Reflection on Life’s Seasons

“Life has seasons – winter, spring, summer, and autumn,” my mentor and friend Jennifer Schembri Portelli once told me. At the time, I believed her but didn’t fully grasp which season I was in or when I would recognise it. I knew we experience multiple cycles throughout our lives, yet I was uncertain about when mine began and ended.

Gaining Clarity with Maturity

As I’ve matured, I’ve started to see the ebb and flow of these cycles more clearly. I currently find myself in a reflective winter stage, observing how everything in life and the fitness industry moves in patterns.

In the late 1980s, I began teaching circuit training when it was incredibly popular. It fell out of favour for a while, relegated to smaller clubs, but came back in vogue with formats like Tabata and interval training. These methods aren’t new; they’ve simply been refreshed and reintroduced.

The Journey of Group Exercise Courses

This cycle of trends is reminiscent of my journey with group exercise courses. Initially, dancers and group fitness enthusiasts dominated these courses. Then, there was a phase where new students were surprised to learn they had to master choreography and countdowns. Disillusioned by the disconnect, I stepped back from teaching these courses years ago. However, I returned to my passion a few years later excited to find students passionate about music and movement, and eager to learn and grow. It’s a full-circle moment.

Creating My Group Move with Maria Teresa Stone

A significant part of this journey has been the creation of My Group Move (MGM) with Maria Teresa Stone. Our goal was to formulate a pathway where we could teach instructors the art of freestyle choreography. This involved working with music tempo, creating layering, and employing different teaching methods so that instructors learn the skills to teach any group fitness program. We aimed to revive and refine these techniques, and it’s exciting to see this style making its way back into the mainstream fitness industry.

Embracing the Free Flow

One of the most rewarding aspects of MGM has been witnessing instructors embrace the concept of free flow—losing themselves in the rhythmic flow of a perfectly constructed and instructed fitness session. This approach brings a sense of joy and fluidity that resonates deeply with both instructors and participants, reminding us why we fell in love with group fitness in the first place.

Looking Forward with Gratitude

Taking a step back to observe these changes has been enlightening and amusing. I’m sure I’ll soon transition into a more active spring and summer phase, ready to embrace new opportunities. Reflecting on the past 34 years in fitness, I’m grateful for a career that’s dynamic and ever-changing, continually reinventing itself like fashion trends.