So what’s life like as a guest fitness instructor at a resort?
"The Lady Amy" teaching Aqua Aerobics
Each resort has its own feel, or “flavor” so to speak, but a typical rundown goes something like this:
Our teaching starts on Monday. Most often, I have met either the activities director, or entertainment director on Sunday (arrival day). If not, I do on Monday morning to go over the week’s schedule. Most, but not all, resorts also have a “resident instructor” that is a local. Your contact may be the resident instructor instead of the activities, or entertainment director. All of this is spelled out in the contract you receive before departure.
I hesitate to put a “typical” or common schedule, because all resorts vary, but I will post three very familiar themes. I can say that you will not teach more than 3 classes per day and you never ever teach on arrival or departure days. Aqua is a common format at almost all resorts except Spinning only contracts.
Three common teaching schedules:
Scenario One:
*Early morning power walk (departing between 7 and 8 am- usually taking place on the golf course, thus the reason for early departure, so we are finished before the golfers tee off). I’m normally called into action in the AM so Amy can sleep in, John
*Mid-day aqua (11 am or noon start)
*Later afternoon class (4 or 5 pm start- has been a wide variety of formats ranging from step to Pilates/yoga)
Scenario Two:
*Morning class (9 am start- varying formats)
*Mid-day aqua (11 am or noon start)
*Later afternoon class (4 or 5 pm start- varying formats)
Scenario Three:
*Morning class (8 or 9 am start- varying formats)
*Mid-day aqua (11 am or noon start)
*Early afternoon class (2pm start- varying formats)
Usually classes go for about 45 minutes. I let the crowd dictate how long we go. Heat and sun will play a big factor. As for the number of participants, it really depends on “the house”. Sometimes the crowd for the week is fired up and super active- that is a blast and classes are big and energetic. My aqua class in Mexico was over 60 people. Other weeks, people just want to chill and that’s good too. I never pressure anyone, but just let them know I would love to have them and the opportunity is there if they want to take advantage of it. Most of the time my classes have been fairly small and aqua is by far the most popular. Don’t panic if you don’t teach aqua on a regular basis (I don’t). Just act like you do, take your professional teaching skills to the pool and you will be good to go. They will love you.
The rest of the day, and night (!) is yours to play and enjoy just like all the other full paying guests.
The first step in planning your working fitness vacation is creating your profile that identifies the formats you are qualified to teach (again don’t sweat the aqua).
If you’re going to travel to attend a fitness conference, then how about Jamaica?
Amy and I took a Working Fitness Vacation through 
