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Help with your in put please

I will be teaching my first ab class, which will last 30 mins. This is my first time teaching this format. I'm looking forward for any input you have as well as a few basics.

What have you liked about an ab class or portion of a class with some ab work?

What have you not liked about an ab class or portion of a class with some ab work?

What would you like to be done, said, or focused on in a class?

Thanks in advance!


Wed. Jun 28, 9:47pm

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in ANY class...

pls offer modifications for those that can not do the complete "move" yet. i personally had a c-section and there are certain ab moves involving the lower abs i just can not do. i was struggling in pilates, and probably putting myself in danger b/c i was arching my back just trying to do the move... finally i spoke up and said i needed modifications but it took a lot of courage and many weeks for me to do so...

Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 10:10 PM

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the teachers that have taught ab classes that I liked told us to imagine bringing our ribs to our hips as you crunch, which was a good visualization that I could feel really well, they also do a lot of plank work, which is never something I think most people normally do on their own, and that includes side planks.

use of the bosu is helpful as well, and the emphasis of slow controlled movement made me feel and see results.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 10:12 PM

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What I've liked:
* A lot of variations that I wouldn't think to do on my own (basic crunches = dull). Use props.
* Incorporation of a little pilates-type visualization
* Include a little lower back work to get the opposition muscles to prevent injury (yup, that's happened to me)

What I haven't liked:
* When it's so hard that only 3 people in the class are still doing the move while everyone else has flopped. We don't like feeling like failures. So when you see this happening, don't be afraid to say "okay, you've all clearly had enough" and move on immediately (I had an instructor do that once and we all appreciated his responsiveness).
* Too many planks at once - spread them out throughout the 30 mins

What I'd like to be done/said/focused on:
* Tell us which muscles we are supposed to be working. I know that helps me make sure I'm doing the move right.
* I suck at breathing properly, so mention at which points we inhale/exhale
* Distract us during high rep sets with information about the benefits of strong abs and how we should be working them for different goals, stuff like that.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 10:40 PM

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I like when the instructor says "Focus on your ab muscles." Believe it or not it makes me concentrate harder on the abs and therefore I work them more.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 10:45 PM

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A good mixture or standing and laying down exercises.

I personally want to feel like my abs are exhausted by then end, so I like moves that don't take a lot of struggling to get into or a lot of set up (sometimes it takes people like three minutes to figure out how to balance on the ball just to start a move)

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 9:02 AM

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My biggest pet peeve is when the instructor is not doing the ab exercises with us. It's like she has no idea how hard we're working!

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 2:39 PM

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change it up a lot. i once had an ab class where the instructor gave us all hand weights and we continued to work abs with arms thrown in as well - that was really cool. the weights sort of made the exercises easier (try sitting up, old-fashioned sit-up style (not crunch), with two weights that you lift over your head at the same time - the weight of them pulls you up!)

my feeling about ab classes is that they can be a bit monotonous. so for me the above made me like the teacher more.

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 3:19 PM

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OP here

Thank you so much, y'all have some great advice. Keep them coming please!

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 3:35 PM

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The bridge is awesome for abs and most people can hold it for a minute and get a great ab workout. I also agree with someone above that said they like when the instructor reminds them to pull in their abs. Its great when an instructor says this a few times throughout class.

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 4:44 PM

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Please offer modifications. Also walk around and offer corrections from time to time. Sometimes you don't know proper form until you feel it. I've had instructors adjust my hips or point out a rounded back, and I always appreciate the personalized attention. If you do this several times during a class, no one should feel "singled out"

Friday, June 30, 2006, 12:03 PM

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Take the time to find out why everyone is in the class. Give those with medical issues a chance to approach you privately so you know to offer modifications. It makes a person feel like you care more about doing it for the right reasons for them than just plowing through the class. Also - take a couple mintues with the equipment and make sure everyone knows how to use it. It will save time in the long run. And you won't have someone walking out with an injury or quiting in disgust.

Friday, June 30, 2006, 12:25 PM

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