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.

Tired of spending too much time on playlist prep? In this episode, I’m sharing my go-to hacks and tools to help you build high-energy, seamless playlists faster—so you can focus on what matters most: coaching an unforgettable class!

Here’s what we’ll cover:

✨ Best platforms for finding extended remixes and high-energy tracks (goodbye, awkward song fades!).
✨ How to transfer playlists between Spotify, Apple Music & more—without losing your flow.
✨ Organizing music by BPM & movement type to make class planning effortless.
✨ Leveling up transitions with DJ tools that keep the beat going strong.
✨ My favorite remix sources to keep your playlists fresh and exciting!

This is just the beginning—inside Instructor Magic, we go way deeper into music strategy, class flow, and personal branding. But today? You’re getting my best quick wins to upgrade your playlists instantly.

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.

Ever wonder what it takes to become a lead instructor?
Or- if you're a studio owner- how to hire one?

In this episode, we discuss leadership in boutique fitness studios, including what it takes to be a successful lead instructor and how studio owners can identify and develop team leaders.

Key topics include:

✨ Mistakes to avoid when promoting instructors to leadership roles.
✨ The top qualities every lead instructor needs (and how to develop them).
✨ Studio owner must-haves: evaluation rubrics, development plans, and more.
✨ How to foster a positive, collaborative studio culture.

And finally, a sneak peek at upcoming offerings, including customized professional development workshops for studio owners and a new Leaders Lab program for aspiring lead instructors

*Join the waitlist here!*

If you're a studio owner who wants to create a professional development training plan for your team in 2025, get in touch HERE.

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.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE ON NOW: 25% OFF ALL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING INSTRUCTOR MAGIC. Use code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout!

Ever wondered how some fitness instructors manage to fill their classes every single time and create raving communities of fans?

There are 5 Keys to Fitness Instructor Mastery: musicality, marketing, motivation, coaching & cueing, and mindset.

Inside this audio replay of my masterclass, I review them all, along with some amazing success stories of fitness professionals who have gone through Instructor Magic and levelled up, filled classes, and change lives.

This episode wraps up with an invitation to join the Instructor Magic six-week course, packed with resources and mentorship to guide your fitness instruction journey to success. Whether you're a studio owner or an instructor looking for a fresh perspective, this episode is your ticket to unlocking a world of possibilities.

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.

Navigating life's toughest moments and still finding the strength to move forward and show up —how do we do it?

On this heartfelt episode of the Yes You Can podcast, I open up about the profound challenges I've faced over the past seven months, including my horse Finn's traumatic surgery and the sudden loss of dear friends, family, and finally putting my dog Pinky to rest this week.

These events have taken a significant toll on my mental health, and I share the struggle of discussing grief while still in the throes of healing.

Through these personal stories, I aim to provide a lifeline for anyone grappling with similar hardships, reminding you that finding meaning and strength is possible even during the darkest times.

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.

Zack Schares is a fitness consultant and trainer who just embarked on a 38-city road trip tour of North American indoor cycling studios.

He is sharing his findings *exclusively* with all of you Yes You Can listeners on the common themes he heard while delivering soul-shaking classes and conducting workshops for instructors.

We talk about:

• When choreography becomes performative
• What communities *actually* want and need from a studio, instructor, and experience
• Conflict between instructors and studios - the individual vs. the group
• How to motivate authentically and respond in the moment to a class

To join the Instructor Magic community, click HERE.
To sign up and get my emails, playlists, free guides, and workshops, click HERE.

INSTAGRAM
Follow Zach on Instagram here
Follow Hannah on Instagram here

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.