Aerobics Class Ideas

Aerobics are high- or low-impact exercises designed to improve your overall health. More specifically, you can decrease your risk for heart disease, improve muscle tone, improve endurance and stamina and decrease body fat. Aerobics classes are designed to be a fun form of fitness. Try incorporating different ideas into your next class to keep your participants challenged and interested.

  1. Guidelines and Safety

    • Always start your class with a warm-up and stretching. No matter what type of aerobics class you will be teaching your participants need to slowly engage and stretch their muscles. After the aerobics portion is complete, end with a cool-down and another stretching session. This will help with injury prevention and flexibility. Be sure to tailor the aerobic class ideas to your group. Consider age, fitness level and available space.

    Weights

    • Try using free weights during your next aerobics class. Play music that is motivating and more intense. For each song, focus on a specific muscle group. You can break down the muscle groups into finite categories such as biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest, back, quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles. You can also be more generic and alternate between upper and lower body every other song. Mix together your typical aerobic moves with strength training moves.

    Dance Class

    • Have you ever noticed how physically fit ballroom dancers tend to be? This is due in part to the manner of the dances they perform. Try holding a dance aerobics class. Choose songs from a particular region of the world or style of music and incorporate their style of dance into your moves. You could perform samba, swing, hip-hop and even the tango.

    Water Aerobics

    • Performing aerobic movements in water creates a level of resistance that is unique. Simple moves like bicep curls and front kicks become more challenging and fun. You can instruct from inside or outside the pool. When you instruct the pool aerobics in the water, you are able to get closer and correct movements. By instructing outside of the pool, you can show the movement clearly and provide good visuals.

    Step Aerobics

    • Step aerobics can be energized, fast-paced and intense. At this rate the members will burn numerous calories. If you need to tailor the class for a slower rate, you can still have fun and work hard. Start by showing each move before performing a whole sequence. Movements can be as basic as marching, stepping up and down, toe taps and knee ups. The movements can also be more complex by adding jumping jacks, jumping and spinning.