Whew. What an exhausting few days. The end of the school year is always tough but this year especially with 30 students and all the testing and preparing for Open House. Of course, not only do I have my own OH but Cassie's, and as it is her Kindergarten year, so many things that happen for her at school such as field trips and parties happen when I simply cannot take off school because of my own class responsibilities, which totally sucks. When Alex was in kindergarten, it was the year before I began teaching so I worked in the corporate world and just took off from work. No big deal. Much more challenging now. I took off one day to go on her field trip but she had another one last week and both Franklin and I couldn't go, and so it was the first ever field trip we have ever sent our kids on that one of us didn't attend. It was surreal. Her class picnic falls on a day at the end of the year when I have things happening at my own school and so yet again, cannot go. So far, thank goodness, her class is not planning anything special for the last day of school because could I go? Nope, because I have my own students' promotion ceremony/party on that day. If that were to happen, I would be completely torn. On the other hand, when Alex graduates from high school in two years, wild horses won't keep me away. The difference? You don't graduate from kindergarten. I don't care what any parent says. They are just going to first grade. On the other hand, if her class DID have a graduation ceremony, how could I miss it? It's bad enough that she has a dance performance with Danny G on a Tuesday night coming up and I can't yet get a sub for BP that night. Again, how could I miss that performance? So I am hoping and praying someone will come through for me to sub so I can go. Sigh.
A first happened to me on Thursday night. One that I know if a certain someone were in close proximity, he would kick my ass all the way back to training.....but it was a good lesson. I have been talking to the class about increasing weights when appropriate, and how even I, as an instructor, increase my weights as my fitness improves. I had said that the one track I have not yet gone up on was biceps and I was thinking about doing it that night. Well, several people called out to do it, so with that kind of encouragement, I did. Went to a large plate for biceps. The ladies in TX do it, and I have been hesitant because I have gone up for triceps and have almost not made it through, but I did so I thought, why not go up on biceps? I made a joke about no one laughing at me if I didn't make it, and off I went. Almost immediately, I regretted it but it wasn't until halfway through that it happened......yes, I had to rest for a repetition. I was MORTIFIED. I have never, in my short time as an instructor, had to pause. I have always been able to force myself to make it through. Of course, I joke about it during the moment, I see Julie and others grinning at me because they know how much it bothers me that I couldn't finish the whole track, and not only once, but three different times I had to take a one rep rest. UGH. At the end of the track, I told them all how embarrassing that was as an instructor to not be able to finish and this sweet lady at the front of the class told me "But you did a great job!!" which was nice. And after class, a couple of people came to me and told me that it was nice to see me teach them that in reality, when you can't complete a track, it's okay to pause, and then jump back in when you are ready. I realize that I did that ALL the time in my 3 years as a participant, and that's how I built up my strength, and it took 2 years to complete ANY kind of lunge track. I have come a long way, but all I could think about was how Alex would kick my butt if he saw that. So, yes, now he will know (sorry Alex) but I learned my lesson. Don't increase on weights for the first time in front of a class.......but sigh, it ended up being a good lesson for all of us!
Started at PAC yesterday. Hardly slept all night, and then when I did, I dreamt about the sound system, forgetting a 9 volt battery for the microphone, arriving late, people throwing things at me because they liked the previous instructor better......oh you would think I would not be nervous. After all, I've been doing this for a whole 4-1/2 months already. But yes, I was nervous. Mixed up a new playlist that I was going to do for my 24 peeps anyway, and did a bit of practicing yesterday morning. Pulled out the battery to take, Cassie was excited to come to the "nice" gym's kids space. We left, a bit early, and as I was driving on the freeway, realized with several loud expletives that I forgot the stupid battery at home! Luckily, next door to PAC is a Nob Hill Foods so Cassie and I ran in, bought a very expensive 2-pack and ran over to the club. I checked her in to the kids space and went to the studio.
When the previous class ended, I walked in and was immediately nervous because there were 2 people. Yes, TWO. I thought, "Oh crap, they know the other instructor is gone and no one wants to come to the new girl's class" and when those two ladies started talking about the old instructor, I started getting even more self conscious. I set up, got the mic and iPod going, and it's 12:30........then about 10 people walked in! Whew. But I couldn't start the class when most of them had yet to set up so I gave them a few minutes. A new participant asked for advice on equipment so I focused on that and started about 5 minutes late. Ended up with 15 people in class. Two ladies came up to me before class started to tell me they had to sneak out early, which was refreshing because no one ever tells me - they just leave.
Class was good, I could tell they were sizing me up and I them, but that's to be expected. What was such a nice surprise was that at the end, a lady named Kathy came up and introduced herself, gave me a warm welcome and told me she enjoyed my class. Several other women said thank you as they left class, so I know at least I didn't suck too badly. The new lady spent some time after class and asked about correct technique so I worked with her for 10 minutes or so. All in all, a pretty good first class. Cassie didn't want to leave the kids space - when I arrived, she was on the stationary bike riding it and wanted me to watch her! Nice to see since when I left she was on the computer.
For my Sunday class today, I told them on Thursday that I was going to do my best to switch up a few tracks per week or so because since I teach 3 of the 4 classes there, it feels like 2 weeks with the same playlist is too long. I made a commitment to do a new lunge track for this week. I only know 2 so I went back to BP72 and practiced Gone - a tough one with the bar on the back for the whole track and I haven't done that for a long time. Squats, lunges, squats, lunges. Seemed doable when I practiced but WHOA nelly - doing it in class with real weights? Deb commented that she remembers why she hates that track! I laughed and said too bad, it's here to stay for a week or so! It was hard to get through and when I said Alex and Kimi always made it look easy, she told me I made it look easy too! Sure didn't feel easy!
After class today, Deb and I stayed (with Zoe who came late and wanted more work out) and I hooked her up to the mic and she did a few tracks. She is trying so hard and is doing great - simplly getting better at cueing before moves, which is common in the beginning, but with feedback she implemented and got it down. She just needs more practice in a class setting. We are going to try again next Sunday and then set up a mock class for her and Michelle and do some initial video taping for them. It felt so good to help her in the way that was given to me by Alex and Kimi. And to actually be able to listen and watch her and give her constructive feedback felt really good. Like I have learned something in the last 4 months!!
I am definitely sore today, from teaching yesterday and today, a new lunge track and then an additional 45 minutes of working with Deb. Glad to be off from fitness tomorrow :)
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