Fitness Program Formats Explained

When designing fitness classes, instructors have a variety of program structures to choose from, each with its advantages and challenges. The three most common methods are freestyle, pre-choreographed, and plug-and-play. Understanding the differences between these approaches will help fitness professionals and participants find the style that best suits their needs.

Freestyle Fitness Programs

Freestyle programming allows fitness instructors the freedom to create their classes. They can select exercises, create combinations, and sequence them based on the session’s goals, the participant’s abilities, and the instructor’s personal style.

Benefits:

• Creativity and Flexibility: Freestyle programming allows instructors to change workouts on the fly based on the room’s energy or their participants’ needs. This flexibility can be beneficial when working with diverse groups or in unique environments.
• Adaptability: Instructors can adjust the intensity and structure of the class based on the group’s fitness level, preferences, and energy, offering a more personalized experience. For example, if the participants need more recovery focus, the instructor can incorporate longer stretches or modify movements to reduce impact.
• Skill Development for Instructors: Freestyle challenges instructors to think creatively and continuously improve their knowledge of exercise science, choreography, and class design. It hones their ability to adapt, respond to class energy, and create fresh experiences.

Disadvantages:

• Inconsistent Quality: The quality of the class heavily depends on the instructor’s experience and creativity. A new or inexperienced instructor might struggle to create engaging and effective classes, leading to varied participant experiences.
• Preparation Time: Creating fresh, dynamic routines requires significant time and effort. Instructors must plan, test, and adjust their classes, which can be time-consuming.
• Participant Predictability: Freestyle programs can lack consistency, confusing or frustrating participants who prefer to know what to expect or rely on structured progression.

Pre-Choreographed Fitness Programs

Pre-choreographed programs are designed by fitness brands or companies and delivered to instructors with predetermined movements, music, and timing sequences. A popular example includes Les Mills’ BODYPUMP.

Benefits:

• Consistency: Pre-choreographed programs offer a standardized experience no matter who teaches the class or where it is taught. Participants can attend a class in one location and find the same moves and music in another, which helps with brand loyalty and familiarity.
• Ease for Instructors: Instructors save time by not designing each class from scratch. They receive the class design, playlists, and progressions, which allows them to focus on teaching rather than planning.
• Participant Engagement: These classes often have tried-and-tested formats created to motivate and engage a broad audience. The structure and flow are based on extensive research and feedback, which helps ensure that participants stay involved and achieve results.

Disadvantages:

• Limited Creativity: Instructors may feel restricted by the lack of freedom to modify or change the routine. While these programs are often well-designed, they may not suit every class or instructor’s teaching style.
• Cost: Instructors typically pay licensing fees or subscribe to platforms to receive updated choreography, music, and training materials. For smaller studios or independent instructors, these costs can add up.
• Participant Burnout: While some participants enjoy the consistency of pre-choreographed classes, others may feel bored by repeated routines, especially if the program doesn’t update regularly.

Plug-and-Play Fitness Programs

Plug-and-play programs are similar to pre-choreographed formats but offer more flexibility. These programs provide pre-designed content that instructors can mix, match, and customize. While plug-and-play formats offer guidance, they are less rigid than strictly choreographed classes.

Benefits:

• Structure with Flexibility: Plug-and-play programs offer instructors a strong foundation of exercises and sequencing but allow them to adjust timing, intensity, or music to suit their style and participants’ needs. This balance between structure and freedom appeals to instructors who enjoy creating their own experiences but also want a reliable framework to work from.
• Less Preparation Time: Like pre-choreographed programs, plug-and-play formats save instructors time. They receive pre-packaged content that can be used as-is or adapted as needed. This reduces the time required for class planning but allows for creative input.
• Variety: The flexible nature of plug-and-play programs means classes can feel fresh even when the same program is used repeatedly. Instructors can change the combinations or movements, making it feel more dynamic than a rigid pre-choreographed class.

Disadvantages:

• Moderate Creativity Required: Instructors still need to invest time in customizing the class and making it their own. This can be a positive for experienced instructors but might overwhelm newer instructors looking for more guidance.
• Learning Curve: Unlike pre-choreographed programs that are easy to pick up and teach immediately, plug-and-play formats often require instructors to understand fitness programming well enough to make the most out of the material.

Choosing the Right Program for You

Ultimately, the right type of program depends on your goals as an instructor and the preferences of your participants. Freestyle offers unmatched flexibility and creativity but requires a significant investment in preparation and experience. Pre-choreographed programs provide consistency and structure, making teaching easier but less adaptable to specific classes. Plug-and-play programs strike a balance, offering enough structure to save time while allowing customization to suit instructor and participant preferences.

For participants, the decision might come down to whether they enjoy variety and spontaneity (freestyle), appreciate consistency and familiarity (pre-choreographed), or want something in between (plug-and-play).

We offer a variety of programs at the Move Mentors.

• Fluid Strength: This can be freestyle or pre-choreographed
• MyFIIT: This can be pre-choreographed or plug-and-play
• SASS: This can be pre-choreographed or plug-and-play 

From a business perspective, pre-choreographed programs often carry the advantage of strong brand recognition and support, making them attractive for studios and gyms looking to offer well-established formats. However, instructors and gyms looking to differentiate themselves or cater to unique markets might find more value in freestyle or plug-and-play options.

Understanding these different styles helps instructors and fitness businesses choose the right path for their needs, allowing for better class experiences and participant engagement.