Exercise is good for you.  We all know this, yet some people never exercise, while others exercise too often!  Is there any such thing as too much exercise?  Is exercise the next phenomenon to become an addiction?

Our culture has become obsessed with addicts. They come in all shapes and sizes and everything from sex to drugs to chocolate can be the activity/substance of choice. We watch shows about dependent celebrities and family interventions. Many of us have friends and family who struggle with self destructive behaviors. What we need to ask ourselves, in addition to the above, is can we identify a participant in danger?

The answers to all these questions are not simple. It IS possible to exercise to extremes. It IS very “in vogue” to call someone exercise dependent. We are now learning the warning signs of participants in danger. Those indicators are listed below:

• Exercise replaces other social activities
• Participants belong to and participate in more than one health club
• Fitness obsession has interfered with work
• Family and friends feel forsaken for the gym
• The participant has become dangerously thin
• The individual works out to the point of exhaustion and/or dehydration
• Exercisers become more frequently injured
• Working out is compulsive regardless of weather or illness

Ultimately, as fitness professionals, it is our duty to inform ourselves about potential dangers in our facilities. The participants who attend our classes, fill our training sessions, and utilize our equipment depend on our expertise to keep them safely progressing toward greater health and fitness. In order to properly address the exercise dependent, we must ask only one question. It is the question Dr. Phil recommends we ask ourselves regularly about our passions and obsessions. Does it interfere with normal life, work or family? If not, there is no reason to alter your behavior.

We all know what exercise can do for us. It has been proven to improve our mood, our sleep, our sex drive, our longevity, our appearance, the list goes on! What you may not know is that it has also been shown to reduce dependence on medication for depression, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, sleeplessness and anxiety. Active lives are sources of joy, pride, passion, and purpose. Fitness gives us a sense of accomplishment, improved self esteem, and stamina to live life to the fullest. Fellow enthusiasts, I urge you to continue in your pursuit of health, wellness, fitness, activity….whatever you call it. Few are in danger of
dependency and we should identify and assist them. We should also hold sacred our ability to be strong and active so long as we maintain balance.

Until next time, keep pushing and striving for YOUR greatness.

Congratulations to Joy Grove and Five Points Washington for maximizing a quarterly re-launch opportunity. Sixty-five memberships, 300 new participants, and validation for group fitness as a profit center…if you are interested in any of these things, including the above referenced $8000 day, read on.

LMMW: What is your title with Five Points Washington? And how did you get started in group fitness?

Joy: I am the fitness manager. I’m over the personnel and programming for group exercise & Personal Training. I have a degree in Exercise Science. I certified in BodyPump 5 years ago. Now, I also teach BodyStep & BodyAttack.

LMMW: Tell me about your club, your clientele, and Washington, IL:

Joy: Five points Washington is in Washington Illinois, near Peoria. We opened in October and now have 6400 members. We planned to have 1500 by January, but we are really growing! We are independently owned and operated by a board of volunteers. The club is a not for profit entity, built entirely by donations. We have 3 group rooms, a cycling studio, a small mind/body room, and a large banquet sized room for the Les Mills classes. Our members are primarily families. Adults aged 30-50… and some senior citizens. We also have a large number of high school students. It’s a small town of around 12,000. The residents here are primarily young families who seem to be health conscious. It’s a really great demographic.

LMMW: What programs do you currently offer?

Joy:  BodyPump, BodyStep, rpm, BodyAttack, BodyVive…and we may add BodyJam.

LMMW: I heard about your very successful re-release. What kind of launch was this? And how does that translate to dollars and cents?

Joy: We launched BodyVive in mid March. This was a new release “Super Saturday” featuring all the classes. We waived the initiation fee for anyone who joined that day. If a member referred a friend, they received a gym bag with our logo. We sold 65 memberships, most of them families, that’s over 300 additional participants! Unofficially, we grossed somewhere around $8000 in one day!

LMMW: When did you introduce LMI at your club and why?

Joy: October, we started 4 programs as soon as we opened. I had tremendous success in another club. Our class averages here are nearly 50 for BodyPump, 25 for BodyStep; 30 for BodyAttack; 12 for rpm, we only have 18 bikes; and nearly 50 for BodyVive! Our instructors are the reason for our success! We have an awesome team atmosphere and incredible instructor reliability. We get together monthly for a social outing that keeps us focused and working together.

LMMW: How did you develop your timetable?

Joy:  All towns are different. We took it to the members first and then assessed time slots from there. We are a bedroom community so our classes are later than other clubs.

You may contact Joy Grove….joyg@5pointswashington.org if you want more details about the clubs success. CONGRATULATIONS…keep up the good work!

Please feel free to submit your testimonials to editor@mw.lesmillsusa.com

“I was hooked on Body Step while doing the very first track of my inaugural class.  I still remember singing along, probably much to the chagrin of nearby participants, sweating profusely, smiling, laughing with the creative finales, and in terms that my middle school students would use, really ‘crankin' dat thang!’”

Frances Smith from Milwaukee, Wisconsin has been taking fitness classes for 30 years.  She is a member of the Southwest YMCA and has fallen in love with BODYSTEP! It is a tribute to the system, programs, and instructors that this member has so enjoyed improving her fitness. Congratulations to all who teach at the Y in Milwaukee. Your hard work has been appreciated!

Ms. Smith didn’t stop there. In a subsequent e-mail she listed her reasons for loving the programs. “First, Les Mills music is the bomb!” “Secondly”, she adds, “I trust your choreography. (It) is simple to follow, easy to learn, and fits the music to a tea.  By the way, release 70 was the triple dog bomb!  I had such a great time with it.”  New releases offer a tremendous opportunity to reinvigorate the membership at local facilities. Using the new music and the featured themes to create a party atmosphere not only gives instructors a creative outlet, but it brings joy to members and other staffers as well. Don’t miss another opportunity to make your class a social event!

“… I love the progression from track to track.  It gives everyone a sense of accomplishment as we tick off the tracks one by one and we all know exactly where we are in the progression of the class.  It's always good to know how much you have...to do in a fitness class; I think participants put forth their best effort if they know (the instructor’s) goal for the track.”  Finally, “it's just plain unadulterated fun!  These classes are a party, not just something that we have to do (to) keep fit, but an activity that we cannot do without.” Frances expresses here opinions proclaimed over and over by happy Les Mills participants. Again, NICE WORK to the team in Milwaukee. Keep stepping it up! If you are interested in adding BodyStep to your current programming menu, contact your club coach or area rep!

Zen moments are possible in each Les Mills class, and in BodyFlow they are easier  to find. If BodyPump is the heart of Les Mills, then this beautiful class which combines tai chi, yoga, and Pilates is the soul.

If one is to truly deliver life changing experiences in every class, every time, everywhere, then developing excellent BodyFlow meditations is essential. After the tai chi warm-up, yoga vinyasas, pilates abs and backs, the conclusion of each BodyFlow program includes a well written ending accompanied by amazing music. In the script, Jackie Mills, the creator of BodyFlow, supplies words that one can (but is not required to) use. Each instructor is encouraged to personalize this section of class. There are many other resources one can use for this motivational, spiritual, and inspirational portion. There are a plentitude of sources out there.

Use this meditation time to connect with and educate your members. Get "today’s" inspiration from Oprah or Dr. Phil. Utilize famous quotes, read the lyrics of a favorite song, or use a relevant quote from a new novel. “Reading” in class may not be comfortable for every instructor. The key to a meaningful quiet time is to meet participants where they are, and take them where they can be.

Every group is unique and every instructor must identify what will resonate with their members. Try to understand your students and their lives. Beginners may never have been asked to “become centered” or to “connect with their breath”. These concepts may need to be explained in great detail and simplified. Use this meditation time to talk through breathing techniques with them. Many of our students never have or make the time to focus on their body. They simply never consciously slow down. Take the time to broaden their mind/body connection and expose, a deeper, more spiritual experience.

Eight minutes of mediation can be an eternity if it is merely breathing. Overly simple progressive relaxation sequences are only as effective as they are enjoyable to class members. In order to create something memorable for your participants, it is up to the instructor to take meditation to another level. Dare to be inspirational!

Not every class can be mind blowing, but venturing beyond mere relaxation to deep meditation will make an enormous difference. Be careful when utilizing religious themes. It is not for fitness professionals to influence the belief system of participants. The instructor’s job is simply to give the mind, body, and spirit the tools necessary to move to a place of peace, calm, quiet, serenity, solace, and sanctuary.  Psalms, songs, poems, short stories…they may all have a role to play in meditative moments.

When presenters are successful in this quest, those final moments of class are like a grand crème brulee: Warm, sweet, and good for the soul.

Les Mills devotees, world class fitness instructors, and life changing experience deliverers, stand and  be recognized for the quality product you represent. Understanding the beauty of the programs, the brilliance of pre-choreography, and the benefits o finspirational instruction are only the beginning. Continuing to improve physical execution, cueing, and coaching are essential to ensure growth as a presenter. It is, however, just as important for LMI instructors to cross-certify as it is for participants and clients to cross train.

Instructors of programs like BodyPump and BodyVive have to be strong, fit, and motivating. Cueing, counting, whooping, hollering, entertaining, all while working up an intense sweat requires that physical execution and choreography knowledge are second nature. Additional training in personal training and/or strength coaching might be just the thing to take an instructor from above average to AMAZING! Authentic athleticism can positively impact your crowds and more knowledge is never a bad thing!

Cardio classes, like BodyStep and BodyAttack, require that teachers channel the energizer bunny within! Stamina, strength, and superior style are the elements that grab the attention of class goers. There is no substitute for enthusiastically learning the new choreography and creating sensational finales. Consider, though, what might be gained from a fundamental understanding of traditional formats. While Les Mills instructors might never intend to teach free style, there is much to be learned about “step” and “hi lo” that can only come by exploring information on free-style formats.Not only would a conference or a DVD offer new information, but they might even inspire some creative cues or endings.Greatness is often in the details.

 
There is an obvious advantage for instructors of formats like BodyCombat or BodyJam who have experience with the martial or performing art upon which the program is based. Another avenue to acquire additional knowledge is to explore what other certifying bodies have to offer. There is no replacing the dojo or the dance studio for this group, but supplementing by broadening a base of knowledge is never a bad thing. The more an instructor knows and can speak intelligently about, the better.

How does one become a better cyclist? Practice cycling! Outdoor riding and cross training are critical to success in rpm. Stamina is the sum total of this class. It is required of the instructor and developed or refined in the participant. Reviewing other stationary cycling programs can also be useful. Not only will the varied workout accomplish cross training, but new information, cues, and/or safety recommendations may come to light and re-inspire you.
Similarly, teachers of BodyFlow might find it useful to study Yoga, Pilates, or tai chi in order to better understand the basis of the class. In this regard, it is much like studying history. It is easier to knowwhere we are by comprehending where we came from. The underlying principles of these disciplines are essential elements of the format. Any morsel of information that helps an instructor communicate more clearly or teach more effectively could be monumental to participant enjoyment.

For those who teach multiple formats, cross training might be accomplished by simply showing up to class. Knowledge is power, exposure is education, and practice makes perfect….in theory.  Instructors who strive to improve themselves and their delivery are role models. After all, the ambassadors of WORLD CLASS group fitness should be well informed, well intentioned, and well educated. Purchasing a video, attending a conference, or seeking out a fellow professional for information are all good options for those who seek to grow. It is imperative for Les Mills instructors to utilize the materials provided in the new releases, attend quarterlies, and team teach.  Occasionally, reaching beyond the comfort zone of LMI to cross certify or simply observe, is not disloyal. It may just help instructors move to the next level of their chosen formats.

The sister company of Les Mills Midwest, SCW Fitness Education has a number of reputable courses for home study or live training. In fact, included with the home studies is the opportunity to attend a live training for FREE! As many of you know, Les Mills requires a primary certification in order to advance your career either as a trainer or an assessor. LMI is also featured at each MANIA event put on by SCW Fitness. Attending such an event can be educational,fun, and good for the career! Midwesterners…mark the date for the MANIA and Super Quarterly the first weekend in October. You can experience the best of both worlds for yourself! KIA ORA!