Confessions of a Group Fitness Instructor

+ We work harder than you can imagine to learn our content, add our own spin to it and perform with intensity for you each and every class. Sure we may be in shape, but bringing it each and every rep takes more effort than you can imagine.

+ When you leave during the abs/cooldown tracks we worry about you. Stretching out after an hour workout is SO IMPORTANT and when you duck out early we can only hope you stretch at home.

+ Like every workplace there is DRAMA and politics. Instructors can be divas and it can be exhausting.

+ All of us have had one of those uncomfortable digestive body moments when teaching.

+ If you have a question, critique or issue PLEASE COME TO US AT THE END OF CLASS. Nothing hurts worse than hearing second hand someone wasn't happy with your class. We teach FOR YOU, so if you need something or notice we are lacking something, please approach us directly.

+ Don't be scared if you are new, we've all be there and can spot you whether you raise your hand or not. We ask if anyone is new to help you, not embarrass you so if you can get to class early to introduce yourself to us and we promise your class will roll a lot smoother.

+ 99% of us get butterflies before each and every class.

+ Making a mistake, even a teeny blip can make us feel like we failed the class. WE HATE MISTAKES!

+ YES, we have a list of THOSE members. The ones who don't listen. Who show up late every class just because they are too cool to be on time. The ones who do their own exercises no matter what the class is doing. YES, we know who you are and YES we warn other instructors about you. #dontbethisperson

+ What we get paid to teach does not compensate the entirety of effort put into each class.

+ Our end goal is to get you healthier, so if you have a success story from class PLEASE share it.

+ You have no idea how much a "Great class" can mean, especially on our own tough days.

What do you want to know about teaching from a fitness instructor? Ask me!

If I'm Being Honest

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If I'm being honest//

// I'd tell you how much I hate this stage of DIY renovation. My teeth are on edge often when I'm home because it's in such a state of chaos. I know and understand it will all be worth it in the end but right now, I'M SO SICK OF IT I COULD SCREAM!

// Money has been keeping me up at night. Can't I just win the lottery already?

// My PT exam is coming up and I am 100% not ready for it, due to my own stupidity. I've failed to study when I should and so now begins the cramming process until June.

// The past two weeks off of teaching have been much more of a dream than expected. Don't get me wrong, I miss my music, my classes and participants desperately, but not having to rush to teach and then get home late has been quite a lovely change of pace.

// All of my 'eating all the things' has me feeling very large, bloated and fat. I've been very indulgent and while I'm happy to have my life back my body is not quite as jubilant as my tastebuds.

// Waking up every four hours is really starting to wear on me, especially after a busy long weekend. How I wish my body would learn to sleep quickly and stay asleep all night.

// I'm quite anxious to get back into the sweaty session swing of things. I need to move and start getting back on track workout wise. Mornings are going to be very early soon now with morning workouts making a return.

// The state of this blog has me debating whether to try and resurrect it or let it slowly fade out.

// Teaching my first BARRE class this week in six months has me more nervous than expected.

// My slow recovering from gallbladder surgery pissed me off and no one understanding my attitude annoyed me as well. I completely understand my body lost an organ and there were incisions made in my body, totally get it. BUT, EVERYONE else said it was nothing. EVERYONE else said they were up and moving the next day easily. EVERYONE else said it was such an easy surgery and I'd feel right as rain afterwards. I don't like being bad at anything, ever.

// Hearing the PA on Wednesday explain my tight abs might have made it harder to recover made my week. I'm not trying to brag about my health over anyone, but to FINALLY understand WHY it hurt so much makes me happy. So, yeah, I'll take it!

Three Things

Hilarious, right? My BOFF sent this to me last week and I must say it is the PERFECT interpretation of how I feel about teaching BARRE this morning. I've done my best to put together a great program and we will have to see how it goes. Send a lil extra grace my way today, please?

Moving on to back to back post days, what? I saw this on Steph's blog yesterday and thought, yay for a post idea.  Just a quick lil q&a that gives you a lil bit more about me. Thanks, lady!

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Three things I'd never give up: freedom, family, sports.

Three favorite vegetables: baby carrots, asparagus, green beans.

Three shows I watched faithfully from the beginning to end: The Good Wife, Castle, Army Wives

Three places I want to visit inside the US: Hawaii, NORAD, Cape Cod

There places I want visit outside the US: Fiji/Bora Bora, Australia, Germany

Three things I always have on me: chapstick, lotion, nail clippers

Three things that are always in my car: lotion, dental floss, napkins

Three most recent phone calls were to/from: Le Husband, Sportyspice, Gold's Gym

Three most often used makeup products: mascara, lip gloss, Naked3 palette

Three things that make me laugh: corny jokes, baby giggles, my sisters

Three things that make me cry: sports stories, world suffering, cutting onions

Three of my most overused phrases/words: awesome, so exciting, byeeEEEEEEE

C U R R E N T L Y

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going: a bit craycray with the job search. Resume writing is so tedious and I'm realizing how specialized my previous field was compared to the rest of the corporate world. Oh and let's not even get into the salary talk, ugh. I fired out a bunch of new resumes and I'm hoping a few of them stick this time since I've made some actual PEOPLE connections. October was always my freakout 'i don't have a real job month', but I'm trying to stay positive.

toasting: a new day every morning. Not with a real drink, but virtually saying cheers to a new day. After losing my grandmother last month I've strived to really take stock in each new day, no matter the circumstances or feelings.  Life is so, so, so precious and one day we won't have ANY more days, bad or good so I'm choosing to embrace each and every day. Cheers to TODAY!

anticipating: moving into our own place. YES, new place. Le Husband and I went apartment/house looking last weekend and we think we've found our new home for the next year. Originally we had planned to buy, but right now with the job search going so slow we're taking the smart route and just renting.  I'm REALLY excited about our options though and hope to share the BIG news soon.

loving: the fact most of my family will be in Tennessee this weekend. Can't wait to squish and hug them.

overthinking: teaching barre for the first time on Thursday morning. Y'all there are only four people in the class but I am SOO STRESSED about teaching to them for the first time. I've only been certified for two weeks and feel an enormous responsibility to do my best for the Barre Above and Gold's Gym logo.

posting: very randomly, but trying to get back on schedule.  I miss blogland!

reading: lots of books to keep my brain zen before bed. Hoping to get my reviews up next week, but right now I'm trying to finish "All the Light We Cannot See". 

practicing: all the BODYPUMP. All the BODYATTACK. All the BARRE. All day, errreday!

wearing: workout clothes and summer clothes. Not only is it too warm for fall clothes, I gots NONE down here. I'm hoping to get up to VA soon so I can find all my boots and sweaters. Thankful I don't need them all now, I'M LOVING the warm weather. 

wish listing: Too many things to count. A JOB would be number one, though.

What's currently going on with y'all?

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