In this episode of Off the Mic, Shay dives into one of the hardest truths for group fitness instructors: not everyone will love you. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s the key to a long, fulfilling career.

Shay shares why confidence comes from knowing your secret sauce (who you are, why you teach, and how you deliver your classes) and how the best instructors in the world don’t try to please everyone. They master their craft, own their style, and magnetize the right people.

You’ll learn:

• Why being disliked is actually proof you’re magnetic.

• What it takes to have unshakeable confidence in the face of haters.

• The Four Pillars every great instructor nails to deliver unforgettable classes.

If you're ready to start building unshakable confidence in your classes, this one’s for you.

Join the Off the Mic Newsletter here: https://fitcarma.com/offthemic

Become a GXC Member here: https://conservatory.fitcarma.com/go/order/

Have you ever had that gut-punch moment when someone copies your playlist, your cues, or even your whole class format? It stings.

In this episode of Off the Mic, I’m sharing a candid, story-packed conversation about:

• My 2025 East Coast summer training tour and why in-person mentorship is making a comeback

• The difference between copying vs. “stealing like an artist”

• Why originality is a myth and your secret sauce is unstealable

• How to protect your energy, trust your creativity, and keep making magic even if others imitate you

We’ll also talk about playlisting, and how to reclaim your creative confidence without spending hours on every single class.

Press play now and take back your creative power.

Links & References:

Killer Playlists in Less Time Challenge – 10 days to build programming-aligned playlists in 30 mins or less → [Sign Up Here]

🌟 Join the Group X Conservatory – Courses, challenges, and ongoing mentorship for instructors → [Join Here]

📲 Follow The GXC on Instagram → @thegroupx_conservatory

We’re halfway through the year, and if you’re anything like me, this is when things start to feel… fuzzy.

You’ve been showing up. You’ve been pouring your energy into your classes. But maybe your momentum has dipped. Maybe you’re starting to coast. Or maybe you’re wondering… “Am I even growing right now?”

This episode is your nudge to pause and check in with yourself, your goals, and how you’re feeling in your role. Not because something’s wrong,  but because you deserve to feel aligned, supported, and excited about where you're headed next.

Inside, I’m sharing:

• My favorite mid-year reflection prompts

• How to start a real conversation with your studio owner or lead

• And a  powerful resource to help you track your growth and reignite your spark for the second half of the year

fitcarma.com/toolkit It’s packed with self-reflection prompts, goal-setting templates, and ready-to-use scripts, whether you’re checking in with yourself or leading a team.

Join me inside The Group X Conservatory and get access to: -Challenges and masterclass replays -Full courses on cueing, music, experience design, and more -A private community of purpose-driven instructors -Ongoing support and coaching (from me, and some of the best in the industry)

Join the Conservatory

What if your playlist wasn’t just a high energy list of songs, but a nervous system intervention? What if music could be the difference between a class that feels flat and one that leaves people cracked open in the best way?

In this episode of Off the Mic, my husband Barry and I sit down with Emma Marshall, speaker, educator, and author of Music is Medicine, for one of the most soul-shifting conversations we’ve ever had on the power of music in group fitness.

Emma’s work explores how music affects the body, the brain, and the emotional state through rhythm, repetition, and resonance. She doesn’t just teach sound theory. She’s lived it. After chronic illness left her body disconnected from words and logic, she found her way back through movement and music. What she discovered became the foundation of her life’s work.

This episode is a full-body experience and a wake-up call for instructors who want to move beyond just “high energy” playlists and into something much more intentional, powerful, and healing.

You’ll learn:

• Why music regulates the nervous system and how to use it with care

• How to structure your playlist to create flow states in your room

• What overstimulation really looks like (and how to avoid it)

• Why rhythm is ritual—and how it creates emotional safety for your clients

• How to move people through energy and emotion, not just exercises

Whether you’re cueing to the beat or building full-blown emotional arcs, this episode will deepen your understanding of how music makes your classes feel unforgettable.

🎶 Want to dive deeper into this kind of training? Join the Group X Conservatory, where we explore musicology, flow states, playlist structure, and the subtle art of experience design: 👉 https://conservatory.fitcarma.com/go/order/

🔗 Connect with Emma Marshall Website: https://mimhq.co.uk Book: Music is Medicine on Amazon

You know that song that brings you to tears? The one that gives you goosebumps—or makes you feel like you could rise from the ashes and run through a wall?

That power comes from something called prosody—a songwriting principle that aligns music and meaning to create emotional impact.

And here's the thing: prosody isn’t just for musicians. It’s a tool you can use in your classes to make every movement, music choice, coaching moment, and transition work together to tell one cohesive, powerful story.

In this episode of Off The Mic, Shay breaks down how to use prosody in class design to deepen your impact, connect with clients on an emotional level, and become known for how you make people feel.

If you're ready to go beyond “a good playlist and a hard workout” and step into true experience design—this one’s for you.

🌀 Follow us on Instagram: @thegroupxconservatory

🎓 Want to go deeper? Join The Conservatory — our membership for group fitness instructors who want to master the art of the class experience. Inside, you'll get access to challenges, masterclasses, in-depth instructor trainings, and a community of creatives who are here to make people feel something.

Learn more and join us: https://conservatory.fitcarma.com/go/order/

In this vulnerable and fire-filled episode, Shay takes on one of the most damaging myths in the fitness industry: the idea that your body is your résumé. She shares the raw truth of how she got her start as a trainer—not because of credentials, but because of how her abs looked—and how that moment both launched her career and planted a seed of disillusionment.

This episode is a call to action for instructors who feel like they have to look a certain way to be taken seriously. Shay explores how chasing a “fitness body” can feed imposter syndrome, exclude those who don’t fit the mold, and ultimately rob our classes of what people are actually looking for: connection, confidence, and belonging.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you “look the part,” this is the episode to save and send to a friend. It’s time to redefine what makes a powerful leader in fitness—and spoiler: it’s not your body fat percentage.

🎧 Plus, stick around for: •  A link to our Fitcarma episode on why body transformation marketing is bad for business •  An invite to our upcoming masterclass: Embrace the Imposter with mindset coach Caro •  A reminder that the only thing you really need to lead is to make people feel something

Links & Resources

Join "Embrace the Imposter: A Real Talk Workshop for Fitness Instructors" MasterClass Stop fighting the voice that says "you’re not good enough." Start getting curious about it—and become the kind of instructor people never forget. Join guest coach Caro Cardenas for a powerful, affirming workshop that invites you to stop pushing that voice away and start understanding it.

https://www.fitcarma.com/event-details-registration/embrace-the-imposter

Join the Group X Conservatory This isn’t another certification—it’s a space for instructors who want to become unforgettable. Access courses, challenges, and a community that gets it. www.fitcarma.com/conservatory

Follow on Instagram Get daily tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and inspiration to help you rock the room. https://www.instagram.com/thegroupx_conservatory/

Sign Up for the Newsletter Stay in the loop with new episodes, upcoming events, and exclusive resources. https://fitcarma.com/offthemic

Want to be a guest on the show?

Fill out the form below!

https://forms.gle/1FwiqeWchmUtTTj99

Welcome to the very first episode of Off the Mic—the podcast for fitness instructors who know their work is bigger than workouts. In this debut episode, host Shay Kostabi shares what it really takes to lead unforgettable classes—not just when everything goes smoothly, but when sh*t hits the fan.

What do you do when your mic cuts out, a client disrupts the flow, or you blank mid-track? Shay gets real about what recovery actually looks like (spoiler: it’s not a magic trick), and offers actionable tips to help you stay grounded, present, and in control when things go sideways.

You’ll learn:

• How to train your brain to cue under pressure

• Why presence—not perfection—is your superpower

• The rituals that set you up for confidence before class even starts

Plus, Shay introduces her new Craft of Recovery work session for instructors who want to practice and improve these skills in a creative, supportive environment.

If you're ready to stop striving for flawlessness and start showing up with power and poise, this episode is for you.

Links & Resources

Join the Waitlist for The Craft of Recovery A virtual pop-up work session for instructors who want to practice staying calm in the chaos. Get coaching, cueing drills, and craft supplies delivered to your door. www.fitcarma.com/craftofrecovery

Join the Group X Conservatory This isn’t another certification—it’s a space for instructors who want to become unforgettable. Access courses, challenges, and a community that gets it. www.fitcarma.com/conservatory

Follow on Instagram Get daily tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and inspiration to help you rock the room. https://www.instagram.com/thegroupx_conservatory/

Sign Up for the Newsletter Stay in the loop with new episodes, upcoming events, and exclusive resources. https://fitcarma.com/offthemic

Want to be a guest on the show?

Fill out the form below!

https://forms.gle/1FwiqeWchmUtTTj99