IGNITE Group Exercise Instructor

About Asphalt Green 

Asphalt Green is a nonprofit organization that transforms lives and builds community through sports, fitness, and play for all. 

Each year, Asphalt Green serves thousands of New Yorkers through sports, aquatics, fitness, camps, and community programs that promote health, personal growth, and lifelong participation in physical activity. Across three campuses and numerous community partnerships, Asphalt Green is committed to providing high-quality programs that are inclusive, accessible, and rooted in excellence. 

Asphalt Green believes that access to movement, sport, and wellness can change lives. Our work helps young people develop confidence, resilience, leadership skills, and healthy habits that extend far beyond the playing field. 

About the Role 

Asphalt Green is seeking an experienced, energetic, and technically strong IGNITE Group Exercise Instructor to lead our signature IGNITE classes at the Battery Park City campus. 

IGNITE is a small-group functional fitness class that combines strength, conditioning, and cardiovascular training using equipment such as Concept2 rowers, SkiErgs, barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells. 

The instructor is responsible for demonstrating and coaching movements safely, managing workout timing, identifying and correcting movement flaws, providing positive feedback, and creating a challenging but supportive class experience. 

This role requires a strong foundation in functional fitness, bodybuilding, Olympic lifting, powerlifting, and group coaching, along with the ability to communicate clearly and make quick, effective movement corrections. 

Why This Role Matters 

IGNITE gives members the opportunity to build strength, conditioning, movement quality, and confidence in a structured small-group environment. 

The IGNITE Group Exercise Instructor helps participants safely perform complex and demanding movements while maintaining the energy and pace of the class. Strong coaching ensures members are challenged appropriately, understand proper technique, and feel supported throughout their workout. 

This role also helps build community and long-term engagement by creating a welcoming, encouraging, and high-quality fitness experience. 

What You'll Do 

Class Instruction and Coaching 

• Lead safe, engaging, and technically sound IGNITE classes. 

• Coach group classes using dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, Concept2 rowers, SkiErgs, and other functional training equipment. 

• Demonstrate and coach proper technique on Concept2 rowers and SkiErgs. 

• Demonstrate and coach functional fitness, bodybuilding, Olympic lifting, and powerlifting movements. 

• Teach movements including squats, deadlifts, presses, snatches, cleans, clean and jerk, and appropriate variations. 

• Provide clear verbal instruction throughout each class. 

• Identify movement flaws quickly and provide corrections within one or two clear cues. 

• Provide modifications and progressions based on participant ability and movement quality. 

• Maintain strong awareness of participant safety throughout class. 

Workout Management and Class Flow 

• Operate a timer clock to maintain structured workout intervals and class timing. 

• Manage transitions between exercises, stations, and workout segments efficiently. 

• Maintain the pace and flow of the class while ensuring participants understand the workout. 

• Prepare equipment and class space before each session. 

• Ensure equipment is used safely and returned appropriately after class. 

• Follow established IGNITE programming, safety expectations, and class standards. 

Participant Experience 

• Provide ongoing positive feedback and encouragement. 

• Coach participants with empathy, professionalism, and respect. 

• Create a welcoming and inclusive environment for participants with different experience levels. 

• Build and maintain strong rapport with members. 

• Support member engagement, community, and retention. 

• Help participants feel challenged while maintaining appropriate safety and technique. 

• Respond professionally to participant questions, concerns, or coaching needs. 

Team Collaboration and Professionalism 

• Maintain clear communication with the Group Exercise Manager regarding scheduling, class needs, equipment, participant concerns, or operational issues. 

• Collaborate with fellow Fitness and Group Exercise staff. 

• Participate in required meetings, trainings, and professional development activities. 

• Maintain all required certifications. 

• Continue developing knowledge of functional fitness, strength and conditioning, Olympic lifting, and movement coaching. 

• Represent Asphalt Green professionally in all interactions with members, staff, and guests. 

What Success Looks Like 

Success in this role means participants receive a safe, challenging, and enjoyable fitness experience that keeps them engaged and motivated. 

A successful IGNITE Group Exercise Instructor will: 

• Deliver safe and engaging IGNITE classes. 

• Demonstrate and coach functional fitness movements clearly and correctly. 

• Effectively coach bodybuilding, Olympic lifting, and powerlifting exercises. 

• Demonstrate and coach movements including squats, deadlifts, presses, snatches, cleans, clean and jerk, and appropriate variations. 

• Coach participants effectively on Concept2 rowers and SkiErgs. 

• Identify movement flaws quickly and provide clear corrective cues. 

• Manage workout timing and transitions effectively. 

• Use equipment safely and appropriately. 

• Provide positive, timely, and constructive feedback. 

• Create an empathetic, welcoming, and motivating class environment. 

• Build strong relationships with members that support engagement and retention. 

• Demonstrate reliability, professionalism, and strong class presence. 

Who You'll Work With 

• Class participants. 

• Group Exercise Manager. 

• Fitness and Membership Director. 

• Fellow Group Exercise Instructors. 

• Fitness staff and other Asphalt Green team members. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications 

You'll need: 

• Experience demonstrating and coaching functional fitness movements in a group setting. 

• Experience coaching bodybuilding, Olympic lifting, and powerlifting exercises using dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells. 

• Experience coaching movements including squats, deadlifts, snatches, cleans, presses, and related variations. 

• Experience demonstrating and coaching Concept2 rowers and SkiErgs. 

• Current fitness certification from a nationally recognized organization such as AFAA, ACE, NASM, or a comparable credential; CFL1 or USAW Level 1 certification may also qualify. 

• Current CPR/AED certification. 

• Strong understanding of proper movement mechanics and exercise safety. 

• Ability to quickly identify movement flaws and provide effective corrective cues. 

• Ability to provide safe exercise modifications and progressions. 

• Comfort operating a timer clock and managing structured workout intervals. 

• Strong verbal communication and group coaching skills. 

• Ability to coach effectively without the use of a microphone. 

• Ability to create a positive, professional, and inclusive participant experience. 

• Ability to perform the physical requirements of the role with or without reasonable accommodation. 

Preferred Qualifications 

It would also be helpful if you have: 

• 2+ years of experience coaching functional fitness, strength and conditioning, Olympic lifting, powerlifting, or similar group formats. 

• Advanced or additional certifications in Olympic lifting, strength and conditioning, functional fitness, or related disciplines. 

• Experience coaching small-group strength and conditioning classes. 

• Experience programming or supporting structured functional fitness workouts. 

• Experience coaching participants with varying levels of strength and movement experience. 

• Experience building and retaining a consistent class following. 

• Experience working in a commercial fitness center, performance facility, CrossFit-style environment, nonprofit fitness program, or similar setting. 

Schedule and Work Environment 

This is a part-time, fully onsite role based at Asphalt Green’s Battery Park City campus. 

IGNITE classes are offered at various times throughout the week. Specific class assignments may vary based on program schedules, member demand, instructor availability, and department needs. 

The work environment includes functional fitness spaces, group exercise areas, strength and conditioning equipment, barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, Concept2 rowers, SkiErgs, and member-facing areas. 

This class does not use microphones. Instructors must be comfortable projecting clearly and coaching participants directly throughout the session. 

Physical Requirements 

This role requires the ability to: 

• Lift and move class equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. 

• Demonstrate functional fitness, Olympic lifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding movements. 

• Run, jump, bend, squat, balance, walk, reach, and perform upper- and lower-body weight-bearing exercises. 

• Safely handle barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and other training equipment. 

• Demonstrate proper use of Concept2 rowers and SkiErgs. 

• Stand and remain physically active for the duration of class. 

• Observe participant movement closely and respond quickly to safety concerns. 

• Set up, move, and break down class equipment as needed. 

• Communicate clearly in an active fitness environment. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.