fun, Fun, FUN!!!!!!!

Sigh. It's over but it was every bit as thrilling as I'd hoped it would be.

I walked into my first ever BodyPump class almost 4 years ago, parked in the back of the class and used baby weights. I knew as soon as the class was over that I'd be totally sore the next day. The instructor, as we all know, was the energetic Alex Kattar. He made the class enjoyable, informative, motivating and physically exhilarating. He still does.

Since losing almost 70 pounds and beginning my own journey to become a BodyPump instructor myself, I've gone through many ups and downs, gone over many bumps in the road, shed many tears of pain (emotional and physical), joy and sheer frustration. I look to Alex and others as my teachers, my mentors and my inspiration. I enjoy taking classes from them whenever I can. I continue to learn, grow and improve my technique. But there was one thing that kept eluding me.....and today, my dream came to fruition. It may not seem like THAT big a deal to others, or even Alex, but to me......it was beyond exciting. I've come full circle.

I got to team teach with Alex. To have this opportunity to teach the class that changed my life, side by side as peers with the person who was single handedly responsible for me discovering a love of exercise and as a result, changing my life......well it brought me to tears today. I remember the thrill of anticipating upcoming launches when at Gold's, when Alex and Jozi or Alex and Kimi would team teach and as a member it was so much fun. To now be a part of the Alex and _____ team teaching thing....... So freaking cool.

We arrived at the gym early to get logistics worked out with the microphones so we didn't have to switch back and forth. He has his own so this way we could just switch sound between the tracks we were teaching. I was assigned warm up and cool down, chest, triceps and lunges. Alex had squats, back, biceps, shoulders and abs. We figured out the stereo, walked to Starbucks and chilled over coffee and then came back to the gym. The Zumba instructor never showed so we had time to get in the room almost half an hour early and get set up and chat with members. I had secretly let our old Gold's crew know he was coming so we had several happy reactions to seeing Alex again! Jackie ran and hugged him so hard she almost knocked him over! For them, I know it was exciting because they have not had Alex teach them a class for 15 months. If you've ever taken a class from Alex, it's definitely one you miss when you don't have him anymore so I know they were excited.

Alex was kind enough to do the technique portion of class. Whenever we relaunch a new release, we spend time before class going over basic technique and even though the official launch was yesterday, I like to do my own for my special Sunday members. This class is near and dear to me because even though the Thursday class was my first, this Sunday class was created especially for me at the request of my awesome participants. I was happy to pass the baton to Alex because really, who knows technique better than Alex?

When it was time for me to do the warm up, I took a moment to really introduce Alex. I know many of these members either know Alex or have heard me talk about my journey, and my before/after pics and bio are hanging right outside the Group X room, but I briefly told them again about where I came from and talked about my first instructor, and then told them how honored I was to be teaching side by side with him today. They clapped as we hugged and I got a bit teary (because I'm a big sap)but then got right into the workout.

Thrilling. Just so much fun. I wanted to be out with the members experiencing an Alex class but I have to say, this just rocked. BodyPump 79 is a hard release, and to experience it next to my mentor, someone I look up to with great admiration and respect, well, it just doesn't get any better than this!

After class, several people came to me and commented what a great class it was. I'm sure it was obvious the difference in experience levels between the two of us but I truly don't think it mattered to them. They all know my kookiness and got to experience Alex's incredible drive and energy. What could be better than that?

We went for a quick lunch afterward and I got feedback from him on how I did. He has not seen me teach since he taped my final video assessment back in February so I was curious to know if I'd improved (I know I have) but to hear from a teachers perspective.....I knew I'd get some tips on what to work on. I made some mistakes, talk a bit too much (now THERE'S a surprise!!) and need to work on my cueing a bit. He didn't mention how much I sing, though ;-) All tips to make me a better instructor and as a result, deliver a better workout to my participants when in reality, that's what I'm there for.

All in all a great day. I truly enjoy spending time with Alex, it is so rare even though he doesn't live that far. He makes me laugh. I hope he will let me teach with him again someday. It really was nerve-racking at first but then, simply great fun.

Another FIRST in the books :-)