I passed my first fitness certification back in July 1996, which was 17 years ago! Eeek I feel OLD now… In September I went on vacation with a girlfriend and then got hired at a couple of gyms in the area to teach fitness. One of the gyms was Lingfield Health Club. As a new instructor I wasn’t given a spot on the schedule (that rarely happens straight away) but I was a sub and called when needed. Part of the team building and experience was taking part in a demo at the local shopping center (now a westfield mall!).
Yes I think I still have the newspaper cut out somewhere, I scanned it a while ago so who knows? I was a new green instructor and doing classes in PUBLIC, more nerve wracking I was second on the line up! Here I am finishing my spot with a stretch…
Hah this probably wouldn’t phase me at all now but for an instructor with only 2 months teaching experience this was piss your pants anxiety! However I didn’t die and I am still in the same profession so I think I did ok! 🙂 I did however have to stay for some of the other classes… like step! I loved step but I think the choreography often got in the way of a great workout. I use it more as a platform for timed movements now. If you want choreography go to zumba… 😉
I did however join in for the classes I’d never done before, like rebounder! Remember rebounder classes? Hugely popular in the 90’s in England…
And slide!!! When I worked at Moorpark Athletic Club one of the PT guys used one of these and acted like it was something new! I couldn’t help but remind him that they’d been around YEARS (or at this point DECADES! ouch!). I’m the klutz in the back trying not to fall on my ass! Happy to report that although there were some near misses I did remain upright and spared everyone the laugh 😉
So that was my first huge fitness event… what was yours?
Do you remember rebounding and slide classes?
Any other fitness fads you are going to admit to?