Burnout: The Silent Challenge in Group Fitness

As group fitness instructors, we thrive on movement, music, and the magic of connection. We give our all in every class, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But behind the smiles and high-fives, many instructors are carrying a hidden weight: burnout.

The truth is, most of us don’t even recognise the early signs. We think: I just need a day off. Maybe I need more coffee. I’ll push through this week and feel better. But often, what’s happening is deeper. Burnout creeps in slowly, and if left unchecked, it can not only take us out of the studio, it can impact our health, happiness, and longevity in this career.

What Exactly Is Burnout?

Burnout isn’t just “feeling tired.” The World Health Organization defines it as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed (WHO, 2019). It shows up as:

• Exhaustion – Physical and emotional fatigue that rest doesn’t seem to fix.

• Cynicism or Detachment – Feeling disconnected from your classes, your participants, or even your own purpose.

• Reduced Effectiveness – A sense that no matter how much effort you put in, you’re not making an impact.

For group fitness instructors, this often looks like:

• Dragging yourself to class instead of feeling excited.

• Struggling to recover between sessions, even after a full night’s sleep.

• Losing creativity when planning choreography.

• Snapping or feeling irritated with participants.

• Constant aches, pains, or small injuries that don’t heal.

Why Instructors Are Especially Vulnerable

Burnout isn’t unique to fitness, but research shows that exercise professionals are at a high risk because of the physical and emotional demands of the job.

A 2021 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that fitness instructors who worked long hours with little recovery reported higher levels of burnout, emotional exhaustion, and musculoskeletal pain (Gómez‐López et al., 2021).

Another study in Frontiers in Psychology noted that the constant demand to display high energy and positivity, even when instructors were personally exhausted, contributed to emotional strain and burnout symptoms (Luthans et al., 2020).

Simply put: when your job is to always give energy, you’re at risk of draining your own reserves faster than you can refill them.

The Slippery Slope: From Burnout to Injury

One of the biggest risks for instructors is that burnout and physical injury often go hand-in-hand.

• Fatigue leads to poor movement quality, making injuries more likely.

• Stress hormones (like cortisol) stay elevated, slowing down recovery and weakening the immune system.

• Overuse injuries — knees, hips, shoulders, and lower back — are common because the body never gets the rest it needs.

And once injury sets in, the cycle can worsen: fewer classes, less income, more stress, and more emotional strain.

Breaking the Cycle: Longevity by Design

Here’s the good news: you can prevent burnout and injury. With the right knowledge, strategies, and tools, you can protect your energy and extend your career — without sacrificing the joy of teaching.

That’s why MGM has created Longevity by Design, a brand-new workshop designed specifically for group fitness instructors.

Led by Health and Fitness Expert Carolina Arias, this workshop goes beyond surface-level advice. It will help you:
✅ Recognize early signs of burnout before it derails you.
✅ Build smarter strength and mobility to protect your body.
✅ Discover recovery strategies that actually work.
✅ Explore nutrition and lifestyle habits that sustain energy.
✅ Create a longevity mindset — so you can keep thriving in this career you love.

Why You Can’t Miss This

Your classes depend on you. Your participants depend on you. Most importantly, your body and health depend on you.

This 3-hour interactive workshop is more than just information, it’s a reset button. It’s a chance to step back, learn from science, and apply practical tools that will help you avoid burnout and keep shining for years to come.

📅 When: Saturday 8 November, 2–5 PM AEST
🎓 Earn: 4 AusActive, 2 REPs NZ CPDs
💻 Where: Online (with replay available)

👉 Sign up here.

Because your energy is not unlimited. But your career can be.

References

• World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases.

• Gómez‐López, M., Granero‐Gallegos, A., & Baena‐Extremera, A. (2021). “Burnout in Fitness Instructors: Physical and Psychological Strain in a Demanding Profession.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6).

• Luthans, F., Youssef-Morgan, C., & Avolio, B. J. (2020). Psychological Capital and Well-Being in the Workplace. Frontiers in Psychology.