National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Group Fitness Instructor Practice Exam

In which teaching style must an instructor cue while facing participants?

1. Demonstrative

2. Mirroring

3. Instructive

4. Interactive

The correct answer is: Mirroring

The correct answer is the mirroring teaching style, which involves the instructor facing the participants while providing cues. This approach is particularly beneficial in settings where participants need to see the instructor's movements in real time. By facing the class, the instructor can demonstrate actions and simultaneously indicate the correct movements that the participants should mimic, creating a more engaging and effective learning environment. Mirroring fosters a sense of connection and attentiveness since participants can easily follow the instructor's lead. This style is especially useful in group fitness classes where synchronization of movement is essential, such as dance or aerobics. When instructors face their class, it enhances the visibility of their demonstrations and allows them to adapt their cues to what participants are doing, promoting better alignment and technique. In contrast, other teaching styles may involve the instructor being positioned differently, focusing on verbal cues or instructions without a direct visual element. For instance, demonstrative teaching emphasizes showing movements but doesn't require facing the participants directly, while instructive and interactive styles may involve more detailed verbal explanations or group discussions rather than direct motion modeling.