Please join me in saying Good Bye to OUR CLUB.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It is my thought that as long as we are within the first month

of any given new year.....that this is appropriate to say.

Hello 2014 

I am Excited to know you!

I can't wait to see what this fresh year looks like.

Obviously it will look exactly how I make it.....

in addition to the things we have little control over.....

but in large part....It is really up to me....and YOU!

So, for starters,

in case you hadn't  heard,

Our Club shut it's doors at the end of December.

This did not come as a huge surprise, they had been struggling for money

for quite some time.

Membership had steadily declined with the newer clubs

moving in. 

Our Club was becoming a bit run down,

and in need of quite a few repairs to get up to code,

etc., etc.

I personally had no desire to jump ship before it sank.

I wasn't going down with the ship,

but I was happy to hang on until the very end.

On Monday December 9th an email was sent out saying 

that Saturday the 14th the doors would close for good at 7:00pm.

Saturday 8:15 a.m. pilates would be my last class.

I Loved my time at Our Club.

I loved the people.....some of them loved me : )

It was my first opportunity at teaching, and gave me several good 

years of experience and experimentation.

Our club helped me get past these feelings.

It took me forever to find this old post....because the title did not fit the 

post I was looking for....it is at the bottom.....skip down to the picture of my keys...

begin there....

Oh, and 

Fair Warning: Do not risk eating while reading this post,

I inhaled and choked pretty aggressively on some of the grapefruit I was noshing on.

Our club allowed me this satisfaction.

This joy.

Here is one of my super fun attempts at practicing for my first class at Our Club.

Here is a favorite learning opportunity Our Club Provided for me.

Here is another sweet, scary experience.

and ANOTHER lesson I am grateful for.

I am BLESSED to have had these, and many other adventures during

my relatively short time at 

Our Club....at MY CLub.

May it Rest In Peace.

I will post more later.....

but I have been adopted into a new club.

Beach Bodies!

So far so good.....

I can't wait to tell you all about it.

DANCE JAM Report .....

Today, 

at long last, I taught my first Zumba class....

only, I am not certified, so it was 

called "Dance Jam".

Ha!

This has been in the making for a while.
If you missed the back story,
you can find it HERE.

There is a full time Zumba instructor at Our Club that has
become injured.  She has tendonitis in her foot,
which is apparently quite painful.
She teaches every Wed. and Fri. at 8:30.
I have seen several pleas for help from Maria trying to get subs.
Finally I could take it no longer....
I went for it.
Why shouldn't I?
Do I want to?
Heck YES!
Do I know how to Zumba or dance.....?
well, no, but....
I can do this!!
Maria gave me both days just like that.
Thankfully an actual Zumba instructor threw her hat in the ring
and I "graciously" gave up the Wed. classes to her.
Say Hallelujah!
That took a little pressure off.
This week, starting on Tuesday has been a whirlwind of
preparation and planning,
oh yeah...
and
OBSESSING non stop about the impending dooms day class
barreling down on me.
I worked a little with our resident Zumba Queen Maria....
she gave me some good ideas and great tips at her place.
I was able to hit Wed. Zumba class
and remember what it was like.
Very helpful.

I have been behind closed doors in our office sweating my
brains out every day since.
Oh, sorry kids, moms got to work on her class.
I'll be out in a minute!!
Please, can I just do this alone with out distractions?
L I know it's your birthday today....
I'll hurry as fast as I can, just six more songs....
um....K are you done in here yet...I am pretty sure
this Zumba thing is way more
important than you making a living for our family.
You get the idea.

Skipping to this morning.
Emily filled in for my Sculpt Your ASSetts class
so I could be fresh for the Dance Fest.
Thank you!

I had 13 attendees.
One being male.
This guy has been to every Zumba class I have ever attended.
He stands smack dab in the
front center of the room.
I was always super annoyed with this guy.
Today I couldn't have cared less.
Perv....not a perv?
Whatever dude.
Just make some noise would ya?
Oh yes he will.

I taped my cheat sheet write up onto the mirror.
I loved having it there,
I think the class liked it as well.
I kept them informed about what was up next.
How long we were going to push it for high intensity,
what muscle group we were going to focus in on, etc.

I was honest with the class and let them know that this
was my first experience teaching any type of
dance class.
(man I hate that word - "dance")
But that my goals were to get them sweating...a lot,
and for them to have a great time.
With that in mind I feel like the class was a big success.
As long as I:
 - constantly portrayed having the time of my life....
- steadily Worked the room like a mad dog....
- heartily Handed out high fives, like candy to my kids....
then room was high energy and loving life.

The song that scared me the most was the Salsa song....
so it finally came to me last night,
I think it was inspiration...
FREE STYLE!!
Duh!
This went over pretty well, I forced a few ladies up front,
we followed them for a while,
Geez -
take the pressure off me for 5 minutes.

If you were to come to the class,
having missed my opening speech you would have
thought I had been teaching this bad boy forever.
I projected confidence like I was a total pro....
inside was a whole other story.
Pretty much constant panic....what is next...
what is next....???
More grapevines!!
I heard a few of the ladies talking after,
they said,
man, that was AWESOME wasn't it??
whoohooo!!
(why couldn't they have said it to my face??
....at least I was lucky enough to hear it)


I am on again for next Friday.
I learned some good stuff I will implement into my next class.
i.e. we need a country song.
As I was driving home I realized I left my cheat sheet
taped to the mirror!
No!
I need that.....
Maria was in there now with her
hard core followers....
there was no way I was going to interrupt that show.
You know that's what it is don't you?
It's a performance.
At least that's what it feels like.
The better the entertainer you are the
bigger your fan club and classes become.
Not for our morning class.....but for the club it really feels that way.

After showering I snuck back to retrieve my paper.
I only had to interrupt the seated yoga ladies....
not too embarrassing.

I got home and was totally spent.

E X H A U S T E D.

Every muscle tired and over done.

I ate a massive bowl of white chilly, cut up tomatoes, chips, and guacamole.

Three hard as nails burnt cookies 

(got burnt yesterday while practicing for my class)

and milk.

Showered and went straight to bed.

I plan on doing nothing for the rest of the day, 

sitting and typing yes, 

and attending the talent show tonight.

I am not even making our bed!

Ha!

The mess will be here for me tomorrow.

The hard part is over.

Next week will be a breeze...

 If only I could call it SWEAT FEST....

that would make me so happy!

All Failure is Fleeting.

I did it!!
I embedded a video into my blog!
I am blowing my own mind.
I have tried so many times but could never crack the code.
Today I implemented using my brain -
 got on Youtube and
typed in "how to upload a video to your blog".
WHAT DO YOU KNOW....there are zillions of instructional
videos to teach just that.
SWEET SUCCESS.
I am so pumped from my class this morning that I wanted to
put this Mindy Gledhill video on.
(may have to mute the blog music)

I love the message in this song.

It is inspiring....see what you think.

take a chance....

live a crazy impossible dream.....

you tell me don't try it.....I'm not buying...

All Failure is Fleeting.....I trust it always has its meaning. 

I feel so happy today because I overcame an obstacle for myself.

I feel the high of accomplishment and success.

The first time I taught pilates at our club was a few 

months back, I was subbing for another teacher.  

I had put quite a bit of time and planning

into creating a challenging workout routine.  

Carefully selected just 

the right songs for my class.

I was nervous and really wanted it to go well.

It didn't.

It was a flop.

Several things went wrong....

I couldn't get the music or mic to work.

The class was very full.

They had not expected to see me....
they were not thrilled.

I moved through the routine but maybe didn't pay close 

enough attention to my participants, or give enough 

modifications....

it was so silent.

All I heard at one point was a muttered,

"What happened? did we land in advanced pilates or something?"

At the end no eye contact.....it felt really awkward and I felt 

so deflated and embarrassed.

Today I got my second chance at it.

I was very excited. 

Yes, a little nervous, but in a different way.

I have put more time in at the sound system,

figured out some trouble shooting,

and become more confident in how to run the mic.

I have tested out the moves I planned to try on my 

wonderful early morning sculptors.

I made a few modifications to my class bassed on how things went 

with my practice run.

I was comfortable with several modifications for every move

so that the whole class, regardless of their
fitness level, could participate.

I got there early.

Started on time.

Used the mic.....only the second time in my instructing career,

and it really was not that bad.

Vanessa...it was kinda fun.

The class was a blast.

This time I asked for their constructive criticism so I could improve

for the next time.

They said forget about it....

You're a KEEPER!!

YES!

OMGosh.....I nailed it.

Eye contact....HAPPY Faces.....I took it all in.

If at first you don't succeed.....fail, and try again.

Empowering.....

"Something that is empowering makes you more confident and makes
 you feel that you are in control of your life."
I am one week into my new Gleason Park 

"Sculpt Your ASSets" class.

2 sessions.
5:30am - Tuesday and Friday.
So far there are 12 of us.

Talk about loving life.

I don't know if it is as good for my attendees as it is for me.....

(hope so), but I am really enjoying it.

I do really enjoy my class at the club,

but it is different,  more pressure, numbers count, 

loud music, glaring lights, very obnoxious microphone, etc.

Don't get me wrong...I am thrilled to be teaching there,

and hope to add more classes in the future,

but as a comparison, our little out door body sculpt 

class is my preference hands down.

It is quite,

calm, and peaceful.

No music, just bird songs and our quiet voices.

It is just us.

It's mostly dark, except for the lights lit for us.

After the warm up lap around the track,

we meet in the middle of the pond on the big round dock.

The time goes by quickly, 

again, not sure if it is just me or the same for everyone.

We are joking around, 

laughing, whining, groaning, exerting,

encouraging each other to push a little further.

Stay up longer.

Making fun of Shelly's super human powers,

and my terrible counting

(that's what they think.....it is all for their good).

Attempting to avoid the little piles of seedy 

bird pooh our friends left for us the night before.

Enjoying each others company, and the start of a brand new day. 

It feels good being there....improving together.

It is a thrill to see my ladies 

(and Cy)

limping around at church a day or two later....

still working off the burn we created.

Knowing their muscles are coming back stronger and better

after only a few sessions.

That is satisfying.

....................................

Something else that is a super thrill is being able to generate 

my own paycheck.

This is my first check with my name on it.

 Man that was fun to pick up from the little check drawer at Our Club.

Every other Friday.

I know $60 is not a lot.....but it feels fantastic to have earned it.

Over the past 14 years as I have been at home with our kids,

for the most part I have not worked....(brought in any income).

Yes, I did have my little getting out of the house 

excuses and hobbies which were very enjoyable

at the time.....Partylite, SouthernLiving, and Layers,
at different intervals,

but truthfully they were not really money makers at all. 

(But heck yeah, I did acquire many fun goodies and lots of great clothing) 

These ventures required no skill on my part, 

and were possibly more irritating to my friends and family 

than I may have thought to guess.

(Please don't be discouraged if you are into home parties...

I did have a blast on many levels and wouldn't 

trade my time with them....

I am just noticing a difference in the way I feel now.)

(a time and a season for all things....no way I could have done my 

certification and pursued to do anything w/ it w/ all my children home)

The difference is that I worked for, and attained the marketable

skill I have now.

I have confidence in my abilities.

 I have seen positive changes in my body,
 and know how to help bring those changes out in others.

That is an empowering feeling.

I am $60 away from paying off the $409.56 cents I put into my certification.

I thought it might take me half the year to re-coup,
in reality... 

I will be less than three months into my fitness "career".

Again, I am not clueless to the fact that I am not bringing in 

significant amounts of cash,

but I am bringing it in....and it feels wonderful.

Come Sculpt Your Assets.....

Today I was encouraged to make a decision....

one I am super excited about and hope you will join me in.

I have been talking with a few friends for some time

about running, and the benefit of 

Cross training/Strength training  

along with that.

I have been teaching my Body Sculpt class at Our Club for several 

weeks now and am truly loving it.

A few friends are joining me there, but for the most

part the time, 8:30am, is not right.

The price is too high at $38 per month +

the commitment of locking in on a gym at the tune of $50 just to climb 

on board is un-wanted.

I have been trying to wrangle a Tuesday evening class to teach 

at the library each week, but that is still in the works.

Today Tina proclaimed her fitness dreams and wishes.

In a perfect fitness world she would :

Run - Mon. @ 5:30am

Body Sculpt - Tue. "

Run - Wed. "

FREE CHOICE - Thurs. 

Body Sculpt - Fri. "

FREE CHOICE - Sat/Sun

Well, that got us really talking.

Why can't we make that happen?

We don't need Our Clubs permission for me to teach my class

"Out of Doors"

We already meet each Wed. to run, we are getting ready 

to bump up our running schedule as 

several running buddies are preparing for longer upcoming races.

Sooooooo........

 (If there is enough interest)

Starting Tuesday, March 1st at 5:30 am,

@ Gleason Park

I will be teaching -

"Sculpt Your Assets"

every Tuesday and Friday - 1 hour class - 

The cost will be $25 per month - 

(every month has 8-9 classes, so that would be $2.75 - 3 per class)
-Single drop ins will be $5-

It is a wonderful opportunity for me.

A way to bring in a little extra money...

Plus, have an excuse to spend more time doing what I enjoy 

w/ friends I care about.

For YOU....it is a wonderful opportunity.... 

to feel the burn I will lead you to twice each week.

You will be happy to be walking away on shaky legs after every session.

Your arms will quiver with gratitude when we are through....

....and you will love the results you see!!

Your Core will thank you for the pain,

as you see improvement in your posture, running stance, 

energy, and performance with your daily living.
Plus....did I mention we will be running twice a week....?
join us!!!
You just got new training partners on every level.

Are you in???

Please let me know....drop me your email, and if this time will work for you.
I am wide open for your ideas, suggestions,
and fitness wishes.

Here are some Gleason park highlights....

We are going to master this pole...yikes!!

I have always wanted to....haven't you?

Notice the pull up bars...yep...we are doing them!

I am terrible at pull ups!!....we better make it a competition...with a prize or something.

Look at all of these toys we will get to play with.

I love all the benches....we will make good use of those bad boys.

All you would need to bring to each class is what you see here.

A towel, a bottle of water, and weights. 

(preferably two sets, 3-5lb / 8-10lb depending on where your fitness level is)

Everyone is welcome....

Please spread the word.....can we get at least 

6 interested parties out there to get this started??

Talk to me....

Pat myself on my Magenta head.....

My experience at Our Club today made me feel so good.

I taught a very well received body sculpt class

this morning.

Before it began I was making my way around the room,

meeting any new comers that were there and 

talking w/ them about modifications they may want to make, etc.

One lady came up to me and asked it this was really 

a "Body Sculpting" class.

Absolutely.

Are you sure??? 

 because if I had wanted an aerobics class I would have gone to one.

 Yep, I am sure that you are in the right place my lady.
Another thing that made class fun today was that a work mate of
Kevin's participated.
He is an older gentleman...
he came straight up to me, Hey, I know Stick!
(Kev's call sign)
Kev had told me Ike was planning on coming at some point.
Very Cool.
I was doing something a little different today,
I had everyone make a really high step, one with about 7 risers under it.
They were all really nervous and not wanting to welcome
something different.
I said just relax, we will all be just fine.
I showed them how we would be using them -
first as a guide for hover squats,
then we would also be stepping up on them some,
anyone with knee concerns could just do them on the floor
or come up to the stage and use the edge,
but mostly, we were going to use them as a sweet seat to do
some heavy duty upper body work.
So.......felt great about class.
I had worked hard at compiling a
rigorous, but basic lower, upper body, and abdominal routine.
I have finally figured how to organise, write up, and keep my
workouts.  This is very good news, because up until now they have
been on loose papers, in little booklets, on scraps, taped to the back of
this page or that....etc.
Now I have a system so I can return easily to favorite classes
and pick and choose tid bits to add to new ones.
Sorry, I know I am rambling...I'm getting to it....
When class ended I had several
participants come cruising up to the stage to tell me
delicious things I very much wanted to hear.
Totally made my day.
The gal who was concerned that it wasn't really a body sculpt class
was the most passionate in her accolades.
She said that was the first "real" sculpting class she had been to in years!
She went on, but my favorite part was that she said she had finally
found her class, and that I better not go anywhere now that
she found me.
Judy said that this was her favorite class yet.
You were spot on with everything today.
It was very challenging, but also presented in a safe controlled manner!!!
etc.
I'll take it!!!
I used my Ragnar Music Mix today....just to get crazy.
Man that was fun.
........................
unkay....
then I came home, decided it was well beyond the time that I needed
to put some color on my hair.
Well, helllllllo magenta!
My bad.
My hair has been much lighter than it has been in the past,
and I have been loving it.
Surprise, surprise....the color deposits
much differently on lighter hair, i.e. blonde tones.

You probably cannot tell the brightness in this shot.

Take my word for it.

I am not loving it, and was very nervous

to go out in public.

but you know what,

you will never know it when you see me.

I am going to act like I meant to do it and that I love it.

I am going to hold my head high and just work it until it washes out.
(just wanted you to know the back story....and that I am totally faking it, 
and I have not lost my mind)

McCauley came home w/ wide eyes....

mom your hair is soooo beautiful.

Ethan said mom, that is so wrong.

It is just wrong.

That is what some young hippie would do to her hair.

I know son.

Out on a shaky limb.......

This morning I met Shelly at the crack of dawn at Our Club.

I was originally slotted to sub for the ZUMBA

class today at 8:30,

but two days ago the teacher of the class

realized she in fact would be available to teach after all.

I was bummed because I have been planning 

and stressing over it for a solid week.

Going to every Zumba class available.

Watching numerous dance dvds from the library....

....Latin Dance

.....Belly Dance

......HipHop

......and so forth....

Trying to learn some moves....

and actually retain them in my mind.

When I look at my notes they make no sense to me...

- stomp, hip hit, drop levels, punch across, wide/together,

hitch a ride - thumb out.....knee slap across, raise the roof,

back breaker, snake arms, tut walk, creep- walk it up....

Gosh Dang it!

I know it made sense when I wrote it and 

went through it the first time.

I have also been picking and 

purchasing my music and burning it,

then re-picking, and burning two others.

My class was to be called "Dance Jam" because I am not yet Zumba certified.

When it was cancelled I will admit there was 

some relief attached to it as well.

But I still want to be ready for when the 

opportunity arrises...and it will. 

I am an insecure dancer...

so I really don't like the word dance even being in the name of my class.

I think it gives attendees the wrong impression....

like I might actually know how to dance.

I think I will ask Maria to call it 

"SWEAT FEST"

Now that I can do!

This morning when Shelly showed up she was expecting 

a body sculpt session.

Well, he he....SURPRISE my friend.

I really HAD to give my "sweat fest" a whirl.

We were both very nervous and apprehensive....

please don't judge me,

I don't know what I am doing,

don't hold back input please,

man this is embarrassing.

etc.

(two people doing joke dancing and trying to make it real 

is very uncomfortable)

We survived the first song.

It was pretty sketchy. 

We were practically hugging the back room mirrors so that if anyone 

looked in it would be trickier for them to see us right away.

After a few songs we started to loosen up a bit.

We were shakin those hips up front when the door flys open and in walks 

John the Yoga guy.

Aaaaaaaah gasp, all movement ceases, accusing looks....!!

ohmygosh, what are you doing in here??

(we knew full well what he was doing, he is the first class 

on Fridays and he was going to set up)

He was completely startled.   

He averted his eyes as we practically covered ourselves as 

he walked across the room.

He thankfully beat it out of there pretty quickly.

He said he didn't see anything....

he was looking up at the ceiling when he came in.

TWO RETARDS.
(no offense Shelly)

In summation - 

I really have no business subbing for a Zumba class at this time.

..............................

Moving on to a new subject....

totally unrelated.

I have meant to post these pictures since the first of Jan.

I don't want them to go to waste. 

(waste meaning - to not be seen and enjoyed)

So these are a few straggling fun photos from our trip in Dec.

Next time they will be lumped into ONE trip post.

These are our "Idaho" cousins.

Kev's brother David and his family.

We spend every New Years Eve with them.

We do go-carts, and all you can eat pizza, etc.

 The other thing that happens in Idaho every year is Ryker has

another birthday.

December 31....so we ring in the new year and 

celebrate his birth with these guys.

 Lastly, an additional random group of photos w/ my
Sister Amy and her kids at Kevin's parents home.

Good times.

17.....

Class was very good today.

I am still shaking from exertion...I think that is a positive sign.

Numbers going up....Seventeen today...

better up than down.

I am getting better with names,

here are a few more nick names I have added:

Vera - wang

Dirty - Sandy

I -Vana - trump

Model - Michelle

Lean - Irene

Sommer - time

Blanche - my vegetables

Marilyn - Monroe
Judy - Bloom

One of the things I really like about my class is that they 

are so good about offering up their ideas.

I have asked them to throw them out there.

I say I will be watching...

we will be working away

at some exercise in a particular form

and someone will add a new incline, or rotation that I 

can point out.  This helps us to hold it longer,

work a muscle in a different way 

and add variety.

They are smartie pants and I love it.

Remember :

EXERCISE TO ENERGIZE!

WHOOOOO-HOOOO!

Let me here you!

Tell me more.......!

I just returned home from the gym.

I finished teaching my first Body Sculpt class.

January 13, 2011

This feels significant to me.

A goal met.

....................

The thinking about.

Wondering if I should.

Wondering if I could.

Thinking about.

Writing it down in my book.

Picturing it in my head.

Asking Maria if she could use me.

Taking the first step.

.....................

I loved it so much.

I love my little class.

I love my grannies.....Little Liz and Miss Betty.

I loved that Shelly surprised me and did come after all....

John gave her a free pass.....THANK YOU!

She was my stabilizer....asked probing questions....

Now how should a squat look????...etc.

love you girl.

I made my way around my class while we did biceps and met every one.

I am going to come up with little nick names for every one....

otherwise I will never remember.

Several, the second they told me their name I forgot.

But so far I have Lemon-Aida..

Shells - Bells (not you Shelly...the other one)

I will keep adding more each week.

I think I had 15 in attendance.

I received very positive feed back.

One lady, Elien....I think (not giving a nickname until I make sure),

she asked if I would be back every week......if so, she would tell her other

friends to come to class because she loved it!

Whoohooo!!!

There was a positive happy feeling.

Our class moto is....

We

"EXERCISE TO ENERGIZE"

We will start on time, utilize every minute, work as hard as we can.

Push further than we thought we could.

We will feel the burn with every exercise.

No timers or bells and whistles.....we will work it until we feel it.

Ohhhhhhh, we felt it today!

I feel happy and excited for next time.

Shell and I will be at the gym tomorrow at 5:45am to go over the next routine.
.....meet us there if you can!

Whoohooo!!!!!