Tuesday, April 28, 2009

5...4....3....2....1....LAUNCH!!!

This morning marked the beginning of the 2-week launch period at Fitness Works. What is launch, you say? Well, every quarter group fitness trainers (that's me!) get new music and choreography for the program(s) they teach. Then about a month-ish later, we get to start doing the new stuff in our classes (aka LAUNCH). While many of the participants in the classes I team teach say that every class is new to them, there are a few that remember what we've done, and it's nice to have something new to show as an instructor.

Anyway, today is DAY 1 of launch. Lucky me, one of the classes I team in is offered bright and early at 5:15 am on Tuesdays. SO, I got to be a part of the very first class to launch, and it was my very first launch ever! Good times. And we had a new record high of 32 people in class today...10 more people than our previous record of 22. Awesome! We took lots of pics (to be posted later).

Because it was my first launch ever, I was super excited/nervous and had a really hard time sleeping last night. I woke up at 3 am freaking out thinking I overslept (not possible considering I have a special alarm set on my phone labeled "Gym Wake Up" set for 4:20 AM), and then I had 2 different nightmares. In one of them the Honda was stolen. This was bad news bears because my CD/DVD for BC39 (the latest release of BODYCOMBAT) was in the center console. In the other I excitedly invited people to come to launch, but it was 2 days after I was supposed to do launch with Cindy and Sarah. So I completely missed launch in my dream/nightmare and cried and cried and cried. I know, I'm crazy.

If there are any people out there in the blogosphere in the east valley area of Phoenix (or even Glendale now that there's a Fitness Works at the Agua Fria 101 and Camelback) who want to try group fitness, now is the best time! Everyone is doing the classes for the first time essentially! The launch period is long enough to allow you 3-5 times in each format, which is the recommended amount of time it takes to get used to the movement and feel comfortable. I have access to free passes, and there are all kinds of incentives for people who come to the gym for the first time. Just let me know and I can hook you up. Keep it real and stay with the fight!

Friday, April 10, 2009

mercy mergatroy, where have I been?

For the love of all that is good and right, I am appalled that I haven't posted anything new in over a month! A whole month! Every time I went to post something new, I didn't really think I had anything to say. Well....there hasn't been too much new that has happened in the past month, but I'll try to recap.

I went to my very first RPM class (or spin class, either label works), and I really liked it! I wasn't expecting to, since I think bike riding should be for leisure (esp. atop a sweet beach cruiser). It's a fantastic cardio workout, and the best part is it's no impact! My poor, sensitive shins were grateful for that. Aside from a sore bottom, it's totally worth it. And your butt gets used to it after a couple classes.

I got to see my best childhood friend halfway through March as we watched her dad get remarried to a really nice woman. It was fun to dance and laugh with an old friend, and it was even better to see how ecstatically happy her dad was on his wedding day. Here's hoping for the best his second time around!

I experienced my first Autoship through Les Mills. Every quarter instructors get new music and choreography in the mail about a month or two before the newest release is launched in our gym. I stalked my mailbox for 2 weeks and called and emailed Les Mills to make sure I really, truly was set to get BC39. When it finally came, I tore it open and practiced it a couple of times. All the BC instructors are getting together for the next 3 Saturdays to practice and get ready for launch. Launch is in only 18 more days people!

I turned 25 with a lot less fanfare and pomp than I was expecting. But all things considered, birthday parties are expensive, and I don't feel right asking people to buy gifts for me when I know I can't return the favor. Darn budgets! I had a great day with my husband, and he surprised me with a birthday balloon and the sweetest stuffed monkey that we have decided to call Mr. Monkman. He's pretty fantastic (my husband, not Mr. Monkman).

Steven celebrated his 26th birthday 5 days later, and though I did not purchase him a Mrs. Monkman to complete our collection, I did find a really nice bday card. I couldn't find anything to buy him, so I'm going to take him out shopping soon.

I taped myself teaching an entire BC class from start to finish toward the end of the month and did an all right job. I cringed a lot when I went back and watched the video, but I was cleared by the GFM to teach solo or sub for current instructors. This means that I can FINALLY get paid to teach! Crazy long process, but totally worth it.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley held its annual Bon Vivant, a really big, fun wine and food tasting event at Rawhide. Over 3,000 people attend, and there is so much alcohol there it's almost ridiculous. My family was fantastic and volunteered to help make the event a success. Let's just say that a few of them had a little bit too much fun enjoying all that Bon Vivant had to offer and wound up sick and hung over the next day. But we all had a great time. I really like this event and have a lot of fun working at it.

Last Friday night I tried BODYJAM for the first time. It's a dance-inspired cardio workout that is SO MUCH FUN! I'm planning to go back to it again tonight. Now I've tried every Les Mills program except for BODYSTEP. Have I mentioned how much I love exercise? I'm pretty sure I've blogged about it, say, a thousand and a half times. :)

I had today off of work in observance of Good Friday. It was a much needed and appreciated day off. I had a really busy day, but got a lot of fun things done. I got a haircut, and it's a lot shorter than I have ever cut it but it looks cute curly! I wasn't expecting that. Went to the doc (boo), and as I was leaving I witnessed a car accident. I had a fantastic lunch date with Steven where we got to spend an hour just the two of us (so nice!). Then I went shopping for 3 hours, which is something I almost never do, and purchased a couple pairs of shorts, two shirts, headbands, and white boxing wraps. While I was out, I spoke on the phone to one of my good friends, Candice, about our small group last night and other random fun things.

This weekend looks like it's going to be a good time. Tomorrow I'm practically going to live at the gym (2 classes for fun in the AM, then BC39 practice in the afternoon). Sunday is Easter (Happy Resurrection Day!), and Steven and I are planning to attend church with the fam, go to BC, then attend a Dbacks game. Phew. So much good stuff, not enough time. I hope to take some pics this weekend and post. Cindy, Sarah, and I are going to dress Easter-ish for BC on Sunday...should be fun.

Anyway...I guess that's where I've been. But mercy me it took a long time to get all this posted.