Two years ago today, on December 5, 2010, I completed day 3 of my Initial BodyPump training with a full pass! From just being a willing participant for two years, to actually being allowed to teach this amazing format! I accomplished something I never imagined, something I had only begun thinking could be a reality just 6 weeks prior to this. Little did I know, the real work, the real challenge, was just beginning........
It feels like its been a lot longer than 2 years. I truly believe this is what I was supposed to do with this second half of my life, to discover a love of fitness and to inspire people by showing them that it's never too late to change your life for the better. I began my journey at age 40. I became an instructor at age 42. It's been a long journey, one filled with sweat, determination, passion, tears, pain and laughter. It takes a village, and that is certainly the case with me. I did not do this alone, not even close.
From the ongoing support and encouragement of my husband, from day one until today, putting up with the doubt, the fears, the waffling back and forth, the gym time, the drama and tears of not feeling like I was good enough, and yes, all the small successes along the way. Undoubtedly, without you, I would not be where I am today. Thank you baby and I love you :)
The patience of my children to listen to the music over and over while practicing anywhere I could, until they were practicing with me, singing the songs (ok, this is only Cassie, who has an ear for music, pitch and tempo, and accepts that I will likely only play Les Mills music in the car EVER). I do enjoy and gets a kick out of hearing her sing LM songs! You two are the best kids I could ask for.
The willingness of my friends and new participants to endure class after class of the same release, multiple video tapings, iPod issues, choreography bloopers, and generally just ME, finding my way, day by day, bit by bit, class by class, as I discovered my own style, my own groove - too many to mention but you all know who you are! Thank you for being with me from the beginning, and if you joined more recently, thank you for coming and staying! A big THANKS for joining the gym in many cases just for BodyPump!
The support and constant pushing from Alex, my first instructor, now my dear friend, who mentored me during this entire journey and has never given up on me, putting up with my questions, my drama, and all the while never letting me beat myself up too much (not even a little bit!). Thank you for encouraging me to continually search for balance, to become a better instructor for my participants, taking advantage of the instructor trainings offered. Thank you for seeing something in me that I still at times have a hard time seeing myself. I never would be the instructor I am today without your knowledge, guidance, patience and support.
I have the love and support of so many people around me: family, friends, instructors, people in my classes.......I was thinking today about the concept of acceptance. This has always been so hard for me when it comes to how I look, how fit I "think" I am or not.
I am almost 45 years old. Less than 5 years ago, I made a decision to get healthy. Am I as thin, skinny, fit as I think I want to be? No. Am I as strong as I want to be? No. Am I eating as clean as I should be? No. Am I perfect? NO. And I think I am getting closer to the moment when I am okay with at. Acceptance.
See, it's not like I am giving up striving for perfection. I will never give up trying to improve myself. I think I am too competitive for that. But I think I am getting closer to the realization that I am not 21. Nor would I every want to be again. I am proud of my age, proud of the role model I try to be for my friends and participants who are middle aged. I think it's amazing that women, and men, my age and older can be fit and healthy. Doing it reasonably.
I know that ANYTHING I have to complain about when it comes to my fitness level is a direct result of what I do or don't do. I am not going to use age, lack of time, stress or pre-menopause as an excuse for not losing weight, for not having enough endurance. Every move I make, every move I can't make is a direct result of my training or lack thereof. It's a result of how I choose to fuel my body, and how I choose to move my body . There is no one to blame, to point my finger at, other than myself. And I am okay with that. Being responsible, that is. If I am not happy about something, then I need to take specific steps to change it.
How many times have I started over, how many times have I cut out a certain food, or made a goal? Countless times. It is a waste of time? Absolutely not. It is a journey, a process. It may be 5 steps forward, 2 steps back, but it's moving in a direction that I can live with. I'm feeling chunky again, and I know it's a result of eating too many carbs again. I know that breads rice and pasta don't like me. So yet again, I recommit to changing my food intake and my training because I know if I am not happy with how I feel or look, I need to make changes, even if it's difficult. I know what to eat. I just need to do it. I don't question if it's going to work because I've tried and it does. It's realizing and remembering that it's not what I eat this month that is going to help me achieve my fitness goals: it's what I eat and do the rest of the year that matters.
This is why it's unwise to make New Years Resolutions that start on Jan 1. If you are going to make a change, and you are truly ready, then in the words of Nike: JUST DO IT.
I went back to read my old blogs from late 2010, and then early in 2011 when I was a brand news instructor. It boggle my mind how things developed so rapidly, how I grew into this new lifestyle. I am laughing so hard at some of my early posts!
However, it's not the destination, it's the journey. We'd all be alot happier if we spent more time enjoying the process.
I'm thankful to still be enjoying my journey. The road is long, and I hope I never reach the end.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Better and Better, Day by Day
At BodyFlow, that is. At learning choreography. At feeling the essence. I feel like I am finally starting to get it.....day by day.
It's been a crazy few weeks, with school pressures - knee deep in fall assessments and I got two new students this week. I am finally up to 29. One more spot. Today's student, however, came straight from Mexico and speaks not ONE iota of English. Poor baby cried when mom tried to leave him. I have not spoken so much Spanish in one day....ever, I think! I cannot imagine how it must feel to be dumped off into a completely foreign environment. At least he made friends quickly, with other student who speak Spanish, and by lunch he was comfortable enough to go with the yard duty ladies to eat. He adjusted amazingly quickly but I am going to have to pull out the Spanish in order for him to understand anything. Poor kid - stuck with me as his teacher, butchering his language....
Cassie had a great birthday party this past weekend, joint with Jasmine. 18 giggling, screaming girls......I'll take my 29 students anyday! But they had loads of fun and my baby was happy. That's all that matters.
I had the biggest compliment given to me after BodyFlow this past Sunday. I finished teaching, we did our relaxation/meditation, and as we were rolling up the yoga mats, a member called out a thank you to me and said in front of the class that I had the perfect voice! Two other members chimed in, and agreed that my voice is very calming and soothing. That's something I am always conscious of. I spend so much of my fitness teaching time in BodyPump, which is a very different feel - much stronger, more intense and motivating. I worry sometimes that I am not able to bring it down as I teach Flow. It is getting easier, and while the end of the class is very low key and soothing, the rest of the class actually is not. There are plenty of opportunities for me to bring out a bit more intensity, such as in the core abs and back tracks, and even the standing strength. But I am very aware of not having a "creepy yoga voice" and trying instead to be myself, just dialed down. It's something that people don't often think about, and not only do instructors (good ones) have to know their choreography internally and perfectly, they then have to layer in that coaching, that connecting and correcting of what they see in the room to help members be safe and get the most out of their workout, but they also have to motivate and drive when needed, and also, at least in Flow, allow the participants to seek internally what they need and can get out of the class. It's a delicate balance that I am just beginning to understand. It comes second nature with BodyPump. CXWorx is similar, even though I only teach one class a week, it's a bit more intense and I can dig deep and motivate. Then to completely shift gears to BodyFlow, all within a few minutes? It's interesting to begin a Tai Chi warmup while still dripping with sweat from an intense core workout! It takes me a bit of time to "come down" from that high and shift into Flow mode.
So to hear people tell me my voice is good for this program.....that means the world. It means that I am heading in the right direction. I was thinking tonight on the way home from the gym about my AIM2 experience, and remembering the instructors that were there for BodyFlow. I wish I had paid more attention to the feedback Josef gave Anne and the others, but I had NO intention of teaching Flow ever, so I didn't give it a second thought. I do know, though, that I am SO far away from that! In fact, I probably won't be ready for an AIM1 workshop for Flow for much longer than the 6 month minimum they say you should be teaching a program before doing an advanced workshop. I still need to work on physically being able to do the poses better before I do AIM. I still struggle daily with tight hip flexors, and right now my upper back is a mess, but I felt a glimmer of hope tonight.
I mixed up both releases, even though I now only teach whole releases because they are easier to keep in my brain. I only have 2 full flow releases under my belt, and even though I just received an older release and just ordered more through LM, I simply cannot learn an entire release right now. So I found a warm up that just resonated with me. I learned it super quick last night and LOVED teaching it today! I actually FELT graceful! I may not have looked it, but I sure felt it! It has opened up the possibility that maybe I can learn more tracks fairly easily, at least before the next round of new releases come out. I'll tackle a couple more for this weekend and see how it goes.
I'm loving BodyFlow. If I could teach it 3-4 times a week I'd be in heaven :)
It's been a crazy few weeks, with school pressures - knee deep in fall assessments and I got two new students this week. I am finally up to 29. One more spot. Today's student, however, came straight from Mexico and speaks not ONE iota of English. Poor baby cried when mom tried to leave him. I have not spoken so much Spanish in one day....ever, I think! I cannot imagine how it must feel to be dumped off into a completely foreign environment. At least he made friends quickly, with other student who speak Spanish, and by lunch he was comfortable enough to go with the yard duty ladies to eat. He adjusted amazingly quickly but I am going to have to pull out the Spanish in order for him to understand anything. Poor kid - stuck with me as his teacher, butchering his language....
Cassie had a great birthday party this past weekend, joint with Jasmine. 18 giggling, screaming girls......I'll take my 29 students anyday! But they had loads of fun and my baby was happy. That's all that matters.
I had the biggest compliment given to me after BodyFlow this past Sunday. I finished teaching, we did our relaxation/meditation, and as we were rolling up the yoga mats, a member called out a thank you to me and said in front of the class that I had the perfect voice! Two other members chimed in, and agreed that my voice is very calming and soothing. That's something I am always conscious of. I spend so much of my fitness teaching time in BodyPump, which is a very different feel - much stronger, more intense and motivating. I worry sometimes that I am not able to bring it down as I teach Flow. It is getting easier, and while the end of the class is very low key and soothing, the rest of the class actually is not. There are plenty of opportunities for me to bring out a bit more intensity, such as in the core abs and back tracks, and even the standing strength. But I am very aware of not having a "creepy yoga voice" and trying instead to be myself, just dialed down. It's something that people don't often think about, and not only do instructors (good ones) have to know their choreography internally and perfectly, they then have to layer in that coaching, that connecting and correcting of what they see in the room to help members be safe and get the most out of their workout, but they also have to motivate and drive when needed, and also, at least in Flow, allow the participants to seek internally what they need and can get out of the class. It's a delicate balance that I am just beginning to understand. It comes second nature with BodyPump. CXWorx is similar, even though I only teach one class a week, it's a bit more intense and I can dig deep and motivate. Then to completely shift gears to BodyFlow, all within a few minutes? It's interesting to begin a Tai Chi warmup while still dripping with sweat from an intense core workout! It takes me a bit of time to "come down" from that high and shift into Flow mode.
So to hear people tell me my voice is good for this program.....that means the world. It means that I am heading in the right direction. I was thinking tonight on the way home from the gym about my AIM2 experience, and remembering the instructors that were there for BodyFlow. I wish I had paid more attention to the feedback Josef gave Anne and the others, but I had NO intention of teaching Flow ever, so I didn't give it a second thought. I do know, though, that I am SO far away from that! In fact, I probably won't be ready for an AIM1 workshop for Flow for much longer than the 6 month minimum they say you should be teaching a program before doing an advanced workshop. I still need to work on physically being able to do the poses better before I do AIM. I still struggle daily with tight hip flexors, and right now my upper back is a mess, but I felt a glimmer of hope tonight.
I mixed up both releases, even though I now only teach whole releases because they are easier to keep in my brain. I only have 2 full flow releases under my belt, and even though I just received an older release and just ordered more through LM, I simply cannot learn an entire release right now. So I found a warm up that just resonated with me. I learned it super quick last night and LOVED teaching it today! I actually FELT graceful! I may not have looked it, but I sure felt it! It has opened up the possibility that maybe I can learn more tracks fairly easily, at least before the next round of new releases come out. I'll tackle a couple more for this weekend and see how it goes.
I'm loving BodyFlow. If I could teach it 3-4 times a week I'd be in heaven :)
Monday, October 15, 2012
Feeling the Weekend!
Oh boy. I don't often play the age card.....as a 40 year old woman who completely changed her life and body, it doesn't usually fly with me when people tell me they are too old to get fit, or lose weight.....blah, blah, blah.
However.....that being said....I am feeling 44-1/2 today. Seriously. It seems like the harder I push myself physically, yes, I can do it, but boy, do I pay for it the next day! I think the hardest part of the weekend was the run....
Saturday Cassie and I participated in the 2nd Annual Oktoberun in Redwood City. All the money goes to the RWC school district, and directly to our schools. We did it last year, and I sense a tradition in the making. It was a great day, as last year, there were 700+ registrants and this year? 1800!!! I absolutely LOVE the atmosphere on a race day. Every race I've run gives me goosebumps in the minutes before the start. Hoover had a good size team, I think the biggest represented by one of the schools. We had teachers, our principal, parents and students. To run alongside a first grade and third grade student I know, with their moms, was incredible. Especially now that we are beginning a serious health and wellness movement at my school. In our poor, heavily Latino community, awareness is key and we received a grant that gave scholarships to families to participate Saturday. We are offering Zumba classes (I know, I know, but it gets them in the door and moving) and we are all getting pedometers and starting walking clubs at school. I am excited to do my part, and most of the teachers that ran the race were upper grade but these students know me and the expressions on their little faces as we ran together and high-fived each other.....then to see them and their moms at school today....just a new relationship in the making. Good freaking stuff.
Cassie was amazing. She moaned and groaned for 3 blocks or so, about being tired, her legs hurt. Then an amazing thing happened - she looked at people running, walking and jogging past us....then looked behind us and saw that there were not a lot of people there. She looked at me and said "Mom, can we run, please?" Uh, hello? OF COURSE! Then throughout the rest of the race, we would stop and walk here and there, and she kept pushing me and herself - "Come on, mom, let's run!" or "We'll walk when we get to the corner." Again, the thrill of hearing our names as we ran across the finish line.....I love sharing this with her. She asked me later on, as we watched the first of the half marathoners cross the finish line, "How many laps is a half marathon?" I told her that 13 miles was 52 laps. She looked at me and said she would never run a half marathon! I looked at her and told her that when she got older, if she ever wanted to run a half, that I would happily train for and run one with her. The look on her face.....I think she actually considered it. In her 7 year old mind.
A highlight of the run was running past a couple and the guy said "I told you it was HER!" and found a longtime member from PAC that I haven't seen in over 6 months. His partner said "He told me that you are his favorite BodyPump instructor!" He moved to San Jose and hasn't made it up to my Saturday class, but his fiancee is the new Vice Principal at one of our schools and that's why they were running in the race! We chatted, he said how much he misses my classes but when I told him that he could join the 24HF Super Sports in his area and get both BP and Combat, his two favorite classes, he was super excited. It was nice to see him and make the connection with his fiancee.
We went home to rest a bit before I had to leave to teach BodyPump at PAC. Class was good, although my legs were absolute TOAST by the end, after all the squats, lunges and jump squats! Then Cassie and I ran off to a birthday party. At the party, I walked by two female clowns (actual clowns there for entertainment!) and one of them stopped me and said - "Don't you teach BodyPump at PAC?" Turns out she comes to my class, but I didn't recognize her because of the wig and makeup! Her clown partner told me her mom comes to my classes. I was struck by the power of what I do in that one hour each week.....making an impression on people without ever realizing it. The reminder was awesome.
Sunday, I woke up with sore ankles, and my hamstrings? OMG. Running on pavement.....haven't done that in ages and I felt it. Taught BodyPump again and it was a great class. Felt better afterward. Headed to San Mateo to teach BodyFlow, and while I felt pretty good at the end, I was definitely tired. But was my day over? Nope. Had committed to stay and do GRIT, which is the new LM program - 30 minutes, High Intensity Interval Training. I've done it twice before, with Alex as the instructor and it seriously kicked my butt. I've done the cardio format and the strength (barbell) format. This time we were doing strength with Johnny, a new instructor, video taping the class. Tough stuff, but I went light on my weights because I was tired but it didn't matter. There is sprinting in the warm up, burpees, pushups, squats...a lot of bodyweight work that you just can't get around.
So today I woke up.....and the tops of my feet are sore, my ankles, hamstrings, shoulders, obliques......all good, really, but I feel my age. My hip has been bugging me, along with tight quads. Went to the chiropractor for an adjustment but what I really need is a massage - thankfully I have one scheduled for this Friday!
Although I am sore, and old, I can't help but really enjoy weekends like this. Where I push myself physically, mentally, and survive. I remember years ago when I suffered from my thyroid disease, and how physically weak I always was. Today I rotated my arm inward and happened to be feeling the back of that arm with my other hand and was shocked to feel how hard my tricep muscle was. I wasn't voluntarily flexing, and it was THERE. 4 years ago, I couldn't do a push up if my life depended on it. I couldn't do 5 lunges. Now I am jump squatting. I am proof that it can be done. It takes time, commitment, dedication, but most of all, the desire to change, and the willingness to accept no excuses, from others or from yourself. It's not easy. Far from it. But impossible?
The word says "I'm Possible". No excuses.
However.....that being said....I am feeling 44-1/2 today. Seriously. It seems like the harder I push myself physically, yes, I can do it, but boy, do I pay for it the next day! I think the hardest part of the weekend was the run....
Saturday Cassie and I participated in the 2nd Annual Oktoberun in Redwood City. All the money goes to the RWC school district, and directly to our schools. We did it last year, and I sense a tradition in the making. It was a great day, as last year, there were 700+ registrants and this year? 1800!!! I absolutely LOVE the atmosphere on a race day. Every race I've run gives me goosebumps in the minutes before the start. Hoover had a good size team, I think the biggest represented by one of the schools. We had teachers, our principal, parents and students. To run alongside a first grade and third grade student I know, with their moms, was incredible. Especially now that we are beginning a serious health and wellness movement at my school. In our poor, heavily Latino community, awareness is key and we received a grant that gave scholarships to families to participate Saturday. We are offering Zumba classes (I know, I know, but it gets them in the door and moving) and we are all getting pedometers and starting walking clubs at school. I am excited to do my part, and most of the teachers that ran the race were upper grade but these students know me and the expressions on their little faces as we ran together and high-fived each other.....then to see them and their moms at school today....just a new relationship in the making. Good freaking stuff.
Cassie was amazing. She moaned and groaned for 3 blocks or so, about being tired, her legs hurt. Then an amazing thing happened - she looked at people running, walking and jogging past us....then looked behind us and saw that there were not a lot of people there. She looked at me and said "Mom, can we run, please?" Uh, hello? OF COURSE! Then throughout the rest of the race, we would stop and walk here and there, and she kept pushing me and herself - "Come on, mom, let's run!" or "We'll walk when we get to the corner." Again, the thrill of hearing our names as we ran across the finish line.....I love sharing this with her. She asked me later on, as we watched the first of the half marathoners cross the finish line, "How many laps is a half marathon?" I told her that 13 miles was 52 laps. She looked at me and said she would never run a half marathon! I looked at her and told her that when she got older, if she ever wanted to run a half, that I would happily train for and run one with her. The look on her face.....I think she actually considered it. In her 7 year old mind.
A highlight of the run was running past a couple and the guy said "I told you it was HER!" and found a longtime member from PAC that I haven't seen in over 6 months. His partner said "He told me that you are his favorite BodyPump instructor!" He moved to San Jose and hasn't made it up to my Saturday class, but his fiancee is the new Vice Principal at one of our schools and that's why they were running in the race! We chatted, he said how much he misses my classes but when I told him that he could join the 24HF Super Sports in his area and get both BP and Combat, his two favorite classes, he was super excited. It was nice to see him and make the connection with his fiancee.
We went home to rest a bit before I had to leave to teach BodyPump at PAC. Class was good, although my legs were absolute TOAST by the end, after all the squats, lunges and jump squats! Then Cassie and I ran off to a birthday party. At the party, I walked by two female clowns (actual clowns there for entertainment!) and one of them stopped me and said - "Don't you teach BodyPump at PAC?" Turns out she comes to my class, but I didn't recognize her because of the wig and makeup! Her clown partner told me her mom comes to my classes. I was struck by the power of what I do in that one hour each week.....making an impression on people without ever realizing it. The reminder was awesome.
Sunday, I woke up with sore ankles, and my hamstrings? OMG. Running on pavement.....haven't done that in ages and I felt it. Taught BodyPump again and it was a great class. Felt better afterward. Headed to San Mateo to teach BodyFlow, and while I felt pretty good at the end, I was definitely tired. But was my day over? Nope. Had committed to stay and do GRIT, which is the new LM program - 30 minutes, High Intensity Interval Training. I've done it twice before, with Alex as the instructor and it seriously kicked my butt. I've done the cardio format and the strength (barbell) format. This time we were doing strength with Johnny, a new instructor, video taping the class. Tough stuff, but I went light on my weights because I was tired but it didn't matter. There is sprinting in the warm up, burpees, pushups, squats...a lot of bodyweight work that you just can't get around.
So today I woke up.....and the tops of my feet are sore, my ankles, hamstrings, shoulders, obliques......all good, really, but I feel my age. My hip has been bugging me, along with tight quads. Went to the chiropractor for an adjustment but what I really need is a massage - thankfully I have one scheduled for this Friday!
Although I am sore, and old, I can't help but really enjoy weekends like this. Where I push myself physically, mentally, and survive. I remember years ago when I suffered from my thyroid disease, and how physically weak I always was. Today I rotated my arm inward and happened to be feeling the back of that arm with my other hand and was shocked to feel how hard my tricep muscle was. I wasn't voluntarily flexing, and it was THERE. 4 years ago, I couldn't do a push up if my life depended on it. I couldn't do 5 lunges. Now I am jump squatting. I am proof that it can be done. It takes time, commitment, dedication, but most of all, the desire to change, and the willingness to accept no excuses, from others or from yourself. It's not easy. Far from it. But impossible?
The word says "I'm Possible". No excuses.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Reduced to tears.....AGAIN :-/
I had every intention of sitting down tonight to blog about more fitness things; my newfound love for cxworx, the new Les Mills GRIT classes I've experienced the last two weekends that pushed me beyond my physical and emotional limits.....but then my son, not 20 minutes ago, goes to the mail box and brings inside his senior portrait proofs. All things fitness related went out the window.
I just finished having a fairly hysterical emotional breakdown at the sight of my son, my firstborn, in his cap and gown, in his tuxedo, looking unrealistically mature, adult and so FREAKING handsome, and it just immediately sent tears down my face. He will be 18 in two months. Where did time go? Where did my baby go? When did he grow up? When did he start making his own physical therapy appointments and driving himself to them? When did he begin to take initiative and start filling out college applications, sending emails to prospective college soccer coaches, making appointments at Notre Dame to meet with the coaches and come away with the local university being in his top 5? When did he......where did he......why did he.......
He's a man. He may still need me, when he negotiates "hey mom, if you buy me this pair of shoes, I'll pay for my senior jersey?" or some other monetary thing he needs from me. I drive his jeep on the weekends if he and his dad are taking the van to a soccer tournament and he actually tells me not to forget to put gas in his tank, when he has yet to shell out any of his own money for gas. He's making his own lunches now (thank goodness) and doing the dishes daily so I don't have to. He still smart mouths me and since I gave him his birthday present early (a laptop for this year and for college) he better learn to hold his tongue a bit more or I've got myself a new toy :)
He's still a kid in so many ways, but way too quickly, he's demonstrating he is responsible, independent and mature. I suppose he will figure out how to feed himself when he goes away to college, and I know he can do his laundry, but when I look at the framed picture on the wall of him at preschool graduation, in his blue cap and gown, age 5, and hold up his senior portrait, in his orange cap and gown, age 17-1/2.....well, let the hysterics ensue.
I sure hope I get this out of my system in the next 8 months. For his sake and mine. I already drive my family a bit insane with my fitness craziness before a launch. Cassie was almost in tears because for a brief moment, my attention was focused solely on her brother and not on her. She adjusted and brought me a box of tissues and told me my makeup was smeared. At least I didn't have anything in my teeth.
I'm such an emotional wreck these last couple of weeks. This was the topper. Let's hope things calm down. SOON. I don't know how much more I can handle.
I just finished having a fairly hysterical emotional breakdown at the sight of my son, my firstborn, in his cap and gown, in his tuxedo, looking unrealistically mature, adult and so FREAKING handsome, and it just immediately sent tears down my face. He will be 18 in two months. Where did time go? Where did my baby go? When did he grow up? When did he start making his own physical therapy appointments and driving himself to them? When did he begin to take initiative and start filling out college applications, sending emails to prospective college soccer coaches, making appointments at Notre Dame to meet with the coaches and come away with the local university being in his top 5? When did he......where did he......why did he.......
He's a man. He may still need me, when he negotiates "hey mom, if you buy me this pair of shoes, I'll pay for my senior jersey?" or some other monetary thing he needs from me. I drive his jeep on the weekends if he and his dad are taking the van to a soccer tournament and he actually tells me not to forget to put gas in his tank, when he has yet to shell out any of his own money for gas. He's making his own lunches now (thank goodness) and doing the dishes daily so I don't have to. He still smart mouths me and since I gave him his birthday present early (a laptop for this year and for college) he better learn to hold his tongue a bit more or I've got myself a new toy :)
He's still a kid in so many ways, but way too quickly, he's demonstrating he is responsible, independent and mature. I suppose he will figure out how to feed himself when he goes away to college, and I know he can do his laundry, but when I look at the framed picture on the wall of him at preschool graduation, in his blue cap and gown, age 5, and hold up his senior portrait, in his orange cap and gown, age 17-1/2.....well, let the hysterics ensue.
I sure hope I get this out of my system in the next 8 months. For his sake and mine. I already drive my family a bit insane with my fitness craziness before a launch. Cassie was almost in tears because for a brief moment, my attention was focused solely on her brother and not on her. She adjusted and brought me a box of tissues and told me my makeup was smeared. At least I didn't have anything in my teeth.
I'm such an emotional wreck these last couple of weeks. This was the topper. Let's hope things calm down. SOON. I don't know how much more I can handle.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
A Pivotal Moment.....
It has been quite the busy start to the school year. I underestimated how difficult it would be to learn three programs at this time of year. I think it must be challenging at any time, but when I am so focused on new students, testing and my own children and their school activities, well, it's proven to be more challenging than I expected.
I can barely keep my eyes open but I had to write about what happened today. I have been struggling with learning my programs, but more so, BodyFlow. BodyPump I was able to learn fairly quickly, because I am so familiar with the format. I tackled flow first, as it was brand new except for my training release. This new release, 58, is so different than my training release, with all new poses, and even though I have been told how simple the chorey was, I was seriously struggling with getting anything to stick in my head. CxWorx - I didn't even look at it until a little more than a week ago.
I have been very stressed the last few weeks, and even though I would spend practically every spare moment with my notes and music, and practicing, and watching, it really wasn't sticking in my brain. Yesterday was the 24 Hour Fitness re-launch and I was launching BP and CX. Today I would need to have flow learned.
Yesterday went well; I taught pump at SMSS and CX afterwards. I had a BLAST teaching both, and although I was nervous about CX, it went off without a hitch and was a really fun release to teach. Super hard!! I ended up teaching another full BP class when the BodyCombat instructor cancelled, just so the 20 members who showed up would at least get a workout and they were all very agreeable to a BP class. Once the day was over, I knew I had to finish learning flow. Time had run out.
Up until last night, around 11 pm, I was practicing. Watching. Doing. I was sore, and didn't want to wear myself out more physically, but I need to DO in order to learn. I can't simply watch the dvd or just read the notes; doesn't work for me. So after 11, I finally got the chorey, but wasn't feeling good about the whole thing as I wasn't confident on my coaching and cueing. But I had to get some sleep.
This morning, I taught BP in San Carlos, and then ran to San Mateo. I spent time in the car reviewing the notes again, and then had to just let it be. I was extremely nervous walking into the gym, knowing I had a very high chance of flubbing up in more than one track. And then something amazing happened.
From the time I pressed play, and stepped into position on my yoga mat, it just flowed. Literally. From the tai chi warm up, through the sun salutations, to standing strength, balance, hip openers.....then the dreaded track 6, the core track. The one that physically was so hard for me, the one that kept me up late last night. Was it perfect? No, but my timing was on, and the entire room groaned throughout the track. The core back track, I love and that went well. By the time I hit track 8, spinal twists, I literally had goosebumps. By track 9, hamstrings, and the track that brings the class back down, brings the members to focus internally......I was actually in tears. Not enough so that members could hear it in my voice, but it was so emotionally moving...it's hard to describe. As I sat and guided the class through relaxation and meditation, I was swept by such a feeling of completeness, such a feeling of "this is what I am supposed to be doing".....and after class, several people thanked me and told me it was a great release.
I went to the locker room to freshen up and began sending a message to my amazing trainer, Rachel. I had an urge to let her know how incredibly moving my first 58 class was. She had posted recently how track 9 brought her to tears, and I remember thinking, "well yes, it's a great song, but tears?" I didn't get it. Until now. The wave of emotion that ran over me, like a wave, was indescribable.
It's like everything fell into place today. All my worries, all my stresses over this first post-training release, GONE. When people would tell me prior to today, "oh, you'll be great" or "you'll be fine", what they don't understand is that I didn't believe that, not deep down. My fear of totally screwing this up have been weighing on me. What I didn't realize is that while I thought none of it was sticking, it actually WAS. That was the most shocking thing of all. I wasn't able to give this release the time and dedication I did for my training release and that weighed heavily on my belief that I could deliver a good class. No one was watching and waiting for me to fail. Just ME.
It's not often I have these kinds of revelations. But damn, when they happen, it's like a ton of bricks. The thought that maybe this is the program for me. BodyPump - always and always will be my first passion, the one that truly set me on this path to better health. I've posted about moments like these in BP, usually, though, when I am sharing my story or journey with the class. A single track or release has never brought me to tears while teaching. But today? It was simply life changing, the way I felt delivering this class to my members. They will never know how today affected me, and in truth, it wasn't anything they did or didn't do, I don't even know if it was about them. It was about me. How I felt teaching this to them.
Simply powerful. Pivotal. A moment in time where I was in the zone. A different kind of zone than my BodyPump zones that I've experienced. A truly emotional zone.
BodyFlow.
I can barely keep my eyes open but I had to write about what happened today. I have been struggling with learning my programs, but more so, BodyFlow. BodyPump I was able to learn fairly quickly, because I am so familiar with the format. I tackled flow first, as it was brand new except for my training release. This new release, 58, is so different than my training release, with all new poses, and even though I have been told how simple the chorey was, I was seriously struggling with getting anything to stick in my head. CxWorx - I didn't even look at it until a little more than a week ago.
I have been very stressed the last few weeks, and even though I would spend practically every spare moment with my notes and music, and practicing, and watching, it really wasn't sticking in my brain. Yesterday was the 24 Hour Fitness re-launch and I was launching BP and CX. Today I would need to have flow learned.
Yesterday went well; I taught pump at SMSS and CX afterwards. I had a BLAST teaching both, and although I was nervous about CX, it went off without a hitch and was a really fun release to teach. Super hard!! I ended up teaching another full BP class when the BodyCombat instructor cancelled, just so the 20 members who showed up would at least get a workout and they were all very agreeable to a BP class. Once the day was over, I knew I had to finish learning flow. Time had run out.
Up until last night, around 11 pm, I was practicing. Watching. Doing. I was sore, and didn't want to wear myself out more physically, but I need to DO in order to learn. I can't simply watch the dvd or just read the notes; doesn't work for me. So after 11, I finally got the chorey, but wasn't feeling good about the whole thing as I wasn't confident on my coaching and cueing. But I had to get some sleep.
This morning, I taught BP in San Carlos, and then ran to San Mateo. I spent time in the car reviewing the notes again, and then had to just let it be. I was extremely nervous walking into the gym, knowing I had a very high chance of flubbing up in more than one track. And then something amazing happened.
From the time I pressed play, and stepped into position on my yoga mat, it just flowed. Literally. From the tai chi warm up, through the sun salutations, to standing strength, balance, hip openers.....then the dreaded track 6, the core track. The one that physically was so hard for me, the one that kept me up late last night. Was it perfect? No, but my timing was on, and the entire room groaned throughout the track. The core back track, I love and that went well. By the time I hit track 8, spinal twists, I literally had goosebumps. By track 9, hamstrings, and the track that brings the class back down, brings the members to focus internally......I was actually in tears. Not enough so that members could hear it in my voice, but it was so emotionally moving...it's hard to describe. As I sat and guided the class through relaxation and meditation, I was swept by such a feeling of completeness, such a feeling of "this is what I am supposed to be doing".....and after class, several people thanked me and told me it was a great release.
I went to the locker room to freshen up and began sending a message to my amazing trainer, Rachel. I had an urge to let her know how incredibly moving my first 58 class was. She had posted recently how track 9 brought her to tears, and I remember thinking, "well yes, it's a great song, but tears?" I didn't get it. Until now. The wave of emotion that ran over me, like a wave, was indescribable.
It's like everything fell into place today. All my worries, all my stresses over this first post-training release, GONE. When people would tell me prior to today, "oh, you'll be great" or "you'll be fine", what they don't understand is that I didn't believe that, not deep down. My fear of totally screwing this up have been weighing on me. What I didn't realize is that while I thought none of it was sticking, it actually WAS. That was the most shocking thing of all. I wasn't able to give this release the time and dedication I did for my training release and that weighed heavily on my belief that I could deliver a good class. No one was watching and waiting for me to fail. Just ME.
It's not often I have these kinds of revelations. But damn, when they happen, it's like a ton of bricks. The thought that maybe this is the program for me. BodyPump - always and always will be my first passion, the one that truly set me on this path to better health. I've posted about moments like these in BP, usually, though, when I am sharing my story or journey with the class. A single track or release has never brought me to tears while teaching. But today? It was simply life changing, the way I felt delivering this class to my members. They will never know how today affected me, and in truth, it wasn't anything they did or didn't do, I don't even know if it was about them. It was about me. How I felt teaching this to them.
Simply powerful. Pivotal. A moment in time where I was in the zone. A different kind of zone than my BodyPump zones that I've experienced. A truly emotional zone.
BodyFlow.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Summer Reflections
I went back to work today. Officially. Sat in a staff training the entire day, and while it wasn't horrible, it wasn't fun sitting all day. One more Looooong meeting tomorrow, then I get Friday to work in my classroom. One day to set it up and be ready for Monday. Paid, at least. I can put in as much time as I want on the weekend.....but I don't. I have 3, maybe 4 classes to teach at the gym (if I sub for Deb) and I don't want to be in the classroom in between. Thankfully Janet is coming Friday and one of my former parent volunteers, whose daughter is playing soccer with Cassie, offered to come help too so I will have 2 amazing people helping me unpack. I just may finish on Friday :)
Yesterday was a nice ending to the summer. We spent the early part of the day taking Cassie, Alexander, Amanda and her family out to Año Nuevo to see the elephant seals. It was a 2 mile hike to the beach each way, total of 4 miles. I didn't remember it being so far when we took Alex as a cub scout, but I was game. The girls were troopers and it was a beautiful crisp day. After the seals, we stopped at a beach up highway 1 and played for a bit. We had to rush back to Redwood City because Alex had to work at school; as BOSA Secretary he is already putting in a lot of hours working student registrations, planning for assemblies they are running, etc. I needed to go home and ice and get ready to teach my first Triple Tuesday at San Mateo Super Sport!
I was seriously nervous about my new schedule of classes. I have never taught 3 classes back to back and even though two of them were 30 minutes, I was still teaching 2 hours straight. I was looking forward to it; to teach all three of my formats in one fell swoop? HEAVEN!!
I arrived early to see if I could use my wireless mic in their stereo.....nope. It needs to have the same setup with a splitter that I have in San Carlos, so I will have to see about how I can get that accomplished. I am so accustomed to using my own mic that I really don't like using the club's mic anymore. I was very worried about how many people would actually come to a 4:30 BodyPump class, followed by a 5:00 CXWORX class. I figured 5:30 was a decent hour to come for BodyFlow. I am used to my participants being more of the working set and 6:30 being a challenge to arrive to on time, but I was pleasantly surprised to have 20 for BP! Lots of male members, relatively speaking, and I was able to have them all grab their resistance tubes for CX to save set up time. I explained they would have to put away all BP equipment quickly so we could stay on schedule and not cut any of the 5 tracks I was teaching. Two of my regulars from San Carlos came, as they live in Half Moon Bay and come all the way to SC just for my class. This is closer and they got to try CX.
BP went well, they seemed to enjoy the class and then a few more came in for CX while we were putting away the equipment. About 25 for CX. This was a tough class, as only 2 had come to our launch on Saturday (more later on that). At the end of CX, though, there were smiles through the sweat. Lots of comments from people about how hard it was but how they loved it! Some people left and more came in for flow, and I had close to 30 for that class! There was no time to even go to change or go to the bathroom, because I needed to keep things moving and on schedule. Many people didn't know to bring a yoga mat so I took a few minutes in the beginning introducing the format, explaining about the mat, etc.
Now I had fun teaching BP and CX. But BodyFlow? I am in HEAVEN. I truly love this format. Several men stayed for this class, and a couple had stayed from the beginning of pump. To teach this after two other classes; I knew it would be challenging physically, but it wasn't as hard as I thought. I think doing the 4 mile hike first was what made my legs feel like jello! At the end of class, before relaxation, half the class got up and left and when the Zumba people came in as I was packing up, both instructors thanked me for flow (they were in the back) and told me not to take offense at how many people left early - they had to get their Zumba shoes on! Which was fine, they left at the best possible time.
The best part of flow? During track 4, the balance track, people started giggling. Now I strive to teach in the essence of all my programs - this is the most calm, most serene, most focused of tracks because we are balancing on one leg through the entire track. Most people struggled with this and as they started to topple over, they started giggling, and as one giggled, more fell over and joined in. This, of course, made me smile, and it lightened the mood and actually bonded us as a class - to have them feel like yes, it is a serious track, but everyone moves at their own skill level and pace, and it was OK for them to not be able to balance. It's hard to explain, but it just made it more fun. It was natural and I explained later that we are all learning together, we are all going to get stronger together and it will be wonderful to see them progress as time goes on. Many came up to me after and told me they loved the class. So do I.
I was pretty beat when I arrived home; it was a lot of physical activity in a day for me but I was excited and hopeful for my new classes in San Mateo. I look forward to meeting new people, teaching my new formats, and still being able to see my regulars in San Carlos.
Last Saturday, we launched all these programs in a big event in the basketball court. I got to team teach BodyPump with Kimi and Tina, and we chose our favorite tracks. It was amazingly fun to teach with these two women! We had about 70, and a TON of my regulars from San Carlos! It was so great to have them. I also had several friends who don't belong to the gym come, from school, and soccer. Then I taught BodyFlow with Kimi and Jocelyn, and it went great. Kimi then taught Combat with Tina and she had brought out my FAVORITE from BC43 - The Black Pearl. I did the track right before that, and then went up to the front of the room as a participant model for the moves. It was so much fun but with my heel and my knee, it was definitely felt at the end of the day :-/
Kimi and Jocelyn and I taught CXWORX after that, and then had a break. Karin and I taught another CX, and then I was D.O.N.E. Home to shower and off to a soccer game. It was a great fitness day.
As I finished my three classes last night, I realized something: I began my summer vacation with the Sunnyvale launch, an amazing day of fitness. Teaching BodyPump with Steven Renata. I finished my summer with another amazing few days. The launch at my new club, and the first round of classes, introducing these formats to new members. How lucky am I?
I also realized something else. For the very first time, probably EVER, I don't regret how fast the summer went by. Yes, I was not ready to go back to work today. I am STILL not ready to start the school year. No, I didn't get everything done that I wanted to do. But I have no regrets. Seriously.
I spent the summer focused on some very important things to me. Spent time with my kids, my husband. Trained for and passed a new program, my new passion, BodyFlow. Participated in two amazing club launches, and pushed myself physically and mentally. Asked for and was given an almost perfect Group X schedule - 4 BP, 2 BF and a CX. I cleaned some, organized some, had a yard sale for my mom. Donated a ton, and let other things go. I enter this school year rested, both in body and mind, and am determined not to let myself get caught up in things that I can't control. We will see how that goes. I know full well it is going to be challenging, handling school responsibilities, learning and teaching 3 formats (just received the next round in the mail so by the end of September, I will need to know them all) and teaching 7 classes a week.
My son is officially a senior. I have 9 months to prepare mentally for this. I cried this morning. I am so flipping proud of him. Cassie begins 2nd grade on Monday. Sigh. Time goes too fast.
Take a deep breath. The ride has begun.
Yesterday was a nice ending to the summer. We spent the early part of the day taking Cassie, Alexander, Amanda and her family out to Año Nuevo to see the elephant seals. It was a 2 mile hike to the beach each way, total of 4 miles. I didn't remember it being so far when we took Alex as a cub scout, but I was game. The girls were troopers and it was a beautiful crisp day. After the seals, we stopped at a beach up highway 1 and played for a bit. We had to rush back to Redwood City because Alex had to work at school; as BOSA Secretary he is already putting in a lot of hours working student registrations, planning for assemblies they are running, etc. I needed to go home and ice and get ready to teach my first Triple Tuesday at San Mateo Super Sport!
I was seriously nervous about my new schedule of classes. I have never taught 3 classes back to back and even though two of them were 30 minutes, I was still teaching 2 hours straight. I was looking forward to it; to teach all three of my formats in one fell swoop? HEAVEN!!
I arrived early to see if I could use my wireless mic in their stereo.....nope. It needs to have the same setup with a splitter that I have in San Carlos, so I will have to see about how I can get that accomplished. I am so accustomed to using my own mic that I really don't like using the club's mic anymore. I was very worried about how many people would actually come to a 4:30 BodyPump class, followed by a 5:00 CXWORX class. I figured 5:30 was a decent hour to come for BodyFlow. I am used to my participants being more of the working set and 6:30 being a challenge to arrive to on time, but I was pleasantly surprised to have 20 for BP! Lots of male members, relatively speaking, and I was able to have them all grab their resistance tubes for CX to save set up time. I explained they would have to put away all BP equipment quickly so we could stay on schedule and not cut any of the 5 tracks I was teaching. Two of my regulars from San Carlos came, as they live in Half Moon Bay and come all the way to SC just for my class. This is closer and they got to try CX.
BP went well, they seemed to enjoy the class and then a few more came in for CX while we were putting away the equipment. About 25 for CX. This was a tough class, as only 2 had come to our launch on Saturday (more later on that). At the end of CX, though, there were smiles through the sweat. Lots of comments from people about how hard it was but how they loved it! Some people left and more came in for flow, and I had close to 30 for that class! There was no time to even go to change or go to the bathroom, because I needed to keep things moving and on schedule. Many people didn't know to bring a yoga mat so I took a few minutes in the beginning introducing the format, explaining about the mat, etc.
Now I had fun teaching BP and CX. But BodyFlow? I am in HEAVEN. I truly love this format. Several men stayed for this class, and a couple had stayed from the beginning of pump. To teach this after two other classes; I knew it would be challenging physically, but it wasn't as hard as I thought. I think doing the 4 mile hike first was what made my legs feel like jello! At the end of class, before relaxation, half the class got up and left and when the Zumba people came in as I was packing up, both instructors thanked me for flow (they were in the back) and told me not to take offense at how many people left early - they had to get their Zumba shoes on! Which was fine, they left at the best possible time.
The best part of flow? During track 4, the balance track, people started giggling. Now I strive to teach in the essence of all my programs - this is the most calm, most serene, most focused of tracks because we are balancing on one leg through the entire track. Most people struggled with this and as they started to topple over, they started giggling, and as one giggled, more fell over and joined in. This, of course, made me smile, and it lightened the mood and actually bonded us as a class - to have them feel like yes, it is a serious track, but everyone moves at their own skill level and pace, and it was OK for them to not be able to balance. It's hard to explain, but it just made it more fun. It was natural and I explained later that we are all learning together, we are all going to get stronger together and it will be wonderful to see them progress as time goes on. Many came up to me after and told me they loved the class. So do I.
I was pretty beat when I arrived home; it was a lot of physical activity in a day for me but I was excited and hopeful for my new classes in San Mateo. I look forward to meeting new people, teaching my new formats, and still being able to see my regulars in San Carlos.
Last Saturday, we launched all these programs in a big event in the basketball court. I got to team teach BodyPump with Kimi and Tina, and we chose our favorite tracks. It was amazingly fun to teach with these two women! We had about 70, and a TON of my regulars from San Carlos! It was so great to have them. I also had several friends who don't belong to the gym come, from school, and soccer. Then I taught BodyFlow with Kimi and Jocelyn, and it went great. Kimi then taught Combat with Tina and she had brought out my FAVORITE from BC43 - The Black Pearl. I did the track right before that, and then went up to the front of the room as a participant model for the moves. It was so much fun but with my heel and my knee, it was definitely felt at the end of the day :-/
Kimi and Jocelyn and I taught CXWORX after that, and then had a break. Karin and I taught another CX, and then I was D.O.N.E. Home to shower and off to a soccer game. It was a great fitness day.
As I finished my three classes last night, I realized something: I began my summer vacation with the Sunnyvale launch, an amazing day of fitness. Teaching BodyPump with Steven Renata. I finished my summer with another amazing few days. The launch at my new club, and the first round of classes, introducing these formats to new members. How lucky am I?
I also realized something else. For the very first time, probably EVER, I don't regret how fast the summer went by. Yes, I was not ready to go back to work today. I am STILL not ready to start the school year. No, I didn't get everything done that I wanted to do. But I have no regrets. Seriously.
I spent the summer focused on some very important things to me. Spent time with my kids, my husband. Trained for and passed a new program, my new passion, BodyFlow. Participated in two amazing club launches, and pushed myself physically and mentally. Asked for and was given an almost perfect Group X schedule - 4 BP, 2 BF and a CX. I cleaned some, organized some, had a yard sale for my mom. Donated a ton, and let other things go. I enter this school year rested, both in body and mind, and am determined not to let myself get caught up in things that I can't control. We will see how that goes. I know full well it is going to be challenging, handling school responsibilities, learning and teaching 3 formats (just received the next round in the mail so by the end of September, I will need to know them all) and teaching 7 classes a week.
My son is officially a senior. I have 9 months to prepare mentally for this. I cried this morning. I am so flipping proud of him. Cassie begins 2nd grade on Monday. Sigh. Time goes too fast.
Take a deep breath. The ride has begun.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Bittersweet.......
Summer is almost over, I go back to work for a day on Thursday, and then for real next Wednesday. This summer, for the first time ever, I was able to turn in my keys and not think about school the entire time. Seriously. I have been so busy with BodyFlow training, practicing, family, cleaning, sleeping in, watching the Olympics....just anything but worrying about school and it has been....heaven. Everyone I see this week keeps asking me when I go back to school and I just plug my ears. I am not thinking about it until after this weekend, this big weekend, when I get to work the 24 Hour Fitness' San Mateo Super Sport Premier Launch! I am teaching 4 classes.....Team teaching BodyPump at 7:45 am, then BodyFlow, and 2 CXWORX classes. I am beyond excited to begin this part of my journey...the one that has me actively teaching 3 formats.
Tomorrow, however, is going to be so bittersweet. It is my last Tuesday class in San Carlos. Every class is special in its own way to me; I've written about it before. This class, though, is my largest, with regularly now 50+ people each class. Twice I've filled the room to capacity at 60. The energy is amazing and I dread announcing tomorrow that it is my last class with them. I was unable to give them any notice because we needed corporate to approval the new schedule, so after launch, I am in San Mateo on Tuesdays. I will be teaching all three formats: a 30 minute BodyPump, 30 minute CX, and then an hour of BodyFlow. My ideal line up. 2 hours. Beginning earlier, at 4:30, so there is concern on my part about how many people will make it that early. The room is half the size of San Carlos, maybe 30 can fit. I cannot wait.....but I know I will be so sad to leave my Tuesday group. I will still be there on Thursdays, so it's not like I am leaving for good, but each class has its own energy, its own group of members. It will be different. I will miss them.
I wanted to change up my playlist for them as a farewell; now, at midnight, it came to me. I am going to leave them as I came to them - with my training release, 76. Reviewing it now, I barely have to go over the choreography. It is permanently ingrained in my head, I taught it so many times, filmed it so many times. It brings back so many memories for me; the journey as I began it, to become a BP instructor, is wrapped up in this release. To leave my beloved crew with this, just really feels RIGHT. And so it is.
My Sunday schedule is changing as well. I will be remaining in San Carlos, but in order to keep my class, it had to move 2 hours earlier, to 9:00 am. I also have to announce this. This is so I can have a second BodyFlow class, but in San Mateo, at 11:00am. I hope that my participants will be pleased that I am staying, even though the class will be early. I am also sad about this; my Sunday class was the one that was relaxed, not sandwiched between classes, a time when I was always able to work with people who had technique questions, or just to chat freely without rushing out of the room. The upside? I get to teach BodyFlow, twice a week, and that just makes it all better. Two different clubs, but I have an hour to get there and I couldn't be more excited.
Although I wish I were teaching one more CX, I am happy with my new classes, and the next leg of my journey. Launch should be a blast; teaching BP, BF and CX with Kimi, Jocelyn and Karin, again in the basketball court, up on stage. I hope to get more people to sign up and fill the room.
My line up is now: 2 full BodyPumps, 1 30 minute BP, CX, and 2 BodyFlows each week.
YIPEE!!!!!
Tomorrow, however, is going to be so bittersweet. It is my last Tuesday class in San Carlos. Every class is special in its own way to me; I've written about it before. This class, though, is my largest, with regularly now 50+ people each class. Twice I've filled the room to capacity at 60. The energy is amazing and I dread announcing tomorrow that it is my last class with them. I was unable to give them any notice because we needed corporate to approval the new schedule, so after launch, I am in San Mateo on Tuesdays. I will be teaching all three formats: a 30 minute BodyPump, 30 minute CX, and then an hour of BodyFlow. My ideal line up. 2 hours. Beginning earlier, at 4:30, so there is concern on my part about how many people will make it that early. The room is half the size of San Carlos, maybe 30 can fit. I cannot wait.....but I know I will be so sad to leave my Tuesday group. I will still be there on Thursdays, so it's not like I am leaving for good, but each class has its own energy, its own group of members. It will be different. I will miss them.
I wanted to change up my playlist for them as a farewell; now, at midnight, it came to me. I am going to leave them as I came to them - with my training release, 76. Reviewing it now, I barely have to go over the choreography. It is permanently ingrained in my head, I taught it so many times, filmed it so many times. It brings back so many memories for me; the journey as I began it, to become a BP instructor, is wrapped up in this release. To leave my beloved crew with this, just really feels RIGHT. And so it is.
My Sunday schedule is changing as well. I will be remaining in San Carlos, but in order to keep my class, it had to move 2 hours earlier, to 9:00 am. I also have to announce this. This is so I can have a second BodyFlow class, but in San Mateo, at 11:00am. I hope that my participants will be pleased that I am staying, even though the class will be early. I am also sad about this; my Sunday class was the one that was relaxed, not sandwiched between classes, a time when I was always able to work with people who had technique questions, or just to chat freely without rushing out of the room. The upside? I get to teach BodyFlow, twice a week, and that just makes it all better. Two different clubs, but I have an hour to get there and I couldn't be more excited.
Although I wish I were teaching one more CX, I am happy with my new classes, and the next leg of my journey. Launch should be a blast; teaching BP, BF and CX with Kimi, Jocelyn and Karin, again in the basketball court, up on stage. I hope to get more people to sign up and fill the room.
My line up is now: 2 full BodyPumps, 1 30 minute BP, CX, and 2 BodyFlows each week.
YIPEE!!!!!
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