THE LONELINESS OF THE GFI
( AND HOW TO MINIMISE IT )
Despite surrounding ourselves with people , a life teaching group fitness can be a lonely one , says Mel Morony . So which strategies can help us feel part of a group too ?
T he play out track begins , the class
concludes . The Group Fitness
Instructor ( GFI ) starts packing up . If there is another class immediately following and a crossover of GFIs happens then there may be a ‘ Hi / Bye ’ between the two colleagues . The finishing GFI hurries toward the exit , possibly stopping at reception to complete any necessary administration for remuneration purposes , before jumping in their car and heading for home or to the next facility where the process will likely be repeated .
I have just described a small snippet of a GFI ’ s day . Delivering several classes at multiple facilities daily , often returning to a home office to answer emails and prepare new sessions , with limited interaction with the staff of the clubs they have been in , can lead to a sense of isolation . This isolation can become a mental health hazard .
The irony of Group isolation
Why would we feel isolated when we are surrounded by people – our class participants – all of the time ? The answer is , because participants are not our friends , nor our work buddies . They are people who come to us because they believe that we can help them achieve their own health and fitness goals through the service we offer . They did not come to hear about our lives , whether personal or professional , and while some may ask , it is important to exercise care in our self-disclosure . In fact , some facilities have policies that require staff and contractors to keep patrons at a professional distance . Thus , while we should seek to inspire and build rapport with
12 | NETWORK SPRING 2017