Resolution

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self” – Aldous Huxley

Happy New Year! Can I still say that nearly 1 month into this one?... Sorry it’s been so long.

Always a busy time of year in the gym – resolution season – classes are packed, newbies are nervous, and regulars are enthusiastic. Not to worry, precedent will resume in the next week or so, I’ve seen it all before. Sorry to sound cynical, but I do find it rather amusing, this concept of crash dieting / training, as opposed to lifestyle changes and a lifetime of constant and never-ending improvement. I overheard on the London tube the other day a proud and excited woman informing her friend that she had been to the gym “almost every day that week”. I paused for a moment and realised that I too was on a good run (mind the pun), I have been to the gym “almost every day for the last decade!” Add to that - swimming, triathlons, duathlons, athletics, basketball and rugby from age 11, a bench press for my 14^th birthday, and it's 15 years plus, easily. That’s not to say that goals can’t be achieved by late starters; I just wish people would view physical exercise as a lifestyle, rather than a sporadic hobby.

2009 has been a hectic year for me instructing-wise – 179 BodyPump classes, 188 RPM classes, 52 Abs classes, in 27 different clubs in London, 12 in Melbourne, plus Perth, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur! Not a bad effort considering I was out of action for a few weeks with my blown hammy, and training for the PDM as well.

On that note, I know it was a good 3 months ago now, but I’d better give a brief recap of the PDM, seeing as it was such a focus of mine this year. I guess to sum it up, the course is designed to ‘make or break’ you… And it’s probably fair to say that it broke me (at the time), and it’s probably fair to add that that’s a big reason for my lack of blogging in the last 3 months!

I prepared myself to a peak physical state, ready for the demands of a full weekend of back to back RPM and BodyPump classes; what I wasn’t prepared for was almost a full weekend of BodyCombat! And the mental demands of the intense weekend. Basically the weekend pooled all instructors who wanted to excel in their chosen class, and ultimately look to be selected on the UK national team. As luck would have it, 75% of the instructors were budding Combaters, so while they each had their spotlight moment, kicking and punching their way to an elite level, the rest of us were in participation mode!

On the mental side, I don’t think I’ve ever been under such pressure before. Breaking each hour to add another layer to the complex analysis of our presenting script, having 2 master trainers bark orders at you whilst on stage, trying to break old habits, and learn new tricks; all culminated with me breaking down on stage in my last presenting track of the Sunday… I was physically, mentally and emotionally spent. This now, given time to reflect wasn’t a bad thing at all, as I found my limits, and I know what to do know to push through those.

In terms of my ultimate goal, I am now ‘on the radar’ for the UK national team, there are just a few more steps in the process than I initially thought! This comes back to the constant and never-ending improvement theme of this blog.

The class I enjoyed the most last year was, believe it or not, a lunchtime class following news that morning that my grandfather had passed away in Napier, New Zealand. I was asked to cover a class at the top London club – City Nuffield, and I took it up. I dedicated the class to Granddad, as he was an avid cyclist well into his 70’s, and it was great to think that there were 50 people spinning their hearts out on the other side of the world in his honour!

My 2009 Highlight has been the new members I have bonded with in my relatively short time so far in London. It’s always hard when you leave a city, to end relationships with particular classes – and I use the term ‘relationships’ purposely, as that is the only way to describe the bond. Each class has its own personality derived from the dynamics within it, and in turn I take on a slightly different personality in how I interact with each class. It’s hard to leave behind such established friendships, but new ones form quickly, and many more will follow in years to come.

Lowlight for ’09 would be adjusting to the London group fitness community. Having to more often than not put up with substandard equipment, broken microphones, poor management, clubs who owe me money for classes. In general, London just doesn’t put the effort into fostering group fitness that other cities I’ve been lucky enough to instruct in do. The list of clubs I am prepared to devote my time and effort to, is becoming shorter and shorter, and it’s sad that the members of those clubs will miss out in the long run, as instructors congregate elsewhere.

My current schedule will now be updated on a weekly basis on Sunday evenings (and where possible during the week if I’m called up for last minute covers). So stay tuned for updates!

Looking ahead to 2010, it’s beginning to sound a little cliché, but I really must complete my BodyBalance module this year! I put it on hold as I am spending most of February in Brasil for carnaval, so no point in committing to anything prior to that. I’ll aim to do the earliest possible module from March onwards, with Ann-See Yeoh, as she is London’s Balance guru, and I will relish the opportunity to train with her again.

Other plans for 2010 are to secure a permanent class at City Nuffield – this is the pinnacle of instructing in London, and I aspire to get my name on that timetable.

I will also invest some time and effort into some form of voice coaching, as I believe that this could really help me take my instructing to the next level for 2010!

11 years and counting now, and my focus is, not to be the best right now, or to make drastic changes to what I have, but to achieve constant and never-ending improvement with my instructing. I wish you all the best for the coming year!

Kia kaha, be strong.