Rachel Holmes has been at the forefront of group fitness for 35+ years, transforming the careers of thousands of instructors. In this candid conversation, Will Brereton and Rachel dive into the major shifts highlighted in the Triple Threat Series that sparked massive debate in Rachel's community.

Today on the podcast, Rachel Holmes shares her expert perspective on the evolution of pre-choreography, the transformation of instructor education, the unstoppable rise of Pilates, and practical strategies for navigating music licensing challenges in 2025 and beyond!

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Highlights: Here's a glance at this episode...

• (00:00) Introduction to Rachel Holmes' extensive background in fitness
• (02:30) The Triple Threat Series debate and pre-choreography evolution (05:45) The distinction between individual class success and industry trends
• (12:00) How instructor education has transformed to modular, online learning
• (19:00) The Pilates revolution and why Rachel believes it's overtaking yoga
• (27:00) Music licensing realities and their impact on instructor income
• (33:00) Strategies for instructors to maintain "periphery vision" for trends
• (36:00) Discussion of SH1FT's SkillSync program for experienced instructors
• (38:00) Future opportunities for instructors who can adapt to industry changes

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• SH1FT SkillSync Program - Cross-certify with your existing qualifications
• Triple Threat Series - The industry trends sparking conversation
• Pure Energy Music - Rights-included music solution for fitness professionals

The group fitness industry is facing a major issue: instructor pay hasn't moved in 20 years, and the cost of learning new programs or formats continues to rise. Today, Will Brereton introduces SkillSync, a revolutionary program from SH1FT Fitness that eliminates certification costs for qualified instructors and challenges the industry standard of expensive digital trainings that don't deliver the same value as live trainings.

Today on the podcast, Will explains why SH1FT Fitness is flipping the model by removing certification costs altogether, breaks down how experienced instructors can leverage their existing certifications to join SH1FT, and shares transparent details about the program's subscription costs and opportunities!

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Social media is warping our perception of what's actually working in fitness classes. One viral clip can make an old-school workout explode overnight, but does that translate to real-world class attendance?

Today on the podcast, Will Brereton explores the disconnect between social media trends and actual gym schedules, provides a framework for evaluating what's real growth versus temporary hype, and shares practical strategies for instructors to use social platforms effectively without getting caught in the fad cycle!

Plus don't forget to download your Group Fitness Triple Threat Action Plan right here.

This is the last episode of our 10-part series - we hope you've found it valuable and we can't wait to share more great content with you across 2025.

Enjoy the episode!

Highlights: Here's a glance at this episode...

• (00:00) Introduction to social media's impact on fitness trends
• (01:45) The Step Aerobics revival case study: 78 million hashtag views
• (03:00) Search trends versus actual class schedules
• (04:30) Les Mills Auckland City data: only 1.5% of classes are step-based
• (05:45) Niche step brands building engaged communities
• (07:00) Three key takeaways for instructors about social media realities
• (08:15) How to differentiate between viral instructors and growing formats
• (09:30) Actionable tips for using social platforms effectively
• (10:45) Final thoughts on navigating the three biggest shifts in group fitness

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Will’s Facebook, Instagram
• SH1FT Fitness Website
• Download your 2025 Action Plan
• 124% increase in Step Aerobics search interest
• Les Mills Auckland City class schedule
• Niche step brands: Xtreme Hip Hop Step, Meccca, Club Cardio NC