← Certify with Pungra · Module 5 of 10 · 9 minutes

Safety

Readiness checks before a first class

Before someone joins their first class, check that they are ready to exercise. Ask about health conditions, injuries and anything else that might affect them, and keep what they tell you private. If they are unsure, suggest they speak to their doctor first.

A progressive warm-up

Start gently and build. Begin with mobility, then raise the pulse, and only then move to higher-intensity work. The Moves page shows examples under Warm Up.

Reducing slips, trips and falls

Group exercise risk starts before the music does. Before every class:

• Check the floor surface for wet or slippery patches and anything loose.
• Check the space between participants, and choose movements that suit it. Travelling and fast changes of direction need room.
• Ask people to put bags and bottles to the side, and to wear suitable footwear.
• Check the lighting and the exits.
• If the room is crowded, simplify the class.

If someone feels unwell

• Stop the music and the movement.
• Ask the person how they feel, and help them to sit or lie somewhere safe.
• If it is serious, call 999.
• Stay calm, keep the rest of the class informed, and write down what happened afterwards.

Keep your first aid training up to date, and know where the nearest first aid kit and defibrillator are before every class.

A proper cool-down

Finish by bringing heart rate down gradually, then stretch. See Cool Down for examples. Never skip it because time has run out: shorten the main workout instead.