1st Time...

I taught 3 tracks (songs) this morning for the first time!! I didn't do so great on the first warm-up... I choked a little, but by tracks 2 and 3 I was on a roll! Obviously I have a lot more practicing to do. I bought a portable DVD player so I can train/practice while I am in California for 10 days... I am looking forward to the time to myself and the chance to get this down so I can tape it and get 100% certified.

Lately I have felt so frazzled... between the Osprey, moving, training/practicing, trying to catch up at work and an attempt at a social life I am about to lose it! I gave up 2 shifts this week because I just need some time off - from myself! I am usually a very active/busy person but I think I have overdone it the last couple of weeks... A week from tomorrow I am on vacation and I am counting down the days.

Front & Center

Today I did the step routine in front of the class... I didn't cue it - but I faced the class with another instructor. It wasn't too hard because Anna was cuing - all I had to do was listen and remember what foot we were really on. When you are teaching the class almost everything starts out on the left foot, but you are saying right foot because that is what the class is stepping on. I was very red faced throughout the routine, but I think it was a combo of being in front for the first time... a hot room without fans blowing on me (there aren't any aimed at the instructors - only on the participants!?) and I am just a red face. I don't know how else to explain it... oh, don't want to forget that I am a big sweater too... no, not like what you wear, but I sweat so much when I work out... my acupuncturist said it was a good thing... maybe in that setting but while working out - not so much. I think I am going to have to do an Olivia Newton John and get sweat bands for my head and wrists. Good look - right?

Get to Steppin'!

I DID IT!! I passed the first part of my instructor certification class!! I am so proud of myself! It was the hardest thing I have done - physically. The workshop was held at a gym in Newmarket, NH and we were in a yoga studio that was about 80 degrees I swear... I am typically warm to begin with so you might imagine how hot I was when you throw in HOURS of step aerobics. I think over the course of the two days I worked out around 12-14 hours... between the workshop itself and the time I spent practicing the track I had to present.

My first presentation went well. My timing was slightly off, but I knew the routine and was even able to pre-que! The instructor was impressed since it was my first time teaching. Then we worked out for a couple more hours and we had to present again - this time in the aerobics studio with the microphone! I CHOKED!! I was so spent physically, mentally and emotionally I had nothing left in me... at one point I really thought my legs were going to to give out... I don't know how my brother-in-laws can run marathons... But I did it!

Now I need to memorize the other 11 tracks (songs) co-teach four times and video tape myself teaching a class, mail it in to be "graded" and I will be a certified Body Step instructor (provided I pass - and I WILL!)

It's good to be back

As you may or may not know I had taken several months off from the gym. I realized at one point I had been going pretty consistently (3+ days a week) for over 7 years! I decided to take a break for a while - long background story that I will get into at some point. It was so great to be back! I go to Women's Fitness in Brunswick http://www.womensfitnessstudio.org/ and it is so clean, doesn't have that nasty smell like co-ed gyms have... it's really nice. I have met some great women that I have a really good time with and that I have missed for the past several months.

This morning I was in the Body Step class (step aerobics) http://www.lesmills.com/site/programs/bodystep-group-fitness-program.aspx at one point during the routine the instructor says "Great job, Adrienne!" After the track (song) was over I turned to Ann and said "Ha, it's painfully obvious who the favorite is around here" referring to myself, obviously and she responded with "Well, Anna (instructor) just just feels bad for you because you're gonna fall during speed track". (the next track, and as the name indicates - it's fast!) Yeah, she was right - I FELL!! I landed like a upended turtle with my hands and knees in the air kind of rocking back and forth for a second, it was so funny!! I got up, looked at Ann and we about fell over laughing. Of course this was after I called her a name that rhymes with stitch for jinxing me. Thankfully, I wasn't hurt and was able to continue. On my way out the woman at the front desk asked if I needed to fill out an incident report for my injury... that Ann, she's always such a joker! It really was a great way to start my day. Already I am feeling an improvement in my overall mental health from just one week of exercise. Now, if I could just loose weight as fast as I gain it...

I am so happy it's Friday! Tonight I am getting together with my friend Carla who I haven't seen for so long! She is getting married! We are going to catch up and hopefully start planning the wedding, oh how I love a wedding :) Tomorrow morning we are headed to Sugarloaf http://www.sugarloaf.com/mountain.html to ski... I haven't been for weeks and I am excited to see our friends and be outside enjoying the fresh air. Sunday is the Super Bowl - but who cares? The Pats aren't playing so I have lost what little interest I might have been able to muster.