It must be one of the most talked about topics, and it does not matter how many memes or quotes are shared, it is a personal journey for everyone. Some of us have been blessed with attitudes and grounded self-awareness, and for many others, it is a thought that pops...
Marietta Mehanni
Blog Posts
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Why I hated resistance bands and what changed my mind
I was first introduced to resistance bands early in my teaching career in the 1990’s. This long piece of elastic was recommended as a portable and effective form of resistance training. Having only used weights for resistance training, this concept intriged me, only...
Self Care
Take care of yourself - no one else will do a better job. For the majority of people on this planet, the world went sideways in 2020. The new normal became a concept and words like pivoting and virtual became popular business words. Even words like lockdown, which in...
The elephant in the room
Let’s talk about an elephant in the room. The big one with its backside in your face. The one that you can’t miss, but trying to avoid looking at. GROUP EXERCISE INSTRUCTOR MENTAL HEALTH It is an interesting conundrum because as an instructor, you are not physically...
Have you moved to online classes?
The Covid-19 pandemic has been the only global conversation in 2020 and the big question constantly being asked is have you pivoted? If you are in the group fitness industry, your gym most likely has closed or has reopened with a limited timetable. As Covid-19...
The Art of the Start
‘The best way to predict the future is to create it' a quote by Peter Drucker, whom is one of the best-known and most widely influential thinkers and writers on the subject of management theory and practice. His quote is something that struck a powerful chord with me...
My inner Satan
‘Ah ha, I think I’ve got it right now!’ I say as I step off my chair, having positioned the phone way up on the top shelf in my kitchen. ‘No... it’s on an angle’ and I get back up on the chair, then on to the kitchen bench to realign the phone. This has been my daily...
My secret
I received an email and in it, I was asked what my secret is, to maintaining positivity and showing up on Facebook everyday. I’m going to share my answer with you all. I feel that mental health is very similar to physical health. If we think about physical health, we...
Pivoting
You may have already heard this word, but if you haven’t, I predict that this word will become the 2020 buzz word. Have you pivoted? How did you pivot? What was your pivoting strategy? Well, what does all of this mean? Pivoting is a word often used to describe when...
Are you red flagged?
Dear Marietta, Just wanted you to know that your attendance numbers have been lower than expected, and your class has been red flagged. What!? Being red flagged The concept of being red flagged was introduced to the group fitness industry in the late 1990’s and it...
#WeGetYou
#wegetyou Recently, there has been a lot of attention focused on public mental health in the media. This is both exciting and enlightening as this is a topic that, until recently, has only been whispered about. We understand the importance of keeping our body and mind...
A Sad Goodbye
A Sad Goodbye Over 10 years ago, I met a woman who would change the course of my life and help me shape the business that I have today. She was someone I met in a Cert III fitness course that I was delivering, and her intelligence and initiative made me take notice...
When ideas become a reality
Drum roll please...! Richard Beddie, CEO of Exercise New Zealand lands another amazing development on the audience of the annual FITEX conference in Auckland, New Zealand. Richard discussed his trip to the World Health Organisation and the initiatives that are being...
Mind your language
Remember when you were younger, you were told to ‘mind your language’? This was often in reference to either bad words or perhaps your tone of voice when speaking to your elders. It was a way of reminding you (or admonishing you) about how you should speak in public,...
Is good technique causing injuries?
Recently at the GX Day, I discussed the SAID (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands) principle. This is when the body becomes familiar and comfortable with performing a task in a specific manner, like a squat. So when the body is required to squat in an unfamiliar...
Instructor Mental Health
Let’s talk about an elephant in the room. The big one with its backside in your face. The one that you can’t miss, but trying to avoid looking at. Group Exercise Instructor Mental Health. It is an interesting situation because as an instructor, you are not physically...
Plant the seed
I love finding out how people decided to work in the fitness industry, especially regarding group fitness. The initial thought that is planted that creates a desire that then came to full fruition. That first ‘why not’ as Lisa Westlake so eloquently spoke about at the...
Be your own best mentor
Be your own best mentor Over the past 4 years I have been delivering a workshop with Maria Teresa Stone, in which the instructors are filmed moving in the water and then again on land, teaching the same move. I had initially tried this myself as a way to understand...
Can you remember a name?
The most challenging group fitness skill ever: can you remember a name? Do you use this excuse often? ‘I can never remember people’s names’. It is understandable in most situations. Remembering 10 to 50 people’s names would be difficult. But when participants have...
Is freestyle coming back?
Recently I asked myself, "is freestyle coming back into style?" When I first started in the fitness industry I was an aerobics instructor. Yes, I learned how to teach an aerobics class, which required music, space and my mind, to create an exercise experience. There...
POY
Over the past week my mSwing business partner, Mark Davis has been signing off emails with POY. It also appeared in text messages and I had figured (Mark being a man with a very well-developed sense of humour), he had somehow formed a word that I didn’t have a clue...
Should you be eating that?
I wonder if I am alone in this situation? I am walking around a supermarket and I spot down one aisle a participant that comes to my classes. I quickly scan the groceries in my basket, are they ok to be seen? Are they healthy items? Will I be judged? Can I hide...
A life full of achievements!
Have you ever had the experience of meeting someone and, you can’t really put a finger on what it is that makes such an impact, but there you are thinking about who they are and what they have achieved? Sylvia Rice is one of those people to me. Even though I had met...
It’s time to speak up about aqua!
Hallelujah! Aqua Instructors have found their voice. If you are not on social media or have been busy enjoying your summer holidays, you may not be aware of a series of viral posts that have captured the interest of aqua instructors over the past few weeks. It started...
The truth about websites and social media
Start the year in the right direction It always seems appropriate to write a January blog about intentions and new resolutions to start the year in the right direction, whatever ‘right’ means for you. Well, this is blog is a recommendation from last year’s resolution....
Why I hated resistance bands and what changed my mind
90's Fitness Fad? I was first introduced to resistance bands early in my teaching career in the 1990’s. This long piece of elastic was recommended as a portable and effective form of resistance training. Having only used weights for resistance training, this concept...
How to please group fitness participants
Can you make everyone happy? Recently I received an email from an aqua instructor asking ‘Are you able to share ideas with me on how I can keep everyone happy in a class? The participants are of different ages, have different abilities and fitness levels and...
What’s your group fitness why?
Group fitness instructors sometimes don’t stay in the profession for too long. This blog looks at the reasons why people start and stop teaching group fitness classes.
Do you see poor health or wellness?
The way we perceive others and our expectations can be limiting. This blog offers considerations for finding the positive in people!
How do you feel about the aqua community?
Love, Passion or both? Having recently attended the International Aquatic and Fitness Conference (IAFC) in Florida in May, I was struck by one word that I kept hearing over and over again. I thought it was really interesting as I hadn't heard that word used as...
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The social media rabbit hole
It must be one of the most talked about topics,...
Why I hated resistance bands and what changed my mind
I was first introduced to resistance bands early...
Self Care
Take care of yourself - no one else will do a...