A step-by-step workbook for group fitness and aqua professionals

Why Instructor Identity Matters

Picture this:

You’re on deck or in the studio. Music’s playing, the mic is clipped on, and participants are filing in. The first track begins, and you’re already scanning the room. Are the new participants following? Is the mic clear? Are the participants enjoying the workout? In your head, you’re already planning the next track, the exercises or choreography, and considering possible modifications for the new participants.

This is the hidden mental load of teaching group fitness. Instructors juggle roles as coach, DJ, motivator, safety officer, choreographer, and sometimes even counsellor. It’s no wonder many feel stretched thin. And in the middle of this, another question often goes unasked:

Who am I as an instructor?

Without clarity, it’s easy to become a “chameleon teacher”, adapting endlessly to every piece of feedback, trying to master every style, or saying yes to classes that don’t suit your strengths. This constant shifting can leave you feeling drained and disconnected from your purpose.

But when you discover your instructor identity, everything changes. Identity is the compass that keeps you grounded. It helps you:

• Design classes that play to your strengths.
• Communicate your value to participants and managers.
• Filter feedback without losing yourself.
• Build trust through consistency, so participants think, “This class is made for me.”

Research highlight: A review in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology found that group cohesion, participants’ feeling they belong and are understood, is one of the strongest predictors of long-term exercise adherence. When you know your identity, you naturally build this cohesion.

This workbook will take you step by step through defining your instructor identity. By the end, you’ll have a one-sentence statement that captures who you are.

Step 1: Start with Your Why (Motivation That Lasts)

Every great identity starts with knowing why you’re here. Not the reason you first got certified years ago, but the deeper motivation that keeps you showing up week after week.

Do this:
Write down three reasons you love teaching. For each one, connect it to a core human need:

• Autonomy: the freedom to create and deliver in a way that feels authentic.
• Competence: the joy of improving your own skills and seeing participants progress.
• Relatedness: the connection you feel with your participants.

Example:

• “I love watching participants improve their stamina week by week.” → Competence.
• “I enjoy designing playlists that create energy shifts.” → Autonomy.
• “I value the friendships I’ve built with my class regulars.” → Relatedness.

Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan) shows that when our work meets these three needs, motivation becomes intrinsic, meaning we stay committed for the long run, not just for pay or praise.

Step 2: Define Your Best-Fit Participants

You can’t be the perfect instructor for everyone. But you can be outstanding for the people who fit your strengths and style. These are your best-fit participants.

Do this:
Create two participant profiles. For each, write down:

• Who they are: age, fitness level, or life stage.
• What they want most: one clear outcome.
• Their barriers: obstacles they face.
• How they respond best in class: pacing, coaching style, humour, or demonstrations.

Example:

• Profile 1: Adults in their 70s who want to improve balance and confidence. They worry about falls but respond well to simple cues, clear safety instructions, and reassurance.
• Profile 2: Busy professionals in their 30s who want efficient stress relief. They respond to high energy, minimal downtime, and humour woven into coaching.

Studies show participants are more likely to keep attending when they feel the class is “for people like me.” Defining your best-fit participants ensures you design with them in mind. 

Step 3: Identify Your Teaching Superpowers

Your instructor identity isn’t about what you lack; it’s about what you excel at. These are your superpowers.

Do this:
List three teaching strengths. For each, answer:

• What it looks like in class:
• How I can amplify it:
• How I’ll measure success:

Example Superpowers:

• Precision cueing: breaking down choreography into clear, digestible parts.
• Connection: remembering names, injecting humour, creating trust.
• Energy balance: knowing when to push participants and when to ease off.

We are wired with negativity bias, one negative comment can feel stronger than ten positives. By identifying superpowers, you build resilience against unbalanced feedback.

Step 4: Establish Your Signature Teaching Principles

Think of your principles as your north star. They define how your classes feel.

Do this:
Choose 3–5 principles that guide every class you teach.

Examples:

• “Every move has potential.” Intensity comes from execution, not gimmicks.
• “Progress before complexity.” Options first, difficulty later.
• “Safety is scalable.” Every participant can enter at their own level.
• “Flow matters.” Seamless transitions prevent frustration.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi showed that people are most engaged in a “flow state”, when challenge and skill are balanced. Your principles create that balance.

Step 5: Create Your No-List

Identity isn’t just about what you do. It’s about what you refuse to compromise on.

Do this:
Write down 3–5 things you won’t do.

Examples:

• No using unlicensed music.
• No teaching if the pool deck makes demonstrations unsafe.
• No choreography beyond two levels of difficulty

Studies on workplace wellbeing show that role ambiguity and unclear boundaries increase burnout. A No-List gives you clarity and communicates professionalism.

Step 6: Write Your One-Sentence Identity

Pull together everything you’ve learned so far.

Template:

I help [who] feel [result/emotion] by [how you teach] in [context].

Examples:

• “I help older adults feel steady and confident by layering safe options and explaining the purpose of each exercise.”
• “I help busy beginners feel capable and energised by using repeatable blocks and clear cues in my 45-minute sessions.”

Keep this visible, on your phone, in your plan book, or taped to your mic bag.

Step 7: Build Your Class Culture

Identity isn’t just exercises; it’s the environment you create.

Two powerful levers:

1. Cohesion rituals
   • Learn 5 names per class.
   • Use team moments (pair challenges, call-and-response).
   • Close with a group win (“What’s one thing you nailed today?”).
2. Transformational behaviours
   • Model enthusiasm with calm authority.
   • Explain the purpose of moves.
   • Celebrate strengths out loud.
   • Offer choices that respect autonomy.

Transformational teaching behaviours are linked to higher participant motivation and adherence.

Step 8: Manage Cognitive Load

On deck or in the studio, your brain juggles dozens of things. The more you can reduce extraneous load, the more bandwidth you free for connection and safety.

Do this:

• Use a pre-class checklist (mic battery, playlist, safety scan).
• Write a one-page plan with only keywords and timings.
• Stick to a cueing framework (e.g., “name → direction → level → tempo”).
• Use two standard demo angles so participants always know where to look.
• Have if-then scripts (e.g., “If I need to demonstrate propulsive aqua moves, then demo seated with chair.”).

Cognitive Load Theory shows performance suffers when working memory is overloaded. Simplify the setup so you can focus on coaching.

Step 9: Run a 30-Day Identity Experiment

Identity isn’t built in one sitting; it’s tested in practice.

Week-by-week plan:

• Week 1 – Clarify: Finalise your identity statement and principles. Teach one class fully aligned.
• Week 2 – Craft tasks: Adjust 10% of class design to better reflect your identity.
• Week 3 – Craft relationships: Add one new cohesion ritual.
• Week 4 – Craft mindset: Use a pre-class mantra (“I create calm confidence for my participants”).

Track attendance, repeat participants, and jot down three words participants use at the end of class. Adjust your identity statement if needed.

Job crafting, proactively shaping how you approach your work, has been shown to increase meaning, wellbeing, and role clarity.

Your Identity as a Living Practice

Your instructor identity is not a label that boxes you in. It’s a compass that guides you.

When you’re clear on who you are, what you bring, and who you show up for, everything changes. You stop chasing every trend or bending to every stray comment. Instead, you teach with confidence, purpose, and a voice that’s distinctly your own.

Your identity is about more than the classes you deliver. It’s about the professional you are becoming. It’s about standing tall in your strengths, claiming your space, and showing up with clarity no matter the format, the venue, or the audience.

Owning your identity gives you:

• The confidence to filter feedback without losing your direction.
• The focus to design classes that feel sustainable instead of draining.
• The courage to say no to what doesn’t align and yes to opportunities that truly fit.

Yes, participants will benefit; they’ll feel safer, more connected, and more motivated. But the deeper reward is yours: a career that feels energising, authentic, and entirely on your terms.

So ask yourself: Who do I want to be when I step onto the pool deck, into the studio, or in front of the camera? And then commit to showing up as that instructor, every time.

Because once you own your identity, you’re no longer just teaching classes.
You’re leading with purpose, and that is where your real power begins.

Ready to go deeper? Join Aqua Mentoring for ongoing support and professional development, or explore the Virtual Workouts with Marietta
membership for real-world class examples.

If you sometimes struggle to maintain your authenticity under pressure, read The Hidden Cost of Pleasing Everyone for insights on boundaries and burnout prevention.