Being pushed too hard by a fitness instructor is a real thing. People get injured in CrossFit classes because they deliberately push people too hard. In many Yoga classes the instructor will offer people a few ways to do something because most people can’t do the most challenging version of every exercise.

Some things just take a while. Many people can’t do squats with proper form because they don’t have flexibility in their calves. Usually you can get the flexibility in your calves by stretching for a few weeks.

A group fitness instructor has the contradictory goals of pushing you harder than you would do yourself but also keep you safe and feeling included. Some are more successful at balancing these than others.

Answers are: talk to instructor (some of them are really cool but some aren’t), try a different class, do more individual exercise.

For me individual exercise comes naturally, I hike a lot, do cardio, lift weights, etc. I have a fun time when I do group fitness classes but I wouldn’t usually do it unless I was specially motivated.

(Ex. Last time I was in a class I was trying to seduce the instructor but I fainted.)