Again, it's 12:35 and I am not asleep. I am fading fast but trying to nail this back track for tomorrow. I am excited because I have always loved the back tracks and with the great coaching I have had over time, I am confident of my positioning and execution so it's just a matter of the learning the choreography (which I actually have down now) but I am struggling over the cues. It shouldn't be that hard since I know the cues, but for some reason I am not feeling as confident.
Today started off with an odd caterpiller warm up. I am not even going to go into it. Needless to say, my team lost and we had to do 10 push ups on the toes. I did it.
Presenting came first - I was a bit nervous but after practicing last night, using Ron, Mathew and Theresa with broomsticks this morning, and doing the moves in the car, I knew the chorey and felt good. We were not using microphones so I knew I would have to project my voice. Since I was the only one presenting the chest track I made the decision to move to the front of the room rather than on the side with my group so that I could reach the whole class. I went heavier on my weight selection and projected - it is definitely helpful when the class is cheering you on and is supportive. I am really enjoying the people I am meeting.
At the end, I knew I nailed the choreography, thought I did a bit more than just initial cueing and felt pretty good about form. Margo then did video feedback and confirmed I hit the chorey 100% and had just two adjustments on my form - on the chest press, I would hit the middle of the chest which is good but on the way back up needed to arc back an inch so my bar was over my shoulders. On the bottom halves, my elbows came down just a bit lower than the bench top.
The hardest part of the day was definitely the Body Pump Instructor Challenge. I paired up with Jennifer, who was amazing and supportive and a great coach, as I hope I was to her. I will not go into detail here; suffice it to say it involved lifting weights heavier than normal and while physically challenging to say the least, I completed it and while we were stretching at the end, I burst into tears. The realization of what I had just accomplished over the last 45 minutes or so, coming from where I began 2 years ago, hit me like a ton of bricks and I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I am so amazed at what I am able to do now, how strong I have become, how passionate I am, how I can push myself (with help of course) farther than I ever dreamed possible, ASTOUNDS me. I went up to Margo afterward, people had left for lunch and she asked me if I hurt myself because I was crying! I explained to her my emotional sappy self, and she was so encouraging and supportive; telling me how powerful it is to be able to come from a place where I can use my journey to inspire and motivate others.
I left and since I had a sandwich with me, knew I needed to go get my comfort drug of choice - Starbucks. Cried the entire way there, wore my sunglasses inside and cried all the way back. What an emotional sap I am!!
After some more training and teaching, we got ready for the second presentation. At this point, my body was stiffening up something fierce, my arms literally were quivering for about an hour after that challenge. Legs were not shaky, just sore. Since I am not as strong in my upper body, I felt it there the most.
Second presentation went well for all of us - each of us took the critique from earlier and made the proper adjustments. What was interesting is that every one of us made at least a small error in the choreography, including me, and I think it was fatigue setting in and the focus on what we needed to correct from before. Margo didn't mention it, though, in the feedback so I guess she understood that we were getting tired.
We finished an hour early and I went back to my brother's house and Theresa was so shocked to see me walk in with energy as I told her about my day. Of course I had to cry and I relayed how emotional I was and so we both cried as she told me how proud of me she was.
Off to a hot bath and shower, listening to my music and choreography, sat and watched the DVD and tried to script out my cues. Because this track has so many different movements, it's harder than the chest track that I did today. But I know the back track well and have the chorey down. I just want to be able to coach correctly.
I am definitely fading fast now and I think I will just get in bed, put my notes under my pillow again (I swear it worked by osmosis last night!) and get up at 6am for a last bit of practice. I didn't get the chance to practice on live people tonight - Theresa has fed me well and had a great dinner tonight, but I needed more time in the bedroom on my own practicing. I think in the morning I will be able to speak my cues out loud and be fresher than I am now. Feeling pretty stale........
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