I work really, really hard on the music that I use in my group cycling classes. There are some music companies out there that put out CDs which are premixed and ready-to-use, but I have never liked those for cycling. In order for me to really, really enjoy teaching these classes and working out on the bike, I have to use music that is 100% motivating to me. (oh yeah, and hopefully to my class) Because of that, I spend hours on every playlist, and sometimes quite a bit of money on new stuff. There used to be a DJ store right near my house where I used to shop…
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And There Would Be No Orange Residue On My Fingers, Either!
In my massive Blog Overhaul, I re-updated my list of favorite blogs. I chuckle to myself when I look at it because it’s growing almost as fast as my sons are. Almost. Today I am excited to add my friend Deanna’s blog. Deanna cycles in my classes on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday nights when she’s not having a knee injury or sick children to deal with, and in fact, I’ve known her parents for years from the health club I’ve been at since 1995. I wrote about her parents several weeks ago; click here. Deanna could totally pull off wearing a tiara in public. Anyway, Deanna’s blog is called Carrots…
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Go-Going Without Go-Going Anywhere!
I became familiar with Crunch Fitness back in the mid-90s. Crunch Fitness is a health club chain that prides itself on innovative classes, sassy attitude (they need a tiara!), and their acceptance of everybody: man, woman, thin, heavy, straight, gay, whatever. Being in the industry, I have seen firsthand how motivating the right environment is and I was always fascinated with Crunch but sad that I couldn’t go there, because they are only in the city. Anyhoo, I did the next best thing back in the day: in the late 90’s, Crunch Fitness had a 30-minute workout show on tv, and I did it several times a week. They changed…
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Foot Update: Good News, I’m Gonna LIVE!
Two weeks ago I was sidelined by a wee little case of tendonitis. The podiatrist gave me a whole laundry list of things to do and not to do, and I have been pretty good at following his advice. If I had to grade myself, I would say, uh, an A-. Okay, maybe a B+. But for me, Miss Control Freak, that’s pretty good. The thing that has sucked the most has been, as I suspected it would, not walking the dog and having to curtail how I teach my group cycling classes. All was not lost though; I found a new BFF for this temporary period of time: That’s…
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Better O’Late Than O’Never?
Yesterday morning I had a huge lightbulb go off in my head: I have done special playlists to use in my group cycling class for the December holidays and Valentine’s Day…why not for St. Patrick’s Day? They would probably eat that up in my Wednesday class! I spent about 60 minutes trying to figure out which groups and which songs to find or purchase and add to the playlist, and when I was done with the gathering part, I suddenly realized something very important. St. Patty’s Day is this Monday, the 17th. My cycling classes are Tuesday and Wednesday, the 18th and 19th. UGH. BUT, I guess there’s no rule…
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Two Degrees of Someone Other Than Kevin Bacon
I just returned home from teaching a crazy Saturday Group Cycling class. I only had four people in class (Nothing unusual at this club), but two of them were my favorite couple. They attend every single week unless they are out of town, and I love them to death. They are around 60 years old and have been married for 40 years, but they are extremely fit and way younger than their actual age, at heart and in body. They could pass easily for a couple in their 40’s and I hope to stay young like them when I grow up. Anyway, normally he makes fun of me because every…
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Ahhhh…Now THAT Feels Good.
And I’m not talking about your lovely comments about my new blog look, although your feedback was great! (Janice and Joe-prah, I may work on photoshopping the fam into the header eventually, when I get more spare time! LOL) What I’m talking about is I just this morning took the test on that freakin’ book, and by passing (ahem, with flying colors!), I completed the last of my continuing ed credits for renewing my ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification, which happens to expire in 8 days! (Did you really think I would have finished the work and renewed it at any time earlier than the last moment? You obviously don’t…
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Don’t Be Alarmed; I’m Just a “Normal-Looking” Fitness Instructor…
I had a great class last night, thanks for asking! Becoming a fitness instructor is something I’ve wanted to do since I was 24 and got heavily into taking aerobics from one peppy instructor at my tiny little gym in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mary was a powerhouse: a petite girl with big(ish) hair, and huge muscles. She taught cardio classes and was a bodybuilder. Not a professional, but boy, was she “cut” (slang for “toned”: am I the only one that says that?)! What I loved was that in spite of her slightly intimidating presence, she had an absolutely adorable personality, and—off the microphone—she was very soft-spoken. She motivated me so,…
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Go Wednesday, Go!
I’ve been wanting to do this post for a long time, and I figure since it’s Wednesday and that day figures prominently in the story, why not today? Wednesday is my favorite day to exercise. A couple of years ago it was just “any old day” as far as my workout went, but then in 2006 I started teaching a group cycling class at 5:30 p.m. at a new (to me) healthclub. I wasn’t super-excited about the location of this place because it takes me about 25 minutes to get there with NO traffic, which is not usually the case. I was, however, excited about the Group Fitness Director, who…
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The Dog Proves Once Again That No Matter How Much She Wants To Be a Human, She Will Never Be One
Fulfilling the commitment I made to myself to “move daily”, I just got back from a 40 minute walk with Roxie. It was one of the most annoying walks I’ve had in a long time. Not only was she “reverse sneezy”, but it was practically endless today. Unlike “most” beagles, she does not stand still while she does this during a walk: she just keeps going. I make her sit for a couple of seconds and she stops, but as soon as we resume walking she begins again and I’m looking over my shoulder wondering how many people are outside thinking I’m a terrible pet owner for walking a dog…