Hot take: There’s no real argument about using themes as a fitness instructor.

Themes aren’t a personality trait or a crutch. They’re a tool. In this episode, I break down why they work from a psychological perspective for both you, as the coach, and the people in your room.

We unpack the fake conflict around themes in fitness and get practical: when they work, why they fill rooms, and how they help build a coach’s brand over time.

I also share psychology-backed marketing insights and real alternatives for when themes don’t fit.

We cover:
• expanding our work beyond fitness while still serving studios and instructors
• rejecting absolutist coaching advice and honoring context
• using scarcity and social proof to drive attendance
• building a distinct coaching brand through consistent themes
• reducing instructor self-doubt and pre-aligning your energy
• treating themes as low-stakes experiments (music, mood, audience fit)
• proof points from long-running theme series and community favourites
• when to skip themes and use co-leads or other levers instead

If you’re ready to build classes that feel intentional, confident, and yours, Instructor Magic doors are currently open. It’s where I teach the psychology, strategy, and systems behind coaching that fill rooms and sustain you.

Want to level up your coaching abilities? The New Year Sale is HERE for all Instructor Magic courses, including 1:1 coaching! Get up to 40% off online education with lifetime access in the Instructor Magic Academy and suite of courses for instructors who want to level up, fill classes, and change lives.

In this episode, Hannah pulls back the curtain on one of the most overlooked skills in group fitness: how to coach different types of learners in the room. Drawing from her dual career as an indoor cycling coach and a college instructor, she explains why some cues land instantly—and why others don’t.

You’ll learn:

• Why coaching is more than cueing choreography
• How different learners absorb effort, challenge, and instruction
• The simple shifts that create more connected, confident, in-sync rooms
• Why numbers alone aren’t enough (and what to do instead)
• How expectations build trust and eliminate effort-rationing

She also shares how this approach strengthens community, improves retention, and helps every rider—from first-time guests to 1,700-ride veterans—feel seen, supported, and successful.

Want to level up your coaching abilities? The New Year Sale is HERE for all Instructor Magic courses, including 1:1 coaching! Get up to 40% off online education with lifetime access in the Instructor Magic Academy and suite of courses for instructors who want to level up, fill classes, and change lives.

In this heartfelt episode, I open up about coming out publicly at age 36—and how it’s transformed my life. Along the way, I chat about why I unapologetically repost older content, the shame I carried with me from childhood, and how discovering love later in life felt like the easiest, most natural thing.

Through stories from DJing at gay clubs to repressed emotions in relationships, I unpack:

• What early signs and shame around my identity looked like
• How I shifted from hiding to living authentically
• Meeting my partner and feeling that unforgettable “crush at first sight”
• The overwhelmingly positive reactions from family, friends, colleagues, and how love changed everything
• Why I’m picky about the places I work and perform now
• A reminder that “coming out” can feel right, if the timing and support are there for you

Links & Resources

• Resources for coming out on your own timeline (linked below)
  • Trevor Project (great all-around guide, especially for youth)
  • PFlag Canada a list of resources, including for families
  • Rainbow Resource Centre
• Learn more about Instructor Magic, Podium Prep, and upcoming programs

Want to level up your coaching abilities? The New Year Sale is HERE for all Instructor Magic courses, including 1:1 coaching! Get up to 40% off online education with lifetime access in the Instructor Magic Academy and suite of courses for instructors who want to level up, fill classes, and change lives.