Confessions of a Group X Instructor

What happens when the gym you’ve called home suddenly shuts its doors? For many fitness pros, it can feel like the end. But for today’s guest, Angel Ballance, it was the beginning of something even more impactful. In this inspiring episode, Angel shares how she turned a major setback into a launchpad for growth, creativity, and deeper community connection. If you’ve ever faced a career crossroads—...

Let’s talk about the hard lessons no one warns you about. From hiring habits to financial blind spots, this episode exposes the leadership mistakes that sneak up on you—and hit hard. If you're running a team, studio, or business, you’ll want to hear this before it’s too late. Ann Gilbert is the successful owner/operator Fit-Her Health & Fitness for Women, who is here to help others flouris...

In episode #73, we dive into the world of macronutrients—but through a holistic lens. Nicole Printon explores how nutrition goes far beyond numbers and tracking, from foundational knowledge to emotional eating and long-term sustainability. Whether you're a wellness professional or just looking to better understand your body, this conversation sheds light on how macronutrients affect every part...

The 2024 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year, Ingrid Knight-Cohee, is back! This time, she addresses the "elephant in the room"—the next generation of instructors! She covers: State of the Industry Today How the demographic landscape of fitness professionals is shifting Why understanding generational differences matters more than ever Key motivators for younger generations to become instruct...

Putting Your Best Foot Forward – A Deep Dive into Foot Health for Fitness Pros Your feet are your foundation—literally. In this episode with Dr. Emily Splichal, we’re stepping into the world of foot health and why it’s crucial for athletes, trainers, and fitness professionals alike. Whether you're leading group classes, training clients, or pounding the pavement, taking care of your feet isn’t...

The Power of Partnerships – Navigating Conflict & Embracing Differences Great partnerships aren’t about always agreeing—they’re about learning to work through differences and leverage each other’s strengths. In this episode, we dive into the art of conflict resolution , why opposing personalities can be a strength , and how diverse skill sets create powerful collaborations . Whether you’re in...

Episode #69 Summary: In this episode, Amy Boone Thompson dives into what it truly means to be a leader, extrapolating gems of wisdom from a book she recently co-authored, “ Lead Like a Woman”.  She explains that great leadership is not established through force, but by embodying gratitude and grace as the foundation. She explores how these qualities empower women to lead with authenticity, resilie...

🎙️ Episode #68 Summary Are you stuck teaching the same old group fitness format, feeling uninspired and burnt out? It’s time to shake things up! In this episode, we dive into the power of evolving as a fitness instructor—embracing new formats, stepping out of your comfort zone, and reigniting your passion for teaching. 💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ Signs it’s time to move on from a...

Beyond Recovery: How Rollga Transforms Group Fitness Guest: Taggart Downare, Founder & Inventor of Rollga Episode Overview: In episode 67 we’re joined by Taggart Downare, the visionary behind Rollga, the revolutionary tool that’s redefining movement, recovery, and training. Rollga is more than just a foam roller—it’s a versatile prop that enhances balance, proprioception, and deep muscle relea...

Kam Niskach is BACK for part 2! This time she speaks to WOMEN about why it is so important to lift weights. She shares with us her secrets to success and gives us the inside scoop on HOW she trains and WHY she trains the way she does. We talk about her supplement company K-Pow Nutrition and her group fitness format MetKon RX! Kam Niskach, DPT, is a fitness trainer, educator, sports performance coa...

Episode 65 is a juicy dish! Tune in to Ellen and Kam, “east coast-west coast besties” and former colleagues talk openly and honestly about their experiences with Beachbody and how they rose from the ashes.  Kam Niskach, DPT, is a fitness trainer, educator, sports performance coach, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. After transitioning from physic...

Mastering Your Metabolism In this episode, Nicole Printon and Ellen de Werd dive deep into the world of blood sugar—what it is, why it matters, and how you can take control of it to optimize your metabolism and overall health. Nicole explores the key factors that influence blood sugar, the consequences of imbalances, and how cutting-edge tools like Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) can help you...

Imposter syndrome is a real struggle for many of us, but what if constantly talking about it is actually making it stronger? In this episode (#63), we challenge the idea that giving too much attention to imposter syndrome only fuels self-doubt. Instead of reinforcing the narrative that we’re “not enough,” Ellen de Werd encourages us to shift our mindset and stop giving power to the fear of not mea...

Ever wondered what goes into the professional production of a fitness video? Tune into episode 62 where Ellen de Werd interviews her entire cast immediately after filming a lesson. We talk openly, honestly, and candidly about the whole process, which takes eight weeks from start to finish.  This episode is highly entertaining, so grab some popcorn  🍿  Thank you so much for listening! Please rate...

In episode 61, we dive deep into the transformative power of perseverance and belief, exploring how these qualities shape the path to achieving your dreams. Our guest Debbie Gleeson discusses the importance of staying committed even when the journey gets tough, and how maintaining unwavering belief in yourself and visualization can turn the impossible into possible. Stick Mobility on IG https://ww...

Time to audit your Instagram! Join Ellen for a dozen "DON'T YOU DO ITS" and weigh in on the conversation! Thank you so much for listening! Please rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and share the show! Check out the WARRIOR formats: ⁠https://warriorinstructors.com/⁠ 🤘🏼 Follow Ellen on Social: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellendewerd⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ellen.dewerd⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.insta...

With over 30 years of expertise in movement, fitness education, and rehabilitative therapy, Mindy Esau is a seasoned clinician and authority in human biomechanics. As the Co-Founder of the CNS Foundation and Co-Creator of the FluidFIT Method, she integrates exercise science, physical therapy, lymphatic drainage, and diverse fitness modalities, delivering transformative recovery and performance gai...

Tune in for Ellen's approach to goal setting in 2025. But first...a little celebration of YOU, this show, and some 2024 highlights! Thank you so much for listening! Please rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and share the show! Check out the WARRIOR formats: ⁠https://warriorinstructors.com/⁠ 🤘🏼 Follow Ellen on Social: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellendewerd⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ellen.dewerd⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https...

Get ready to fall in love! Sabrina shares her story from being a childhood dancer, to corporate attorney, to "BOUNCER". She shares the mental, physiological, and psychological benefits of spending just a few minutes daily on a trampoline. Sabrina Ursaner is an author, health & wellness coach, fitness instructor, mindfulness practitioner, and joy seeker. She helps people let go of whatever may...

In this episode, Ellen de Werd discusses how to create a dream schedule Key Points: Understanding prime times for class scheduling Categorizing different modalities into buckets Importance of complementary formats Why cultivating a robust team of instructors matters Thank you so much for listening! Please rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and share the show! Check out the WARRIOR formats: ⁠https://warriorinstr...

Amber takes the nebulous idea of "chasing your dreams" and provides a tangible, clear, multi-step approach that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat ready to take action. Amber Toole is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health from Georgia Southern University. She has 30+ years of experience in the Fitness Industry and loves to...

Jan Schroeder, Ph. D is a wealth of information and inspiration! With 25 of expertise to back it up, Jan lays out very practical ways we can hone our instructor craft. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, sit up straight, take a few notes, and GROW! Jan Schroeder, Ph. D., is a professor and past Chair of the Department of Kinesiology at Long Beach State University. She coordinates and teaches in the...

It was an honor to have Siri Chilazi back on the show to talk about how we can make our classrooms more inclusive! Siri lays out 5 strategies for the Fit Pro to help us become more aware and create safer spaces and experiences that will ultimately allow our classrooms to grow and thrive. Let us know which of her 5 strategies will be the one you focus on next! 📖 Book:  https://makeworkfair.com/ Si...

In episode 52 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!!!!! 🎂) Ellen de Werd encourages listeners to take stock of their teaching bandwidth and examine their capacity for more. Ellen covers reasons why an instructor SHOULD and SHOULD NOT add more to their plate. And she divulges her opinion about how many formats most instructors should teach and WHY!

How do you possibly do it all? Aren't you tired? Are you Superwoman? These are all questions that host Ellen de Werd receives regularly. In episode 51 Ellen explains how she manages her calendar to keep multiple "plates spinning" and maximizes efficiency and productivity to get more out of life. Thank you so much for listening! Please rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and share the show! Check out the WARRIOR...