Noooo......is this really happening?

I was dying to get on and write about my experience 

yesterday

right after it happened.

It was fresh, and raw, and still felt like such a big deal.

Now today....eh.

What a difference 24hrs makes.

It is not the devastating blow I had imagined it to be.

I will still tell you about it though because you 

might find it interesting, and surprising.

This feels like gossipping....

about myself.

I taught my usual body sculpt class yesterday @ 8:30am.

I say usual, in that I teach it each week. 

Every week I vary it and change it up quite a bit

to keep it fresh, and to keep those muscles guessing.

We did a hard sequence of plank work,

(picture being up in push up position)

but I talked about ways to modify, and make it easier as needed.

We did lots of other stuff also.  

After class, which I thought went pretty well,

I went to volunteer at the desk for three hours like I always do

on Thursdays, only today, I was subbing for the 10:30 pilates class.

Around 10:25 I headed into the locker room to change into a 

different pair of yoga pants....freshen up a bit.

I was in the handicap stall on the end.

No sooner had I gotten in and changed, and was about to 

hurry off to pilates when I heard this,

Were you in Melissa's class this morning?

Yes.......NOT a fan.

I know, what was the deal with all of that plank work?

That was so ridiculous.

That killed my back.

I had to do something totally different.

She doesn't even count.

I do not like....

I can't stand....

I sure do miss Maria!

....on.....and.....on......

I was so frozen to my spot.

I knew I was going to be late.

I knew I needed to get out of that bathroom stall.

But I was so startled and taken aback.... and they just kept 

going on about their dislike of everything I do.

I finally could wait no longer.

I went out and over to them,

two middle aged women, maybe late 50ies.

I said, Hi, I couldn't help but over hearing,

I am so sorry you didn't get what you had hoped for from

my class this morning.

I hope you won't give up on it entirely, 

since I change it up each week.

I appreciate your feed back.

I will tell you what, 

how about I take it right back to basics next week?

Nothing fancy, or tricky, just a good hard workout.

What, oh no, you don't need to change it on our account.

We just need more modifications.....

.........

.......

......

Well, I hope to see you again.

Take care now.

I was three minutes late, instead of early like I planned to be.

That really messed with my mind all day.

Especially during that next class.

I was so paranoid....

who is hating this right now?

oh my gosh,

am I holding this too long,

I can't tell if that person is enjoying the class........

After I finished the class I went back to the front desk.

I was really wanting to tell someone about what I overheard.

Soooo.....

I told Jack and Pat in the office.

(there was no mention of who said it, doesn't matter)

That was probably not my best move.

I had just told Pat that hey, I never told you,

but my mom's name is Patricia also!

Then Jack was like,

hey, that is my daughters name.

We had this grand talk about how wonderful that name is,

went over all the nick-names that go along with it.

To include all of the middle names that our own Patricia's have.

We all like the name, 

and agree that it is totally "old school"....

pretty cool.

I didn't cry....but.

When I went back out to the desk they were like,

hey, why don't you cut out early today?

....get out of here.

You have had a long day already.

I said no, 

of course not....I have already put two hours down for the day.

They look at each other....

pst.

Like we care.

Go home and relax.

Jack says, I can finally read my magazine in peace.

When I read in the back office,

people say I'm not working....

when I'm up here at the front desk they can see I am working.

You are doing me a favor.

Off I went.

I did cry my eyes out then.

Cried and cried.

I have never been caught in a situation like that before.

I have no illusions that everyone likes me, or my classes....

or my hair.

But to overhear them going on and on was a rough ride.

The funny thing is the striking contrast between this post and 

my last.

Just like life.

UPS and downs.

That is what makes it so exciting.

People only see what they are looking for.

They don't know the consideration and time you put into 

what you do.

They aren't aware that you are already trying to work around

Judy's bum shoulder, Irene's painful knees, the metal in Holly's back,

Tina's week core, and V's spine fracture,

the fact that the class doesn't want jumping,

 but they want their heart rate up,

they want variety, but they don't like change.

You can't please everyone ever.

But you can please someone, sometimes.

Better make sure you enjoy the process enough yourself to 

make it worth it.

I do.

It is.

I just got my tax paper yesterday.

I have made $1060 teaching classes at Our Club.

Maybe that should be embarrassing,

but I was totally thrilled to see it.

$20 bucks at a time....53 classes.

Kev and I were like.....huh, that is pretty good.

The side bennies aren't too shabby either. 

Just a few random photos with the cousins,

 doctored up for fun.

 Bye-bye bunnies!

We will miss you little guy!

All Jammed out.....

I just returned home from teaching my 

last installment of 

three Dance Jam classes....now called

"Dance Interval" 

which I like much better.

I had wrapped my mind around a possible rough ending.

I was just hoping and praying someone would show up.

I got there 5 minutes early.....

 clock was ticking....

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

...... minutes pasted....

I was trying to look busy with the music....

for who?

 no one was in there.

It got time...at one point the door opened,

but it was just the floor manager giving a tour to a future member.....

finally!

Oh my gosh.

I did get 4 attendees.

PHEW.

The class will go forward.

It was so much fun.

We had a ball.

Worked our butts off.

Drank, and sweat, and enjoyed the movement.

After, everybody was complimentary.

Yes, EVERYBODY....all 4.

But especially Judy, 

she came up and said I need to tell you something.

Your class was wonderful.

I am going to go do a write up saying we need to keep your class.

I thought it was perfect.

I just think not enough people have given it a chance.

Oh.....

Thank you so much.

It was like mana from Heaven.

She could not know how much her comments meant to me.

It allowed me to walk away feeling so good.

That was my little baby creation.

I put my sweat and tears into that guy.

I consider it a successful endever, 

and a happy ending.

I am grateful I overcame my fear of teaching "dance" and

just went for it.

Done.

check mark.

What's next??

Oh, just in case you are wondering,

the line dance stayed, I did it much different than the first 

attempt.  I just used the movements and repeated them

rather than going from one move to the next, to the next.

Make sense?

I hit the nail on the head this go round.

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!