Many clubs are seeing decreases in class sizes in the group exercise room.  Group exercise is a great way for the club to service many members at a low cost.  Furthermore, most people don't want to workout alone.  85% of gym members say they would rather work out in a group.  So why aren't they?  Some of the answer lies in the fact that group exercise has become synonymous with "dancy", "feminine", and "complicated."

Members are interested in group exercise; it is our job to get them in to class. How do we teach a class that challenges our front row divas while inviting new comers?  How do we get more men to participate?  How do we stop losing our beginners to the treadmill (where we know they are more likely to become bored and quit)? 

DRILLs is an athletic training format designed to raise participants' heart rates above the normal 70% - 85% exertion zone on the heart rate scale for periods of less than a minute.  The choreography is simple, it uses training drills like football runs, shuffles, balance and stability work. DRILLs can help get members in the door in a couple of ways:  de-stygmatizing the room, and creating buzz among the members.

This series of articles examines the how and why to teaching DRILLs for a more exciting, effective, and BIGGER class.