Here I go!!
I'm not even gonna blog about my LOUSY day. Let's just say the full moon, combined with the rain this morning that I did not expect....my students were AWFUL and they have all earned NO recess tomorrow. Enough said. They better behave tomorrow.
I spent a ton of $$ today but I'm so excited about what it's for. I was able to get registered for AIM 1, the Advanced Instructor Module to help improve my technique and classes! Sorry Pam :-) but it's in Mountain View and I'm happy to have been able to get in. This means I don't have to travel anywhere for it later on. November 13 is the date!
I also received confirmation of my registration for the Primary Group Instructor certification, should receive my study materials next week and then its time to study! December 17 will come fast enough. It will be one year since passing my BP module. I'm a little shocked at where i am at this point in my life......such a short journey, really, things have happened so fast. Mind spinning, and goodness knows I don't need my head spinning any more!
Class tonight was full but not as packed as last Tuesday. Last week there were a bunch of men that took all the large weights. Tonight there were still weights on the rack. Still at least 38 people, though, and BP79 was new for a lot of them.
After warmup, I noticed my Area Group X Manager Angie come in the back of the room and sit against the wall. Made me a bit nervous but I just did my thing, had fun, took Alex's feedback from Sunday and made improvements. My cueing was better, more concise and earlier, my singing just as awful and frequent and I had a blast. She was writing notes and watching. She stayed until lunges started. I'm told it's normal, a regular evaluation but she hasn't seen me teach since last January and that was at the beginning of my teaching and she only saw squats. I haven't heard anything yet so I'll be on pins and needles until I hear from her.
The exciting thing (for me, anyway) is that for the shoulder track, I did the entire first set of pushups on my toes, and the first 5 of the set at the end on my toes! Watch out......soon they will ALL be on my toes!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Go To Bed Already
Staying up late is costing me money!
Just signed up for certification workshop....December 17 I will take an exam to become an AFAA certified Group X instructor! one more piece of fitness education under my belt.
Cripes. Now I have to STUDY.
Just signed up for certification workshop....December 17 I will take an exam to become an AFAA certified Group X instructor! one more piece of fitness education under my belt.
Cripes. Now I have to STUDY.
A Roadblock? Or Just a Technical Blip......
Ugh. I hate technology sometimes.
I just made the decision to sign up for a local (Mountain View) Les Mills Advanced Instructor Module (AIM 1) for BodyPump in November and the darned link won't let me. It took me awhile to make the decision to go ahead and put myself through it and now I can't. Sigh. Sent an email to LM West Coast so hopefully it's just a glitch and not already full. That would suck because they don't often do these trainings locally and if I do it later, I may have to travel. Which may hinder my decision to do it, depending on where it would be held. After yesterday's TT experience with Alex, I now have a bug up my butt to further my training and get better, deliver better classes for my participants. Even though I got lovely emails today from some saying how much they love my classes, there is always room for improvement.
Speaking of improvement. I forgot to mention yesterday when I was detailing the day that during push ups in the shoulder track, I went down on my knees after a few on my toes and Alex looked back at me, (he had the mic on) and yelled at me "GET ON YOUR TOES!!!" Damn I miss that kind of encouragement :) and pushing that fuels me forward. He gave me some exercises to do on my off days to help build up my strength. I just finished my first 3 sets of 10 pushups, 1 of those sets totally on my toes. YIPEE!!!! Turns out I've been going too low on the pushups, instead of getting to 90 degrees in my elbows. I have felt doing them on my knees was easier because I could get my chest closer to the ground. See? Technique makes all the difference. There are other things I need to do but I forgot so I need to get that info and begin working at it. No excuses for doing my pushups on my knees after all this time as an instructor, right Alex? LOL
I'm excited (what else is new) for class tomorrow night, mainly to put into play some of the suggestions Alex gave me. Talk less? Hmmm. Shorter, more concise cues? I can do it. Let people know that we are turning the corner before we get to the light. More at the middle of the block beforehand. Check. The only thing I don't think I can control is to sing less. Good thing he didn't tell me I HAD to!!
Challenge me, and I will perform. HA.
I just made the decision to sign up for a local (Mountain View) Les Mills Advanced Instructor Module (AIM 1) for BodyPump in November and the darned link won't let me. It took me awhile to make the decision to go ahead and put myself through it and now I can't. Sigh. Sent an email to LM West Coast so hopefully it's just a glitch and not already full. That would suck because they don't often do these trainings locally and if I do it later, I may have to travel. Which may hinder my decision to do it, depending on where it would be held. After yesterday's TT experience with Alex, I now have a bug up my butt to further my training and get better, deliver better classes for my participants. Even though I got lovely emails today from some saying how much they love my classes, there is always room for improvement.
Speaking of improvement. I forgot to mention yesterday when I was detailing the day that during push ups in the shoulder track, I went down on my knees after a few on my toes and Alex looked back at me, (he had the mic on) and yelled at me "GET ON YOUR TOES!!!" Damn I miss that kind of encouragement :) and pushing that fuels me forward. He gave me some exercises to do on my off days to help build up my strength. I just finished my first 3 sets of 10 pushups, 1 of those sets totally on my toes. YIPEE!!!! Turns out I've been going too low on the pushups, instead of getting to 90 degrees in my elbows. I have felt doing them on my knees was easier because I could get my chest closer to the ground. See? Technique makes all the difference. There are other things I need to do but I forgot so I need to get that info and begin working at it. No excuses for doing my pushups on my knees after all this time as an instructor, right Alex? LOL
I'm excited (what else is new) for class tomorrow night, mainly to put into play some of the suggestions Alex gave me. Talk less? Hmmm. Shorter, more concise cues? I can do it. Let people know that we are turning the corner before we get to the light. More at the middle of the block beforehand. Check. The only thing I don't think I can control is to sing less. Good thing he didn't tell me I HAD to!!
Challenge me, and I will perform. HA.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
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 :-)
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 :-)
A Momentus Day.....
Yes, another one in my journey. I won't detail yet, but suffice it to say it's related to BodyPump and it's a FIRST. I'm beyond excited. It's something I've been waiting to do for what seems like forever. It's a "coming full circle" kind of event, one that had me up before 6:00am, after going to bed after midnight with anticipation. I'm nervous, excited, thrilled, and while I can't wait for it to happen, I'll be sad when it's over. I'm also sure that while there will be a bit of sadness at the end, it will be overshadowed by the thrill of the experience.
That's enough. Stay tuned...........
That's enough. Stay tuned...........
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Ready for a Great Weekend!
I'm beat and heading to bed but today started a great weekend. Cassie had her birthday party tonight. I cannot believe she is 6 years old. That's another post. One that will make me cry, likely!
I've run though the chorey for bodypump79, ready for the launch tomorrow and Sunday. I am simply veepry excited. I have several newbies showing up on both days. People that have been saying they will try the class and will finally do it! Others that are new to the gym and will tentatively venture into my class. I am excited to pass on the passion of this class to others and hope beyond hope that I am successful.
I hope to blog tomorrow or Sunday about how much fun this weekend was. It is momentus for me for other reasons, and I am shivering with anticipation!
Off to dream of great music, packed classes and a whole lotta fun! Cassie gets my full attention tomorrow after I launch and we are off to lunch and pedicures before her brothers soccer game in Danville :-)
I've run though the chorey for bodypump79, ready for the launch tomorrow and Sunday. I am simply veepry excited. I have several newbies showing up on both days. People that have been saying they will try the class and will finally do it! Others that are new to the gym and will tentatively venture into my class. I am excited to pass on the passion of this class to others and hope beyond hope that I am successful.
I hope to blog tomorrow or Sunday about how much fun this weekend was. It is momentus for me for other reasons, and I am shivering with anticipation!
Off to dream of great music, packed classes and a whole lotta fun! Cassie gets my full attention tomorrow after I launch and we are off to lunch and pedicures before her brothers soccer game in Danville :-)
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
I'm Completely Incapable......
Of relaxing. I confirmed that today.
Oh, I can sit down. I can appear to relax. I can even nap. Sometimes. But fully relax and enjoy a day off? Not so much.
I was beginning to feel like I was coming down with something yesterday. I had just been telling my coworkers at lunch that I was feeling like this month I would need to take a day to just stay home under a blanket and do nothing but watch tv and nap all day. That it was too early in the school year to be feeling like i needed a day for ME. Then after school, when I was putzing around the classroom getting nothing done I realized I needed a day like that ASAP. I felt a headache coming on, felt almost feverish and warm but I wasn't, I just felt off and knew I needed to take the day now. I've been teaching a lot of BodyPump and after 6 days in a row, I was dead tired. I needed to take a day off when I didn't have anything planned after school. So I spent an hour doing sub plans, calling in my friend Lynne and relished in the fact that I was going to stay home.
I knew I could not let on to Cassie that I was going to stay home. She has recently gotten better with the morning transitions and does not cry anymore, so I knew if she knew I was going to be home she'd have a cow and want to stay home with me. That meant I had to get up and get dressed and appear to take Alex to school as usual, which I did. Franklin called in as well and we were just going to relax and enjoy the day, catch up on sleep, etc. Franklin got up and took Cassie to school and then we met back at home after I hit Starbucks. We sat down, he on the sofa and me in my comfy chair under a blanket, and put on a DVR show and......we both conked out. I woke a couple of times, but to my shock, when I fully woke up it was almost 1:00!! Um......really??!! I never sleep like that unless I'm sick! Franklin was out also, and I finally woke him up at almost 2:00!! At that point, Alex needed to be picked up as wednesdays are his early days, and Cassie gets out at 2:30. There went the day. Cripes. At least I knew I wasn't coming down with a cold. I was just sleep deprived.
Alex got a ride home, and although Franklin offered to get Cassie and take her to my moms so I could still rest, I knew she'd be thrilled if we both picked her up so off we went and she was very excited to see me. We went out to lunch (since the two of us hadn't eaten all day and we were starving). Then we went home, homework was completed, story read, and I could have sat down to read or do nothing but that inner demon in me came out and I looked around and could not sit because there was too much to do. I had sworn I would not do a dish or a load of laundry or anything remotely resembling housework on MY day off.
Someone needs to kick me in the butt. I couldn't do it. Immediately, as I picked up toys, vacuumed the floor, looked around and saw the neglect that has taken over my house since school began and life got intensely crazy......I felt my blood pressure rise. Every little thing I found out of place made me crazy, and trust me, there's a lot out of place right now. Putting the finishing touches on Cassie's birthday party for Friday night also had to be done, thinking about the launch this weekend.....and then remembering that I had to leave the house again because Alex had to be at school to be a part of the incoming freshman parent night (he was presenting on a student panel to the parents as Junior Class VP) and needed to be there from 6:30-8:00. Luckily the president lives across the street and so she gave him a ride and after Franklin left for soccer practice, Cassie and I left for mom's to drop off something and then to the school because I wanted to see him on the panel.
Cassie and I get to a packed school and it was standing room only in the Performing Arts Center. I saw the kids waiting to enter for their part and found out this thing wouldn't end till around 8:30. Sigh. So much for getting home earlier so I could finish all the crap that still needed to be done. I've decided to give up making lunches for the boys. They are big enough and I need one less thing to do in the evenings. Otherwise I'm going to explode.
I videotaped Alex's intro speech and he was a bit nervous but I'm proud of how he did. He also answered a question about soccer, homework and AVID. He and his friends did a great job. It's so strange to see how far they have all come and how quickly they are growing. They mentioned the middle schools they attended and it seems like yesterday when their voices were cracking and they looked so mature up there. Next year? Graduation. Damn I'm getting old.
So my whole point of this entry is I am incapable of relaxing. I mean, even though it was not a wasted day off by any means, as I caught up on some obviously much needed sleep. It wasn't enough to just enjoy that fact. No, I had to still do the kind of chores that make me cranky, get stressed about how packed my evenings always seem to be, and let that stress come out and piss everyone around me off. I wanted a day where I didn't have to leave the house. I didn't
get it and that makes me resentful. Natural, right? No, I need a better way to handle the frustration that comes with everyday life and how to manage my time. Yes, exercise helps me immensely with this, but that is also part of the problem. Teaching three nights a week, although temporary, has left little time at home to do my wifely/motherly duties. Usually it's twice a week during the school week. But it's not something I'm willing to give up and so I need to find a better way to handle it all.
I'm also about to add a bit more to my plate with some certification studying. Important for me moving forward but stressful thinking about the time I need to put aside to study. Sigh.
Relax? Guess that will have to wait till I'm dead.
Oh, I can sit down. I can appear to relax. I can even nap. Sometimes. But fully relax and enjoy a day off? Not so much.
I was beginning to feel like I was coming down with something yesterday. I had just been telling my coworkers at lunch that I was feeling like this month I would need to take a day to just stay home under a blanket and do nothing but watch tv and nap all day. That it was too early in the school year to be feeling like i needed a day for ME. Then after school, when I was putzing around the classroom getting nothing done I realized I needed a day like that ASAP. I felt a headache coming on, felt almost feverish and warm but I wasn't, I just felt off and knew I needed to take the day now. I've been teaching a lot of BodyPump and after 6 days in a row, I was dead tired. I needed to take a day off when I didn't have anything planned after school. So I spent an hour doing sub plans, calling in my friend Lynne and relished in the fact that I was going to stay home.
I knew I could not let on to Cassie that I was going to stay home. She has recently gotten better with the morning transitions and does not cry anymore, so I knew if she knew I was going to be home she'd have a cow and want to stay home with me. That meant I had to get up and get dressed and appear to take Alex to school as usual, which I did. Franklin called in as well and we were just going to relax and enjoy the day, catch up on sleep, etc. Franklin got up and took Cassie to school and then we met back at home after I hit Starbucks. We sat down, he on the sofa and me in my comfy chair under a blanket, and put on a DVR show and......we both conked out. I woke a couple of times, but to my shock, when I fully woke up it was almost 1:00!! Um......really??!! I never sleep like that unless I'm sick! Franklin was out also, and I finally woke him up at almost 2:00!! At that point, Alex needed to be picked up as wednesdays are his early days, and Cassie gets out at 2:30. There went the day. Cripes. At least I knew I wasn't coming down with a cold. I was just sleep deprived.
Alex got a ride home, and although Franklin offered to get Cassie and take her to my moms so I could still rest, I knew she'd be thrilled if we both picked her up so off we went and she was very excited to see me. We went out to lunch (since the two of us hadn't eaten all day and we were starving). Then we went home, homework was completed, story read, and I could have sat down to read or do nothing but that inner demon in me came out and I looked around and could not sit because there was too much to do. I had sworn I would not do a dish or a load of laundry or anything remotely resembling housework on MY day off.
Someone needs to kick me in the butt. I couldn't do it. Immediately, as I picked up toys, vacuumed the floor, looked around and saw the neglect that has taken over my house since school began and life got intensely crazy......I felt my blood pressure rise. Every little thing I found out of place made me crazy, and trust me, there's a lot out of place right now. Putting the finishing touches on Cassie's birthday party for Friday night also had to be done, thinking about the launch this weekend.....and then remembering that I had to leave the house again because Alex had to be at school to be a part of the incoming freshman parent night (he was presenting on a student panel to the parents as Junior Class VP) and needed to be there from 6:30-8:00. Luckily the president lives across the street and so she gave him a ride and after Franklin left for soccer practice, Cassie and I left for mom's to drop off something and then to the school because I wanted to see him on the panel.
Cassie and I get to a packed school and it was standing room only in the Performing Arts Center. I saw the kids waiting to enter for their part and found out this thing wouldn't end till around 8:30. Sigh. So much for getting home earlier so I could finish all the crap that still needed to be done. I've decided to give up making lunches for the boys. They are big enough and I need one less thing to do in the evenings. Otherwise I'm going to explode.
I videotaped Alex's intro speech and he was a bit nervous but I'm proud of how he did. He also answered a question about soccer, homework and AVID. He and his friends did a great job. It's so strange to see how far they have all come and how quickly they are growing. They mentioned the middle schools they attended and it seems like yesterday when their voices were cracking and they looked so mature up there. Next year? Graduation. Damn I'm getting old.
So my whole point of this entry is I am incapable of relaxing. I mean, even though it was not a wasted day off by any means, as I caught up on some obviously much needed sleep. It wasn't enough to just enjoy that fact. No, I had to still do the kind of chores that make me cranky, get stressed about how packed my evenings always seem to be, and let that stress come out and piss everyone around me off. I wanted a day where I didn't have to leave the house. I didn't
get it and that makes me resentful. Natural, right? No, I need a better way to handle the frustration that comes with everyday life and how to manage my time. Yes, exercise helps me immensely with this, but that is also part of the problem. Teaching three nights a week, although temporary, has left little time at home to do my wifely/motherly duties. Usually it's twice a week during the school week. But it's not something I'm willing to give up and so I need to find a better way to handle it all.
I'm also about to add a bit more to my plate with some certification studying. Important for me moving forward but stressful thinking about the time I need to put aside to study. Sigh.
Relax? Guess that will have to wait till I'm dead.
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