One of the hardest parts of being a group fitness trainer is coming up with fun group fitness class ideas.
Today, I'm going to share some of my favourite group fitness class ideas, so you can plan more enjoyable workouts for your clients.
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10 Group Fitness Class Ideas Based Around Rocks, Paper, Scissors
Let's start with 10 group fitness ideas using rocks, paper, scissors
1: Rock, Paper, Scissors Relay: Divide participants into two teams and set up a relay race course. Each participant must play a round of rock, paper, scissors against the opposing team member they are racing against. The winner advances, and the loser must wait for the next teammate to finish their round before going again.
2: Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag: Designate one person as the "tagger" and give them a coloured wristband. Everyone else plays rock, paper, scissors against each other. The winner becomes the new tagger and tries to tag others. If tagged, players must play rock, paper, scissors against the tagger. If they win, they are safe, but if they lose, they become the new tagger.
3: Rock, Paper, Scissors Circuit: Set up different exercise stations in a circuit format. Each station is associated with either rock, paper, or scissors. Participants must perform the exercise associated with the winning hand sign before moving on to the next station. For example, if a participant wins a round of rock, paper, scissors, they perform push-ups before moving to the next station.
4: Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge: Create a series of physical challenges and divide participants into pairs. Each pair plays rock, paper, scissors, and the winner chooses which challenge they want their opponent to complete. The loser must complete the challenge before moving on to the next round.
5: Rock, Paper, Scissors Dance-off: Organize a dance-off competition where participants form a circle. Two participants step into the middle and play rock, paper, scissors. The winner continues dancing in the middle, challenging another participant. The loser joins the circle. This continues until only one dancer remains.
6: Rock, Paper, Scissors Simon Says: Play a variation of Simon Says using rock, paper, scissors instead of traditional commands. The leader calls out "rock," "paper," or "scissors" along with an action, and participants must perform the action associated with the winning hand sign. Those who perform the wrong action are out of the game.
7: Rock, Paper, Scissors Fitness Tag: Set boundaries for a playing area and designate one person as "it." When someone is tagged, they must play rock, paper, scissors against the tagger. The winner continues playing, while the loser must perform a fitness activity (e.g., jumping jacks) before rejoining the game.
8: Rock, Paper, Scissors Circuit Challenge: Create a fitness circuit with different exercises assigned to each hand sign. Participants move through the circuit and play rock, paper, scissors against a designated opponent at each station. The winner chooses the number of repetitions for the exercise before moving on.
9: Rock, Paper, Scissors Team Challenge: Divide participants into two teams and set up a series of stations. Each station represents a different exercise. Teams compete against each other by playing rock, paper, scissors at each station. The winner gets to choose which exercise their team performs, while the losing team must perform the other exercise.
10: Rock, Paper, Scissors Race: Participants line up at a starting point, and upon a signal, they play rock, paper, scissors with the person next to them. The winner moves forward to challenge the next person in line, while the loser stays in their spot. The race continues until one person reaches the finish line.
10 Group Fitness Class Ideas Based Around Dice
Next up, 10 group fitness ideas using dice
Roll and Move: Designate a set distance or area for the group to cover. Each player rolls the dice and moves forward the number of spaces indicated by the roll. The first person to reach the destination wins.
Dice Relay: Divide the group into teams. Each team has a starting point and a finish line. The first player from each team rolls the dice and runs to the finish line and back, performing an exercise (e.g., jumping jacks, high knees) based on the number rolled. They tag the next player in line, who repeats the process. The team to finish first wins.
Exercise Roulette: Assign a different exercise to each number on the dice (e.g., jumping jacks, squats, lunges, push-ups, planks, mountain climbers). Each player takes turns rolling the dice and performs the exercise indicated by the number rolled. Play for a designated period of time or until everyone has had a turn.
Dice Stack Challenge: Provide each player with a set of dice. Set a timer and challenge everyone to stack as many dice as possible using only one hand. The player with the tallest stack when the time is up wins.
Dice Fitness Circuit: Set up various exercise stations around the room or outdoor area. Assign a different exercise to each number on the dice. Players take turns rolling the dice and performing the corresponding exercise at the designated station. Rotate stations after each roll. Play for a set amount of time or until everyone has completed all the stations.
Dice Yoga: Assign different yoga poses to each number on the dice. Each player takes turns rolling the dice and holds the yoga pose indicated by the number rolled for a set duration. You can also create a sequence by rolling the dice multiple times to determine the order of the poses.
Beat the Dice: Designate a target number. Players take turns rolling the dice and adding the numbers rolled together. The goal is to reach or surpass the target number within a set number of rolls. If a player reaches the target number, they win. If not, the next player gets a turn. To make it more challenging, you can set a time limit for each player's turn.
Dice Dance-Off: Create a list of different dance moves or styles and assign them to each number on the dice. Players take turns rolling the dice and performing the dance move indicated by the number rolled. Turn on some music and have fun dancing together.
Dice Fitness Trivia: Prepare a list of fitness-related trivia questions. Assign a number to each question and write them down on a sheet of paper. Each player takes turns rolling the dice and answering the question corresponding to the number rolled. Keep score and award points for correct answers. The player with the highest score at the end wins.
Dice Balancing Challenge: Give each player a dice and challenge them to balance it on different body parts (e.g., head, elbow, knee, foot) for as long as possible. The player who can balance the dice on the most body parts wins.
10 Group Fitness Class Ideas Based Around Playing Cards
Next up, 10 group fitness ideas using playing cards.
Cardio Blast: Assign a cardio exercise to each suit (e.g., hearts = jumping jacks, diamonds = high knees, clubs = burpees, spades = mountain climbers). Shuffle the deck of cards and flip them over one by one. Perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for the number of reps indicated on the card (e.g., 5 of hearts = 5 jumping jacks). Continue until the deck is complete or for a set time.
Strength Circuit: Assign a different strength exercise to each suit (e.g., hearts = push-ups, diamonds = squats, clubs = lunges, spades = tricep dips). Shuffle the deck and flip over cards one by one. Perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for the number of reps indicated. Continue until the deck is complete or for a set time.
Core Challenge: Assign core exercises to each suit (e.g., hearts = crunches, diamonds = Russian twists, clubs = plank, spades = bicycle crunches). Shuffle the deck and flip over cards one by one. Perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for the number of reps indicated. Continue until the deck is complete or for a set time.
Tabata Intervals: Assign two exercises to each suit, one for the red cards and one for the black cards. For example, hearts and diamonds could be assigned to squat jumps, while clubs and spades could be assigned to push-ups. Perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for 20 seconds, followed by a 10-second rest. Repeat for the number of reps indicated on the card. Continue until the deck is complete.
HIIT Challenge: Assign a high-intensity exercise to each suit (e.g., hearts = burpees, diamonds = squat jumps, clubs = high knees, spades = mountain climbers). Shuffle the deck and flip over cards one by one. Perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for the number of reps indicated. Continue until the deck is complete or for a set time.
Partner Workout: Assign exercises to each suit and split the group into pairs. Each pair shares a deck of cards. One person flips over a card, and both partners perform the exercise corresponding to the suit and number of reps. Take turns flipping cards until the deck is complete.
Agility Drill: Assign agility exercises to each suit (e.g., hearts = ladder drills, diamonds = cone drills, clubs = agility ladder jumps, spades = lateral shuffles). Shuffle the deck and flip over cards one by one. Perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for the number of reps indicated. Continue until the deck is complete or for a set time.
Full-Body Burn: Assign a full-body exercise to each suit (e.g., hearts = burpees, diamonds = squat presses, clubs = plank jacks, spades = jumping lunges). Shuffle the deck and flip over cards one by one. Perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for the number of reps indicated. Continue until the deck is complete or for a set time.
Balance and Flexibility: Assign balance and flexibility exercises to each suit (e.g., hearts = tree pose, diamonds = standing quad stretch, clubs = seated forward fold, spades = standing hamstring stretch). Shuffle the deck and flip over cards one by one. Perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for the number of reps indicated. Continue until the deck is complete or for a set time.
Pyramid Workout: Assign a different exercise to each suit and start with one rep of each exercise. Flip over a card and perform the exercise corresponding to the suit for the number of reps indicated. On each subsequent card, increase the number of reps by one. Continue until you reach the highest card (e.g., King)
What 3000 More Fun Group Fitness Class Ideas?
Imagine if you had an endless supply of fun group fitness ideas that you could use to keep your class fresh and fun.
I'm Leon the CEO of the Workout Design Club, which is workout builder that helps group trainers plan better workouts.
Each week I update the site with brand-new ideas designed to keep your clients happy and engaged.
