Fitness Goes Social
By: Charlie De Mar
Updated: November 1, 2012
Local fitness instructors are now cracking the whip outside of the gym. Holding clients accountable reaches a whole new level.
If you think working out in a group class ends when you leave the gym--think again-- as local fitness instructors are calling upon social media websites not only to motivate clients but also to create an interactive health conscious community.
"It's just a way to connect with them and I might describe a class that's coming up to kind of intrigue them a little bit," said Kim Carpenter.
Group fitness instruction has evolved from leg warmers and leotards to constant social media interaction.
Kim Carpenters been a fitness instructor for over 20 years and remembers when instruction ended at the gym.
"Back when we never did anything like this and I like that it's going this route," said Carpenter."
Carpenter connects with her class participants outside of class on Facebook. She offers words of encouragement to those who regularly take her classes
"We Get Closer to them the more we reach out to them and we kind of become a family--it's a home away from home," said Carpenter.
Hannah Picotte teaches group fitness classes alongside Carpenter and uses Facebook to motivate and keep her participants stretching for their fitness goals.
"It realy keeps you accountable. You know that instructors going to call you our if you don't come at 5:30 every Wednesday they're going to send you a note," said Picotte.
Piccote agrees that interacting online with her clients brings her closer to them but says it also helps her build an audience.
"There's a lot of members that want to know if you're teaching a different class that week or if your subbing in so when you post it and when they show up that day its a great feeling," said Picotte.
"She likes to do push ups and I try to match her for every push up she does and she'll write me and say my shoulders hurt how about your arms," said Rick Berghoff.
Rick Berghoff regularly takes Carpenter and Picotte's class and says he's more conscious of regularly attending because he knows his teachers are keeping tabs.
"It creates a better atmosphere in class because if everyone hates doing a certain push up then it gets passed around," said Berghoff.
If we can motivate a few people then that's what I'm all about, I love to do it," said Carpenter.
