For years I contemplated getting my fitness qualification, and teaching Fitness classes. However courses can be expensive and way back in the dark ages before the phenomenon we now have called the Internet , not so easily accessible . Back in 2009 In a moment of Serendipity though , I had joined a new gym –
so there I was in Body Pump with a fantastic instructor Stephen Smith who every week would regale us with his hilarious weekly exploits . His classes were so popular, you worked hard, but they were fun too , I’m still not sure if it was the class or all the laughing we did that left you with sore muscles the next day. I came to learn that Stephen also ran a training facility, where you could get your fitness instructor qualification. I decided to take the plunge and sign up. When I started the course, I think I just assumed I would wind up working in a gym or leisure center, but as the course went on, I started to think hang on why can I not just set up classes in a local hall and bring classes out into the community ? . You know when you walk into Gyms and there are some people all Reality TV esque – tanned, full face of make up , perfect hair even after their workout???? – then there was me – hardly any if no make up, hair as unruly as ever, sweat dripping , and I thought there must be people who would feel intimidated and hate going into gyms as a result or maybe like me , they preferred classes to the actual gym and wanted to feel part of something. Stephen’s classes were always such fun and everyone was welcome, I wanted to create the same kind of atmosphere in my own classes. How lovely would it be to create a little community of classes, where everyone felt welcome, it didn’t matter what fitness level you were, it would just be a place where the focus was on making fitness classes fun and accessible and you would have the added bonus of making new friends :-).
I found the number for the local church and rang and asked about hiring the hall out one night a week on a Monday for a fitness class. I started with Aerobics as my base qualification is in Exercise to music. I rounded up family and friends and asked them all along to this first class. I was so nervous , what if no one came, what if people came and hated it! , what if no one came back again ….
So many What If’s , but hey far better to try and fail then always wonder right ,. I decided to opt for an 80’s theme – it was the decade that brought us aerobics after all plus 80’s music is so infectious and just makes you want to dance – seriously who didn’t want to be a kid from Fame!. That first class we were in a little room and I had about 12 people show up, whats more quite a few of those were back the next week, and 6 years on some of those same people are still coming to my classes now!. 4 months after that first class , I decided to add another class – this time I found a Village Hall at Delves Lane in Consett and I added a Thursday class . A handful came along and again a couple of those ladies are still with me today and I’m still teaching in the same two venues. Since those early days, I’ve gained a few more qualifications , you never ever stop learning as a fitness instructor. little by little and lots and lots of hard work later , Word of mouth spread and today my classes are busier than ever and those two classes have now grown into 14 classes a week!!!. Apart from some cover work in the early days , I never did go work in a gym or leisure center, I fell in love with teaching community classes from that first class and I just knew that was the road for me. I’ve watched the classes build and seen friendships formed , – some people come and they go, life, circumstances etc but the majority stay- they are there week in, week out . As new people come , the feedback I recieve the most is how welcoming the classes are , how the class members go out of their way to make newbies feel welcome and included and welcomed into the tribe. I”ve had the privilage to share in special milestones – I’ve seen some of the girls get married and become mammies. I’ve watched them grow stronger and fitter and do things they never thought they would ever achieve – including people who have never ran before , run half marathons!!!, i’ve seen us team up and crawl through tunnels of mud for “fun” and raise money for the British Heart Foundation . in March of this year , we took part in a 3 hour Boxercise class to raise money for Ovarian cancer.
I truly believe “your Vibe attracts your tribe”, what you put out to the universe, you get back – as I look out at my tribe of Mis-Fits and I see so much Positivity, cheerfullness , friendship , kindness and love radiating , I feel I must be putting those same vibes out into the Universe to be lucky enough to have them come back to me in such abundance.
As Cindrella says “A Dream is a wish your heart makes” and I’m living mine – the Dream I had of creating a community of fun fitness classes and bringing people together is now my reality thanks to my community o Mis-Fits. xxxxxxxx
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