Welcome back…
Hi Everyone!
Well, what a fantastic welcome back to teaching fitness classes!
I am seriously overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity and support!
So, it’s been a while since I taught exercise classes to the general public. In fact, the last time was April 2015!
I initially stopped to take on a different role within the fitness industry. I took on a teaching/assessing/IQA role - basically I was a master trainer teaching students to become Personal Trainers and Fitness Instructors or both! My Internal Quality Assurer role was to assess the Assessors - basically to ensure that their work was meeting examining body guidelines/standards and was above board and correct. As interesting as those roles are - in my book there’s nothing quite like teaching fitness classes! I think it is where my real passion lies.
I am renowned across the area for my different take on traditional kettlebells and have lost count of the amount of times I have been out and someone has come up to me and said ‘Let me know if you ever start your classes up again…’ Very flattering and kind I know but the truth is it has always been at the back of my mind and has been an urge that I have not been able to shake off!
So I guess, it was inevitable to start again, at some point!
Now, it seems fairly straight forward to start again doesn’t it? Far from it.
Well, a lot has changed since I taught classes. Most gyms now incorporate a package where classes are in with the membership price whether you want classes or not. So going back to rent some floor space at a gym wasn’t an option in the Uttoxeter area.
So I had to find venues that could accommodate my needs and I think the venues I have currently are great!
Now as much as I have been excited to start the classes I have also been quite nervous and apprehensive - you know the thoughts of ‘what if my classes don’t fit in anymore?’, ‘what if people have bigged my classes up to be something they aren’t?’ - you know the stuff I am talking about the imposter syndrome stuff. Crazy I know but somehow seems to be derived from perfectionist mindsets. That is something I struggle with - being a perfectionist!
I kept challenging myself with all of these questions - I was 41 when I last taught classes, I’m 47 now - am I too old? Well in all honesty my fitness is better than when I was 41 and I feel I have even more life experience to offer too - like the dreaded menopause - but that’s a whole new blog!
So it’s completely fair to say I have been on a rollercoaster of emotions and events since 2015 - my beautiful Mum’s death in 2020 being one of those devastating, heart breaking blows. If my Mum taught me one thing it was to be strong. I don’t think I have ever known anyone to be as strong mentally and physically as my Mum. Mum was amazing and certainly is my inspiration! My Dad too, so selfless and both were awesome role models. Extremely lucky to have had such wonderful parents who devoted their lives to myself and my siblings.
𝕨𝕙𝕪 𝕒𝕞 𝕚 𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤?
Well, really for encouragement - I truly believe that if you put your mind to something you can do anything!
Now if you’re putting off exercising because you’re waiting for the right time, there will never be one! Now is the right time. Live in the moment. Do it. I promise you won’t regret it!
As they say: Exercise is the most under-utilised anti-depressant! IT IS SO TRUE!
It can exhilarate you, take you to new highs, increase good health. There are so many added benefits of exercising.
You have nothing to lose but everything to gain!
Love, Sarah xx
18/12/21
