Death by BODYJAM

I’ve been a regular BODYJAM participant for the better part of two years, and up until recently I thought my cardio fitness was at par with an instructor’s. Well, now that I am a BODYJAM instructor myself, I find that it is a very different experience from teaching a mind-and-body program like BODYBALANCE, particularly with regard to the kind of cardiovascular and aerobic strain one can put her body through.

I underwent training in Jam last month, but I taught my first solo class only last Thursday at Metro East. Lorna of TheBachelorGirl was in attendance there and she blogged a very positive reaction (as well as snapped several photos of my outfit for me). I’m glad she had a great time, because I did too. I also nearly died onstage.

Well, okay, I’m being melodramatic, but the pressure of remembering choreography (when to introduce which move) and having to push out words through my mouth while my mind is just screaming “I NEED MORE AIR!” at me is extreme. My main concern there was giving my participants the workout they came for. Never mind about showing off (as if I even could, in my state); my job was to deliver the experience safely and effectively — and get out alive. Hopefully, as I get used to the cardio load and find the levels I need to work at, I’ll be able to improve my skills in coaching and connecting with my participants so that they do feel successful in dancing.

First things first, though. I do need to take care of myself before, during, and after teaching class. Beforehand, I need to hydrate and feed myself so I don’t run out of water and energy during the class. During the class, replace fluids lost (this is the one thing I did right the first time). After the class, have a light snack or a meal very soon so I don’t undergo hypoglycemia. Seriously, that first class took so much out of me that I had to take to bed. I only got up three hours later, still weak-kneed.

I’ve never felt anything like it and all I could do was push on because I needed to. Whoever said that instructing classes is easy has never had to teach one. Ü

Tags: BODYJAM, Fitness First Philippines, Les Mills, Dance Fitness

BodyJam Jivin’

BODYJAM Training: after Day 1's exertions

If you had told me back when I was an awkward teenager who got tangled in her own feet regularly that I would end up teaching dance fitness to people, I would have laughed and walked off (but not without stumbling on thin air).

But after BODYJAM instructor training last February 22, 23, and 25, I now definitely know I can. Ü It was my second Les Mills program (after BODYBALANCE), and although they had their points of similarity in the structure of each training day, the feel was vastly different because of the natures of each program. During BODYBALANCE training I felt like I had been secluded on a mountaintop monastery where we contemplated the meaning of life; in BODYJAM training it felt like putting together a musical or dance concert.

There were 21 of us who underwent the module, most taking a Les Mills training module for the first time. For those of us who had been through it all before, BODYJAM training called out certain aspects in our personalities that we’d not really used in our other programs. It brought out the dance performer in us BODYBALANCE teachers who had to make the transition from being calm and centered to loud and “out there” in order to teach the program, and until now I still get the feedback that I can be too calm when I teach Jam. But I’m getting there.

I’m glad I had to wait more than a year to get my turn at this. If I had gone through this training in 2006 rather than now, I might not have been able to handle having to dance and cue simultaneously; I was still pretty new to group exercise. I think I also was better off going through Balance training and being an instructor for almost a year so that I could master how to coach class participants to success. Everything in its own time, and my time has come. Ü

Photos taken during my BODYJAM training can be found at my Multiply site.

Tags: BodyJam, Fitness First Philippines, Les Mills

EEE!

Guess what someone brought back from Macau? No, not bird flu (besides, the outbreaks were in Hong Kong)…

Tags: Asus EEE

Here Comes 2008

I’m off to sunny Boracay with my family to welcome 2008 in the sun, sand, and surf. See you in January!

All I Want for Christmas

Christmas Eve crept up on me this year. Probably because Christmas Eve fell on a Monday: people thought they’d have enough time to get ready for festivities at home. Then, they wake up and realize, “I haven’t completed my shopping!”

It’s the reason my mom, sister, and I were at TriNoma yesterday picking up a few last-minute items, including my sister’s gift to me. (That picture refers to this lolcat.) We had to buy food for snacks and dinner, since our extended family would bring dishes for noche buena, which we’ve celebrated at our house for several years now. This year we had a new addition to the family (yes, we’re still growing!) — another baby girl.

I got it from my momma.

Our Christmases are low key affairs; the loudest sounds are of our laughter and talking over the dinner table, catching up on each other, recycling old jokes and recalling running in-jokes that outside observers might not pick up on. Ü Of course the highlight of the evening is distributing gifts to each other, but really what’s important to me is everyone I love being in the same room.

The gifts are just a perk.

Merry Christmas, everyone! God bless you all!

Tags: Christmas, Family Gathering

Dream Come True

Last Saturday night I had a nightmare that I had agreed to teach two classes on the same day at the same time at two different clubs. I couldn’t find someone to cover the class because I had found out too late that the classes conflicted with each other. In dismay I realized I would be a no-show for one class — and get suspended from teaching for that offense.

I think it was my subconscious mind expressing fears that I might not be able to handle teaching two programs at Fitness First, since I passed the BODYJAM auditions on Saturday. Funny having a nightmare after my dream to teach BODYJAM finally came true. I auditioned last year but wasn’t picked — but that freed me up for BODYBALANCE training last March. I’m a big believer in good things happening in God’s time, so only after more than a year of waiting did I get another chance at BODYJAM. A year of God leading me into situations of dancing while everyone’s watching, learning to manage stage fright, and enjoying the buzz of teaching dance. A year of growth and pruning to enable this vine to bloom and bear fruit.

Now I can dance!

It all began again with Arnold Warren (BODYJAM program head here in the Philippines) drumming up interest in the auditions by putting up posters in all the Fitness First clubs. He also posted bulletins and blog entries on Friendster and Multiply. Talk about getting the word out: on audition day, almost 70 people showed up! There were so many auditionees that Arnold was compelled to disclaim, “If you’re here because you think this is a class or an event, you’re wrong!” And no one left.

Lining up to hand in our registration forms — I was #17 — I felt like I was auditioning for American Idol, except we weren’t going in one by one. (Whew.) And we weren’t singing either; over the next 55 minutes we would all be dancing and grooving to the same music and set of moves presented by BodyJam instructors. While we did that, three judges would make the rounds and list down who they thought should ~~go to Hollywood~~ go through the training. Our judges were Arnold, Ms. Fhe Manalili-Samia (former BODYJAM program head and Group Exercise Manager for Fitness First Ortigas), and Joseph Regala (GXM for FF North EDSA and Platinum Trinoma).

NOT Simon, Paula, and Randy.

Our playlist consisted of the warm-up, isolation, and latin tracks from BODYJAM 42, the Candyman block from BODYJAM 40, the recovery track from BODYJAM 35, and the jazz cardio block from BODYJAM 35. Our groove-down was “Rock With You” from BODYJAM 33. Talk about intense! Midway through the warm-up the aircon cut out, ramping up the ambient temperature and causing the windows to fog up.

Afterwards, Arnold, Ms. Fhe, and Joseph combined their lists. Those who had received votes from all three of them would automatically be admitted to BODYJAM training in February 2008. This time, it felt like America’s Next Top Model, starring Arnold as Tyra.

The first number he called? Mine! The funny thing is that I had completely forgotten that it was my number he was calling. Ten other people were called. Those with two votes were then called to dance off for five remaining slots. Arnold and his co-program head Clark Amaba then led these people through BODYJAM 43’s first cardio block, which few of them had seen, much less mastered (ensuring they were all on even footing). Afterwards, the auditionees were asked to stand in front of the assembly, introduce themselves, and state why they wanted to teach BODYJAM. This helped Joseph and group exercise manager for FF ABS-CBN Brian Peralta choose the final five.

Our number complete, some administrative stuff was discussed, but my head was up in the clouds already. February might be a long way off, but I’ve waited a year for this. Two months is nothing! Ü

Tags: BodyJam, Fitness First Philippines, Les Mills

When Work is Play

December 2007 Quarterlies: Jace, Kurei, and me

As promised, I took a lot of photos at the Les Mills Quarterly Workshop last December 1, 2007 at Fitness First Mall of Asia.

It wasn’t hard to do, considering that almost none of the group exercise instructors I know are camera-shy. (Check out my friends’ photos as well — Kurei, Vanessa, Bon, and Albert.) And no camera lens went unnoticed.

See what I mean?

I arrived some time before 9am at the venue, trying to beat the Christmas post-payday traffic rush. The first session (BodyAttack) had been canceled on short notice; master trainer Kylie Gates was injured, so she hadn’t flown in. We started the morning with BodyCombat release 34.

Unleash. Empower. Explode!

It’s the shortest BodyCombat release ever, clocking in at a little over 45 minutes when we blasted through it nonstop with trainer Ben Tang, after a short educational session on innovations in this latest release. I don’t teach this program, but I do enjoy any workout with friends, especially right before pigging out on pizza.

I’d been experiencing muscle soreness in my butt and inner thighs the week leading up to the quarterlies, so I backed out of BodyPump 64 (which I had pre-registered for) and sat out BodyStep 70 (which is a real leg workout!). Instead, I waited for the ultimate dance party workout BodyJam 43, where I could “shake all my stress away, yeah,” as Rihanna has sung.

BodyBalance teachers can Jam, too!

BodyJam co-program head Clark Amaba had to present by his lonesome because Kylie was absent and our homegrown talent and trainer Arnold Warren was in Vietnam training a new batch of BodyJam instructors.

Clark chillin’ before presentin’

BodyJam is my first love among Les Mills programs, although I don’t teach it (yet). Let me tell you, release 43 is quite challenging in terms of getting the feel right during the Disco block. (Need. to find. inner. disco ball!) Once the House block kicks in, though, it’s “Please don’t stop the music!”

Last program of the day was, of course, BodyBalance, where our guest presenters Jackie Wong (BodyStep trainer) and Ben Tang (he teaches BodyBalance too! haha) with Ms. Peewee our BodyBalance program head presented release 39. What can I say about it, as an instructor of the program? One word. “Ouch.” But the music is fantastic and motivating, I think, and if I keep training in the weeks up to the launch (mid-January 2008!) I think I can manage this release.

We can’t wait to teach BodyBalance 39!

The thing with work that seems like play is that we co-workers — and friends — don’t get tired of each other’s company. Luckily, Mall of Asia on that day was open until midnight, so we were able to wreak havoc at a Wendy’s and a Starbucks into the night.

I loved every moment of it. Kudos to Joseph, the group exercise manager for Fitness First North EDSA and Platinum TriNoma, for organizing the whole event. It was worth the journey all the way to Mall of Asia.

Until next time!

Tag: Fitness First Philippines, Les Mills, Work Fun

Quarterly Fun!

For the last few days it’s all I’ve wanted to think or talk about. I’ve planned my entire calendar year-end around it (okay, that may be an exaggeration) and I’ve been so excited about it that I’ve already planned everything I’m going to wear. Actually, I’ve packed everything I’m going to wear just so I don’t use any of those clothes by mistake early this week.

What the hell am I talking about? It’s the second Les Mills Quarterly Workshop for 2007, of course. Held for all instructors of Les Mills group exercise programs, it’s like a grand convention of all my fellow instructors as we experience the upcoming releases, get to try other programs, and hang out with our best buddies. Yes, we also try to pick up new skills so we can make our teaching better for our participants. Ü It’s kind of like a Star Trek convention, except with more exercise instructors and less costumes.

Actually there’s less clothing involved, too. Haha.

Last April’s quarterly was my first, and it was tons of fun. Never mind that we had to travel all the way to SM Southmall since the event was held at the Fitness First branch there.

This time around, we’re traveling to the newest branch, Fitness First Mall of Asia. Yup, at that reclaimed piece of land in Pasay (I call it Farness First because it’s really far from Quezon City, where I live). I’ve been there several times this month to cover BodyBalance classes, so I know how to get there. Now I’m planning to form a carpool so we can imagine the whole thing as a field trip.

I’ll have photos and other stories after the event. I’m starting to get really hyper about it…

Tags: Fitness First Philippines, Les Mills, Convention