Any fitness instructors out there?

[jen_smallwood]

I'm a group fitness instructor-- I teach 5 times per week. 4 of these teaching days have some strength training segments that I lead-- with lighter weights-- more endurance work. Sometimes it's a circuit (one I lead, one is done with stations that I don't actually have to do.) The rest are kickboxing, or step mostly, with some short mus. endurance sets thrown in.

I'm wondering how to fit in my own workouts with these classes... Putting in my own heavy-lifting interspersed with these group ex. classes doesn't really give me any rest at all.

since the classes are all done with lighter weights or body weight... can I get away with this, or am I going to hurt myself? My teaching load should be reduced come June, and I'm doing some more mind-body stuff in the fall, so shouldn't interfere as much. But for now..... am I gonna injure myself?

[Aoife]

I would assume that as long as you keep up your mobility, flexibility, and address any imbalances or weaknesses you see, you'll prolly be ok. You may not want to add on additional load, depending on how much you rest, eat, and your stress levels (mental, physical, etc). If you do your own training, you prolly want to address anything that isn't getting attention in your classes… posterior work, fuller range of motion, whatever.

[LisaS]

What would you tell a client who came to you with a very physical job - bricklaying or landscaping or construction or some such - can he or she still work in some 3x a week weight training to meet their strength goals? Or is he or she going to injure him/herself?