” positivity, realness, and rawness — all from fellow fitness instructors, digging deep into their brave, creative souls.
But what is it REALLY like to be a fitness instructor during a pandemic? I reached out to a few fitness professionals to see if they’d be interested in sharing their experience with me. Not expecting much of a response, the feedback I received reminded me why I love my job so damn much. These are my kind of people. <3
“Being a fitness instructor during COVID-19 has been a rollercoaster. In an instant we were ripped away from seeing our clients and moving our bodies in the studios we know and love. I miss hugging my clients and friends, and vibing in a room together, while sweating to a bomb playlist. But as a result, we have been forced to pivot and explore different ways of creating connection. I am now aware of the power and reach of digital fitness in a way I wasn’t before. It has also allowed me to focus and realize what matters the most to me. I can definitely say I have grown personally and professionally through this “forced” pause. A pause I probably wouldn’t otherwise have taken with my normal schedule. I’m thankful for all the doctors and nurses working overtime for us; I think about their strength and courage all the time.” – West (@westgissinger) Director and Lead Instructor at Session Pilates
“Challenging! I thrive off of the group atmosphere at SoulCycle. Being out of routine is tough, and not having an end date is scary. But hands down, the hardest part is not being able to be with my community and give them the space they deserve and need.” – Kallie (@kalliehouse_) Instructor at SoulCycle
“I miss the tangible energy in and after every class. I miss my community. I miss the connection. We’ve all had to figure out how to transition into a virtual space. Relating with people in an authentic way, and creating new/daily/substantive/creative content is challenging. But I’ve really enjoyed how it’s forced me to step outside my comfort zone.” – Cat G. (@c_glorylove) Senior Instructor and Houston Talent Development Leader at SoulCycle, Attorney
“It’s actually been very hard emotionally and physically. My God-given mission is connection with people. I thrive on serving people while keeping my body physically fit. I believe so strongly in the health of the body aiding the health of the emotional and spiritual that this disconnection not only hurts me, but makes me worried for the people I serve. I know for a fact depression is held at bay by my physical health, so people can’t grasp how my heart hurts for those I love helping. This has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever encountered; I thrive on interacting with humans. I hate this.” – Amee (@love2bringfit)
“It’s a gift to do what I do. To get people to get out of their head and focus on the work in that present moment, to push through and feel alive in their own homes is incredible. It’s an honor and a privilege for the community to trust me to do the little that I can during this time. I never take that for granted We will move forward and be stronger together. And that’s what I’m here for.” – Mona (@monalavinia) Trainer at Rumble
“When everything seems so out of our control, there are few very important things we CAN control, and that is what I have chosen to focus on. Staying in a routine, slowing down and focusing on self care, and maintaining a positive attitude. I’ve had to rethink the way I communicate with our clients. In studio, you draw energy from everyone around you. When live streaming our classes, I’ve had to choose my words a little more carefully so I’m able to motivate and encourage our clients through the computer.” – Megan (@meganhohenberger) Owner of DEFINE: Midland
Thank you all again for your time. You’re all angels.
And thank you to every single fitness instructor/professional/enthusiast for spreading the love, joy, motivation, grit and encouragement! Regardless of your clout, someone out there is inspired by you and your drive. Keep changin’ lives, y’all.
Stay safe and well. Xo
