Workouthon - Less Mills style

Saturday 14 May 2011

Why would anyone in their right mind want to drive 6 hours so that they can exercise for 4 hours straight?  If it's crazy people then I'm one of them.

I've been on this wonderful journey of becoming a Les Mills Body Balance instructor all because Fiona, the owner of Empower Fitness, asked me last September 2010 if I was interested in becoming one. I was sussing out Taupo at the time so I said I'll come in to see her again when I move in February 2011.

February came and to my delight, Fiona's offer was still standing. What a blessing. To be doing something you like and getting paid for it. I have Fiona to thank for that.

Here's Fiona teaching Body Balance

Being an instructor is not as easy as I thought. I've been practising yoga and pilates so body balance was not something really that new. But it's one thing to be practising, it's another thing all together to be teaching. There are choreographed routines to remember, knowing what to tell your students and setting them up with cues & follow ups. And then there was that whole confidence factor. Who am I to tell other people what to do? How if I screw up? What if I forget my routines? What if people don't like me? Instructors. RESPECT. Damn it was tough. 

Still remember my first few times on stage. Fiona said I was quiet as a mouse! And I messed up a few times - like repeating the right leg in the sun salutation sequence 3x and left 1x instead of 2x each for each leg. I didn't even realise it until Fiona told me haha. And always confusing left from right as we are mirror imaging the students. But the goings been good and I think I'm picking it up fast enough.   

One of the benefits of being part of a franchise is that Les Mills has an excellent support system with workshops and trainings and what nots. May 14 was my first Les Mills workshop up in Auckland. Went up with the rest of the Empower Fitness team Ro, Brooke, Marie, Martina, Mike & Emma. So yea. Drive 3 hours up for a 11am - 6pm workout and drive 3 hours down right after that. Poor Ro. She must have been really tired driving us up and down.

Ro walking in front of Les Mills Auckland

  

Les Mills - one of the better group fitness programmes I've been to

I've only been to one workshop with Revathi (Zumba, belly dancing, bollyjam, etc) and it was exhausting but oh so rewarding! I knew this Les Mills one would be so much better and I was not disappointed.

This workshop was for instructors from all over to check out the new releases that have just come out. For $25, you can get to attend ALL of their classes. What a sweet deal. They also introduced their new programmes, CX30 (core work) and Sh'Bam (dance). I was greedy as usual and wanted to pack in as many classes as I could. Ended up going to CX30, BodyStep, Sh'Bam and BodyBalance which ran back to back. Wanted to go for BodyJam but it was getting late. Was I ever exhausted after that. But oh so happy and satisfied. Am I weird or what?

 

Participants waiting for BodyStep to start

I must say that it was such an opportunity to attend classes by master trainers and even the choreographers for the programmes. The instructors are extremely inspirational. Makes you wanna be like them. To strive to bring your standards to where they are. I have a long way to go yet but I'll get there.

Seriously thinking of taking the module training Brooke was telling us about. She did her BodyStep module up in Auckland. After you complete your module, you have to submit a film of your class and in order to get certified. Whole process would take up to a year. BodyBalance would be a 3 day workshop costing me $400. Just found out there's a training on May 21 up in Auckland! Too soon! Couldn't find another one on their calender. Sob. Hopefully they'll arrange one after this May 21st one.



Teaching BodyBalance and loving it


Fiona said she's thinking of inviting the trainers down sometime in Sept so maybe I'll just wait for that. At least I don't have to bother about transport & accommodation.

It was an awesome time up in Auckland with an awesome team. So glad I was part of that. And I'm grateful I'm still enjoying the journey.

An eye-opening experience

July 10 weekend

It never cease to amaze me how people from co-called 'similar' backgrounds in terms of background, social status & education, can be so very different when it comes to thinking. Our politicians are great examples. You wonder if they even have a brain when they come out with ridiculous statements.

Siok Hui forwarded me an email about a permaculture workshop on sustainable living, natural medicine & self defence. It's a 5 day course but for those who can't make the stretch, there's an option to take it over 5 weekends. I opted for a weekend as it would go well with my permaculture farm in Lenggong I'm writing about.

The ultimate objective of the worskshop is to build an Islamic sustainable eco-village. The organiser assured me that non-muslims are welcome but I must dress appropriately as it was held at Yayasan RASMA in Dengkil, some Islamic institution or community or something. No jeans (it's tight??!!). Fair enough. I wore a baju kurung.

We were to meet at the Bukit Damansara mosque to carpool and I was given the contact of a very well spoken guy. Meeting this guy was the start of an impression that left a bad taste in my mouth.

This guy was smartly dressed in slacks and shirt. Carries himself very well, distinguish-like even. He carries an American & NZ passport. As I was on assignment, I naturally extended my hand for the customary handshake which I regretted immediately. He politely rejected my hand and left me hanging with my outstretched arm in the air and a puzzled (and offended or indignant) expression on my face. I understood immediately. My mind understood but my pride and self worth did not. I won't lie. I WAS offended. I only experienced this once at a friend's wedding where the guy salam all the men and ignored the women.

Women were to go in one car, men another. Not wanting to cause a scene, I nodded my head to the rest of the men (Hell, I learnt my lesson) and hop in the women's car.

Most of the participants were foreigners, white men and such. The speaker Shaykh Hassan Henning Pedersen is Danish but lives in Jakarta. Some had jubahs, complete with skull cap & beards that you normally see middle easterns spotting. One Malaysian women was completely veiled, with only her eyes exposed. I didn't dare shake anyone's hand and I was wondering if the speaker thought me rude or approved of it. I was to interview him after all.

Danish speaker Shaykh Hassan Henning Pedersen

The workshop content was quite interesting and I did learn a thing or two. Shaykh told us to grow our own wheatgrass which I intend to do. You can get the seeds from Pure Life in Plaza Damas. Its website even has instructions on how to grow it. You can harvest your wheatgrass in 7-8 days. Is that cool or what?

Except for the occasional reference to religion which made me slightly uncomfortable as I can sense they are very passionate about the subject, the workshop itself was not too bad and the people were nice. They are all very engaging, highly intelligent and well educated. Although I did enjoy the content, I doubt I would be going for another as the environment is just not sustaible for me.

Those interested in the workshop happening from 26-30 July at RM700 per person can contact Latifah at 0176631562 or lattame@gmail.com.

Participants at the workshop