Oct 18, 2019 | Blog Posts, Mindset
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,...
Sep 16, 2019 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Technique
Specific adaptation to imposed demands At a Group Fitness Day a few years ago, 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. We...
Aug 26, 2019 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Mindset
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...
Jan 9, 2019 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Staff Training
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...
Oct 19, 2018 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Mindset
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...
Jul 23, 2018 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Mindset, Technique
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...
Jun 26, 2018 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Mindset, Staff Training
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...
Apr 30, 2018 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Mindset
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...
Mar 27, 2018 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Mindset
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...
Mar 5, 2018 | Blog Posts
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...
Jan 29, 2018 | Blog Posts
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...
Dec 28, 2017 | Blog Posts, Instructor Issues, Mindset
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....
