The End of an Era as Marcos Centre in Edinburgh is Demolished               - By John Cuthill

Body Training Systems - The biggest issue in the Fitness Industry today -        By John Cuthill

          The pictures above are from the successful FREESTYLE Studio Weights Masterclass from John Cuthill at the Fitness Party 2006
The Scottish Fitness Organisation is a firm supporter of FREESTYLE fitness classes, but love them or hate them there isnt an Instructor in Scotland who hasnt been affected by the Body Training Systems (BTS) fitness class program. It could be that their Freestyle class has been replaced by a BTS class or that they have simply had to teach them in order to continue to teach in a particular Club or Centre. I have my own views of the BTS class and I am entitled to that opinion in the same way as anyone else, but the purpose of this article is to give both sides of the argument as possible and to promote debate from you as to the effect BTS is having on the fitness Industry. We want your views to add to the views we have already had on the subject which have been more 'against' than 'for' the Body Training systems. This could be because as a full time FREESTYLE Instructor myself I generally come into contact with more freestyle Instructors than BTS Instructors.

The main views of those For the Body Training Systems

There are many good freestyle Instructors who like teaching the BTS classes and in general I dont think that the freestyle Instructor has a problem with the standard of BTS routines, although there are some moves and classes which I dont agree with. For example a moving push up in Body Pump sacrificing safety for variation, and the whole concept of the length of the training for Body Balance when it takes 4 or 5 years to become a fully qualified Yoga or Pilates Instructor. But as I said the routines are very good generally.
The Classes are also good for new or inexperienced Instructors who haven't yet gained the experience to create good quality freestyle sessions. Many of these Instructors have told me how BTS has given them more confidence and improved them. Many Instructors have also said that due to their work commitments and busy lifestyle the BTS concept of not having to think up new routines all the time is ideal for them. So for many Instructors the BTS class suits their situation whether it be lack of experience or lack of time in their lives.
Also as well as appealing to good Instructors BTS has given poor or average Instructors the chance to get more training, routines that are better than their own and ultimately more classes in the main Clubs and Centres. This is obviously a good thing to improve the general standards but it has affected the opportunities for the high quality Instructor. I have had many discussions with excellent Instructors who have lost their FREESTYLE class to a BTS class taught by an Instructor who isnt as good as them.
It is also easy to see why the Body Training Systems have spread so quickly and completely in the Clubs and Centres as they give the Centre manager total control over what happens in the Aerobic Studio. The manager is generally not a group exercise specialist so this package suits them. The marketing of the classes is also done for them in terms of the posters and brochures, although they have to be paid for. It is hardly surprising then that the classes are well attended as there is very little publicising of freestyle classes in Clubs now and BTS classes generally get the best peak times on the program with freestyle classes in many cases stuck on at the end of the night. But the BTS classes are well attended which keeps the Centre manager happy and added to the control they have over knowing what the routines are like, the Centre seems to have the ideal package for them. However in my opinion this control over the program is gained at the expense of killing class variety and Instructor quality and individuality which I will talk about later.   
As I said I associate more with FREESTYLE Instructors so I hear more comments against BTS, so I am looking for more comments from you if you have other views FOR the Body Training Systems.

The main views of those Against the Body Training Systems    

The comments I have heard against the BTS class concept have come from both total FREESTYLE Instructors and those who are currently teaching one or more of the Body Training Systems classes.
I remember clearly when Body Pump burst onto the scene over ten years ago and at the time I thought that it was great as it was a brand new class and that it would add to class programs in Centres, which it did. The problem that good FREESTYLE Instructors have is that BTS classes now completely dominate the studio programs of most major Clubs and Leisure Centres to such an extent that in most cases over 3/4 of all classes are BTS classes, and in some cases it is 100%. The mix of BTS and FREESTYLE classes is not balanced and has resulted in a lack of variety in Class programs. I know of some Clubs that for example will launch Body Pump 57 and the same routine will be taught in 5 or 6 classes on the timetable. The FREESTYLE instructor would happily coexist with BTS if the balance of classes was better.  
Many FREESTYLE Instructors have reported to me that they are treated like second class citizens with many Centres portraying the Body Training Systems classes and Instructors as superior to freestyle classes and Instructors which of course is not the case. This reflects in the timetable with BTS classes always having the peak times and massive advertising in the Centre with in most cases no publicity for freestyle classes. This second class feeling also is reflected in the most important area which is pay rates. In many Centres, including Edinburgh Leisure, BTS Instructors are paid more than the freestyle Instructor. Again the attitude is all wrong. It is the assumption that going to training days to learn someone elses routines, as in BTS, is somehow harder work than a good FREESTYLE Instructor creating original routines and putting in many hours of work to perfect the class to make it a great experience for the participants. Club managers and studio coordinators seem to have the attitude that everyone likes BTS classes. There is no doubt that they are very popular but many have said to me that their FREESTYLE classes are just as popular which is amazing considering the lack of publicity they get. Because of this attitude Clubs and Centres have lost many high quality classes and Instructors and this can only be bad in the long run when exercisers begin to demand more variety and better Instructors at their studio.
Many FREESTYLE Instructors who have had to teach some BTS classes just to get work and continue teaching have expressed their frustration with the whole concept of both learning someone elses choreography and the teaching style of the classes. The most important part of teaching is individuality and creating original class material that the Instructor likes and believes in. Many Instructors say that they feel like a robot because everyone is teaching the same thing. This spoon feeding to Instructors cannot be a good thing in the long run and it wouldnt excite me that someone is teaching the same routine in London as I am in Edinburgh.
They also say that many BTS classes take away much of the decision making and teaching that is a very important part of a FREESTYLE class. The Body Pump class started off  the style of introducing the moves in the track and when the track started, the Instructor continued until the track finished regardless of what the participants were doing. This generally works in Body Pump as the routine is more or less static, however in other routines like Body Step and Body Jam it doesnt work as well. The Step and Dance class requires coordination and I have seen many instances where the Instructor has continued with the track and most of the class has been all over the place, taking out the teaching concept of observing what is happening and stopping to give the class more practice at any time in the class. The Instructor must have the ability and opportunity to observe and correct when required and this is impossible if they have to keep going with the track regardless of what is happening in front of them.    
The whole concept of the BTS class is known to all Instructors. In general the BTS Instructor learns the new routine and this is the routine that they will teach for the 1/4 which is 13 weeks. There is the possibility of mixing routines with old tracks but the choreography cannot be changed so the class has done it before. The class is also stop start with the Instructor introducing what is in the next track. Many Instructors ask how a training effect can be held for 13 weeks with the same routine. In Body Pump weights can be increased but there comes a time that the participant wont be able to cope with any more weight on their body frame and when this happens overload cannot be increased. The Instructor has to be able to increase intensity in other ways such as more reps or changing the routine slightly which of course you cannot do in Body Pump. In other BTS routines to have the same choreography for 13 weeks will eventually cause a platau effect after a few weeks as well as the tedium factor so the Instructor has to be able to change the routine and music regularly when they feel it appropriate. It is what teaching group classes is all about and what Exercise to Music Instructors were trained to do.   
These are the main points Instructors have made to me against the Body Training Systems but as with the points for, if you have other points you would like to make or if you feel the same we want to here from you in order to get a complete debate on the issue. My belief is that FREESTYLE and BTS classes can coexist with each other but more balance is needed in the program. There is a groundswell of opinion that the FREESTYLE class is beginning to have more demand again and with this in mind Centres may have a situation in the future where they will need good FREESTYLE Instructors. I believe that the attitude must change now as there is no doubt in my mind that the high quality FREESTYLE Instructor is a better Instructor than the BTS Instructor as they create their own choreography and teach free flowing classes through observation and correction, and there is no doubt that they should be paid at least the same as a BTS Instructor. Shame on any Club or Centre who doesnt do this.
Contact us on info@scotfitorg.co.uk with your views