IT'S A STRETCH BUT I'M GONNA DO IT

So many probably don't know this about me...but I've been subbing/teaching a Cardio Dance Groove class at one of our local Fitness Center's for the last few months. I was hired on as a sub for Zumba(which I am absolutely NOT trained in) with the intentions of teaching a cardio dance session when asked to sub.

Almost as soon as I was hired as a sub, I was given my own class on Saturdays...a Cardio Dance Groove for an hour and a 30 min CORE class. And now I have moved into subbing for other instructors as well. I have my first CARDIO CHAOS class that I am subbing this week. It's all cardio - no equipment, no weights, just cardo. It has been fun putting together a 60 minute full body workout using nothing but a persons own body weight. I really try to incorporate upper, lower, and core throughout the entire 60 minutes. I'm excited to see how the members like it.

THEN next week, I'm subbing a STRENGTH class which I am SUPER excited about. I love incorporating strength with cardio so this is right up my alley. My routine has a full 30 minutes of weight training with 15 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of core thrown in there in between. It's going to be fun!

This is the funnest part...I'm also subbing a pilates/yoga class. Now, I am completely unqualified for this. It has never been a strength for me to slow down and get a good "stretch". But I'm gonna do it. And between now and next week, by darn, I will become as qualified as I possibly can.

I'm loving this new adventure for me. It's definitely not a part-time job(not even close), but it's a few hours a week of exercise that I would be doing anyway...just getting paid for it.

And my final thoughts are these...I've learned a little something about myself. Though I lack confidence in a LOT of areas(and when I say a LOT of areas, I mean pretty much I lack full confidence), I am alive and driven when I am teaching these classes. I'm not your typical "perfect body" instructor. I'm not small and petite. And I worried that people wouldn't be receptive to me because of it(that's the lack of confidence coming through). Even some "friends" reactions to me telling them what I'm doing gave me that lack of confidence. But guess what?? I'm good at it! And I have GREAT ideas for fitness routines! And I'm STRONG-even beneath the extra warming layer(haha). So...back to what I learned. I stretched myself; I went out on a limb and I didn't fall off. And I've found a passion that I think has always been inside of me...I love instructing, I love teaching. Will it turn into a full-time or even part-time job??? I don't know, Probably not, and I'm not really worried about THAT right now...but look at the experience I'm getting. Look at the confidence that is creeping back inside of me.

So the next time you think "uh...well, I don't think I can do it." Just remember me teaching a pilates/yoga class and then go ahead and STRETCH!!