A Fitness Epiphany

I haven't had one of these in awhile. An epiphany, that is. I've been mostly running like a mad woman, not stopping to think carefully about next steps.

I've got a bug up my butt lately, feeling like I need something more, I need to take the next step. I equated it to the desire to teach another format. I love BodyPump, with a passion, that's no secret. But I am teaching four, sometimes five classes a week. This leaves me no time for anything else.

I read something on Facebook that another instructor posted, which has been stuck in my mind for the last week or two: "Train the same, look the same. Train differently, look different." or something to that effect. Essentially, it means if I'm doing the same thing, week after week, month after month, I'm not going to progress or change. No wonder I haven't lost any weight, even though I've been told my body has changed and I'm looking like I've lost weight. I've stabilized and even though I'm a ton stronger than I was last year at this time, I have reached a plateau. Physically. Even mentally.

So I've been getting this gnawing feeling in my gut that things need to be shaken up. I took that to mean I need to learn and teach another format. My mind has been preoccupied this week with the thought of taking AIM2, which I am now doing. Not to achieve any type of status, like Advanced or Elite BP instructor. I'm doing it to take my teaching to the next level. But it's more than that. I want to do something more. Something different.

I've been thinking of getting my basic yoga certification. Almost registered for the training in March at the SCW Mania Fitness convention in Burlingame. Then I started looking into PiYo, a blend of pilates and yoga. I even, after a suggestion today, started looking into spin certification.

Then I went to my mom's and started talking this out with Amanda. She agreed that a spin certification would allow me to sub at multiple clubs, it would be something different than my strength training, and it made sense. I'm not a huge spin fan, and I love yoga, so it made more sense to me to go for the yoga certification. Then it hit me.

I am craving something different for ME. Does this mean the same thing as I need to TEACH something else? No. I think it means that I am at a point in my journey where even though BodyPump is my passion and I truly enjoy bringing my love for the program to as many people as I can, my next step outside of BodyPump is to further my OWN training. I've neglected it for over a year. I wanted to take the yoga certification and all I could think of was "it's not Les Mills!" Well, it goes beyond that. I need more. I need a change. For the sake of my physical well being, for the sake of my physical training, for the sake of improving my stamina, for the sake of changing my body and being satisfied with how I look, for the sake of becoming a better instructor, for the sake of my sanity, for the sake of the sanity of those around me, for the sake of MOVING FORWARD......I need to expand. I need to shake things up. I need focus on me, and how I feel, and focus on what I can do, and push myself beyond the complacent place I find myself in right now.

It's interesting that for awhile now I thought this meant I needed to teach a new format. When in reality it simply meant I needed to experience more formats. Or at least focus on my own fitness more than I have in over a year. I love yoga. Do I need to teach it RIGHT NOW? No. I need to take more yoga. Do I need to teach a cardio format? No. I need to do more cardio. I'm doing this half marathon in March and have yet to train, yes, we are walking most of it but I haven't even done much of that, other than a couple of miles here and there. I spend so much time on BodyPump, and I don't think that's a BAD thing, as I've become a much better instructor than I was at this time last year. I'm committed to becoming better, hence the AIM2 training. I'm excited about it and ready to work hard and take my teaching to a new level. I just can't get lost in the process. All the great athletes and instructors train separately, do cross training, focus on thierr own workouts as well. He many of them work full time? They all do, or at least most do. How many have children and spouses as well? Some, but just because I have a job, husband and two kids that keep me incredibly busy, I made the choice to become an instructor and help others. Balance has ALWAYS been a challenge for me, and so whenever I find myself out of balance, awareness of this fact is the first step to making a change.

So here it is. I accept that I've allowed myself to become unbalanced. I recognize that I need to look inside, make some changes, create some balance, focus and just GO THERE.

I watched a video that Emma Barry posted on Facebook and she spoke of the loss of a fellow tribe member in New Zealand that lost his life last week. Her words were so inspirational to me, talking about taking it to the next level this year. Going for it. Going there. Attending educational events, improving our skills as instructors, adding to our tool boxes.....this is what I aim to do this year. I've already taken the first steps, going to the first quarterly on April 1st, going to the advanced BodyPump training, and just as important, focusing on my personal fitness goals.

It's gonna be a busy year. Bring it :-)