How intentional are you about creating connection moments beyond “do this move”?
Most instructors are so wrapped up in making sure students are following the choreography, counting reps, or staying on beat that they skip something more important—the connection.
When you teach, every student in the room carries something different: one might be frustrated, another exhausted, another buzzing with energy. If you’re only focused on the sequence, you miss the real signals. That’s where empathy comes in.
Being empathetic isn’t just about being “nice.” It’s about being present enough—and caring enough—to notice when someone is sending you a cue. Maybe they’re struggling with form, maybe they’re holding tension in their shoulders, or maybe their smile has completely faded. Those signals give you a chance to name their experience and respond in a way that actually lands. And that response has to be more than the routine, “How’s everyone doing?” shouted mid-set. It should be intentional: an adjustment, a modification, a word of encouragement, or even just a look that says, I see you.
I’ll give you a personal example. I once took a HIIT class where the instructor kept shouting at me to “do more crunches” and promised, “This is how you’ll get a six-pack!” What she didn’t know was that I already had a six-pack. My reason for being in that class was heart health. That disconnect—her assumption versus my reality—meant I never went back. She didn’t see me; she only saw the exercise.
That’s the heart of it: connection moments aren’t about what you want to say. They’re about tuning in to what they need to hear. When you notice, name, and respond with empathy in action, you transform the class from just a workout into an experience people return to—and rave about.
If you’re an instructor, the challenge isn’t just about teaching the moves — it’s about teaching the people in front of you.
That’s exactly what I train in The VOICE Method: a framework to help you
✔ Notice the signals your students are giving you
✔ Name what they’re experiencing
✔ Respond in a way that motivates, supports, and connects
Because when you combine presence with empathy, you create experiences that fill classes, build community, and keep people coming back.
👉 Ready to take the next step?
Book a FREE 15-minute evaluation with me on SWEATNOW and discover how you can transform your teaching with the VOICE Method.