I had a "Jillian Michaels" phase to my career where I taught group fitness classes at the University of Texas RecSports Center. It actually started off when a friend of mine invited me to take a water aerobics class with her. Never a great swimmer myself, I actually enjoyed the aquatic activities since you were either always touching the floor of the pool or had a float to keep you buoyant. Jumping jacks or 'stars' in the water, hopping on one foot down and back, superman-suntan - it was all pretty low-key and definitely low-impact. Somehow I ended up as a substitute instructor for the class and from there applied/auditioned to teach both a Dance Aerobics & Step class a la Richard Simmons.
I'm not one to be super vocal or authoritative, but there was something about those smaller groups of mostly women coming to workout. When they walked in that mirrored room, I fell into the role they expected me to play - encouraging, upbeat, instructive leader! I choreographed various routines and practiced them with the 8-count-pop-music-remixes the program provided and then taught them to the participants. It always made me glad to see my ideas come to fruition. As a teacher I could go to an unlimited number of class for free so I picked up helpful techniques, ideas, and exercises along the way! It was a great way to stay in shape. There was also a brief stint where I worked at the UTRecSports welcome desk, filing memberships, helping sort out locker issues, setting up massage appointments etc. The entire UTRecSports team was amazing and I will always be thankful for the supportive collegiate environment. Mr. Fleece and I even played racquetball a few times in that building!
In that same vein, I pursued an internship with ActiveATX, a start-up biz that curated an online list of all the workout studios/gyms and exercise classes across Austin. I blogged for them by going to various workout classes - everything from Crossfit to ballet. I tried yoga and kayaking and even a meditation class that I will never forget. Trying new things and crafting a unique angle to describe the experience and sharing it with our followers challenged my creativity. Perhaps like most writers, I cringe a little when I go back to read my posts. The business itself must have tanked because I can't locate the website or any of the old content. I had fun while it lasted!
These days, it's often a struggle to work out. Difficult to motivate myself, I'm still drawn to my group fitness friends. I recently signed up for Class Pass, which is essentially everything I ever wanted in an exercise routine. I'm able to sign up for a variety of classes across the city so I don't get bored :) I can be kickboxing on Monday, spinning on Wednesday, and sculpting on Friday. I've been enjoying barre the best and have been challenged by the instructors at Pure Barre and FlyWheel. Recovering from some cold symptoms, I'm hoping to re-establish a routine soon to grow stronger, more flexible, and improve my mood. Like Mr. Fleece says, it's an investment into our future selves. When I'm 70 years old+ I want to be able to be nimble & strong, able to put on my own shoes.
Chasing down those 5 pounds,
-SJW
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