For sports coaches and exercise teachers and home-exercisers: What the latter should expect from anyone coaching you!

This formula is offered as a guide to all who provide a service to others.

We work to maximise the motivation of all members of our teams, classes or individual clients, by providing education, guidance and inspiration. A noble calling… Often, clients follow individual teachers only because we stimulate and challenge, offer satisfying and enjoyable workouts. However, how do we keep our own batteries charged, so that daily, we can continue to remain focused and able to give what each participant deserves, our best?

P-PASSION– (not because you want to sleep with your clients!) but teach because you have strong enthusiasm for the work;

PRIDE-belief in yourself and keeping to a consistently high standard (your self-worth is involved in always striving for high standards);

PEOPLE- the personal element is never forgotten; we do what we do because we like people, seek to recognise the individual person and give support.

H-HAPPY– Because I’m doing what I like and can communicate this happiness to and with others;

HEALTH-fitness as an important component of Health, and my expertise makes me Helpful to Healing others;

HEDONISM-my belief in pleasure as central to my activities shared with others.

I-INSPIRE– my role is to animate and stimulate others;

IMAGINATION-the challenge to be creative and resourceful (e.g. during drought and water restrictions, emptied 3 lanes of the pool to save);

INTENSITY-my most important variable in the FIT formula.

L-LAUGHTER-the joy unconstrained, the humour to be found in every class; make ‘em laugh and they’ll love your classes;

LEARN-you’re there to teach others, as a Leader, to empower through knowledge and giving the secrets of taking control of their own bodies. Similarly, one continually learns from encounters with others;

LIVELIHOOD- never forget the economics of teaching; all you do helps keep the wolves at bay! (LUNATIC- don’t forget to release the lunacy every so often, be eccentric, surprise them and release similar in your participants).

I-INFORMATIVE– teachers convey knowledge; classes learn the pleasure derived from sharing information that improves the quality of life;

INDUSTRIOUS-the old Protestant work ethic; you should not be happy unless engaged in useful pursuits;

INDEMNITY- never forget that if they drown or choke, that a million rand should cover much of the damages!

The final P=-PERFORMANCE– every class is executing a public show-the show must always go on-and once again the ego should be adrenalising to perform with excellence;

PERSUADE- every class is an opportunity to convince others to believe in exercise as a fundamental part of lifestyle to derive the benefits we ourselves should be displaying as exponents of physical wellness;

PROFESSIONALISM- on what we should pride ourselves; each encounter with a class is a celebration of our skills, competence and superiority in understanding what moves and strokes will take our clients to greater fitness and health.