Wardrobe Malfunctions...

I love those cable shows where people who seem to have never met a mirror suddenly are confronted by stylists and asked to evaluate their look.  The makeover recipient is usually a nice enough person, who has gotten sidetracked and stopped thinking about their image.  The result is usually that this person's look is telling an unflattering story to the world.

It gets me thinking - what are we as instructors projecting with our clothing choices?  And what should we be projecting?  How can we promote fitness while projecting confidence and professionalism; all while mixing in our own sense of style?

1. Look like the instructor - This does not mean that you have to have the latest, most expensive workout wardrobe available.  It means that you should look like you are in class to work and that your job is to train your participants.  Wear a fitness shirt and shorts or pants.  The Corona t-shirt you got at the beach last weekend is not a fitness shirt.  Neither is a bra.  Find a balance somewhere in between.  A few more things to consider in this area:
• solids or stripes are less abrasive than patterns
• dark colors will come off as more professional
• consider the format you are teaching when choosing your gear
2. Don't buy Bottoms at WalMart - Let's just say this, on your hands and knees while stretching in front of a full class is the wrong time to find out that your bottoms are threadbare.  Discount store pants are not sold for their quality, they are sold for their price.  You may be able to get away with wearing cheap pants (or tight shorts) one or two times, but pretty soon the washing machine is going to get the best of them.  The material (uhm, especially the seams and material on the inner thigh) will wear thin before you realize it, but not before your participants do.  I have seen it happen more times than I care to remember.  Consider the quality of the material and seams when buying tight pants or shorts for teaching.
   **NOTE:  I have noticed since writing this article that the materials used WalMart's activewear have gotten much better.  I still stand by what I said about the seams, though!  Your pants should be considered an investment - a malfunction in this area could be traumatic.
3. No perfume please! - It is lovely to smell nice, but there are a lot of things to consider in a general population setting.  Some of your participants have asthma or allergies.  You are in a crowd of people and you don't know what each person's individual circumstances are.  It's best to err on the side of caution.
4. Make sure everything is covered - Be modest when you are teaching.  Save the skin for the fitness competition.  If there is a chance you might show something you don't want to during class, cover it up and make sure that there is a generous 'margin' on all sides.  You should not have to worry about your outfit slipping while you are teaching - you will have enough to deal with.
5. Update often, but not too often - I am not saying that Nike should feel obligated to give you a call whenever they release new clothes, but if you are still wearing a thong bikini over your tights, well, we need to talk.  And to address the other extreme, trends are a lot of fun, but keep them in moderation.  Too much of any one style can really look out of place in the gym.  Minor modifications can make your look ageless rather than dated.
6. Watch your step - Pay attention to your choice of footwear.  You are setting an example, so make sure that your shoes are appropriate to the format you are teaching.  For example - many people wear running shoes for step class.  Running shoes have a lot of padding in the heel and therefore are not appropriate for step because they push the knee out of alignment while stepping up.  Even though you know your participants are going to wear running shoes (even though they shouldn't), you should not wear running shoes for step class when you are teaching.

Make sure that your look tells the story that you want to tell.  Even if you only buy one nice outfit every couple years and wear it every time you teach, it's a good investment if you know you look professional and in charge.

Written by Kelly Coulter

I've got something you can add to the bottom. Consider light colors carefully if you sweat heavy. A light grey cotton top/short set might not look so good if you sweat a lot and depending WHERE you sweat. YUCK!
 - Jelicle

Q: I'm just starting out as an instructor. Regarding step, what kind of shoe should I look for if I musn't wear a running shoe? - Shawn
A: Personally, I always prefer cross trainers. You want great cushioning in the heel and forefoot and good lateral stability (lots of width in the sole of the shoe under your toes.)  Some brands will fit your foot better than others - let me know when you find your favorite. - Kelly
Follow Up: Whew! I finally found a shoe that I liked - Nike Air Edge Trainer. Took me quite a bit of searching and research too. But it's really comfortable and lightweight. There's no need to "break in" the shoe since it fits so snugly, but I'm still letting my foot muscles adjust to the different feel of trainers (I've been using running shoes since forever).

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