Kelly Coulter

Kelly (Wiseman) Coulter has been teaching step, athletic training, and strength since 1993.  She has been certified through AFAA, Les Mills, BTS, and NDEITA.  She is also an accredited continuing education provider through AFAA - she teaches the DRILLS, LIFT, and STEP workshops offered through FitClasses.com.

Kelly has authored numerous memos and emails, some of which have been read, none of which have been published.  Her spelling and grammar are horrendous; still her college writing professor thought she was 'a pretty good' writer - inspiring her to start writing her opinions all over this website.  Several critics have found her work witty and entertaining, none of whom are over the age of 5.

UPDATE: Look for articles by Kelly in 'Fitness Management' magazine in August 2007 and in 'American Fitness' Magazine in mid-2007

I have been wanting to write some kind of e-column, blog, whatever on FITClasses.com for a long time.  But not knowing what I would say, I put it off.  I am a hobby instructor.  My college degree is in studio art, not exercise science; in my professional life I am a web developer.  So I felt like I had nothing to contribute.

Then I discovered something.  I may not be funny, but I can still laugh at myself.  See - Monday we were having this 'thank you' breakfast to show appreciation to our group's administrative assistant (whoever scheduled teacher appreciation week and administrative assistant week for the same week needs to be fired.)  A co-worker made a comment about my plate full of only fruit and I told him - in a voice that was probably a little too loud - that I had gained 6 lbs.  I also told him about how my husband had sung 'fat guy in a little coat' under his breath when I put my jacket on that morning.  I thought that this was hilarious and just assumed that everyone else would too.  But the concerned, apologetic faces staring back at me told me otherwise.  Later, as a co-worker slipped me the business card of her divorce attorney I realized something - the only person who laughs at me better than my husband is myself!

That's when I knew what I had to say!   I can tell about all the times I have made an ass out of myself in front of a large group of people who were looking to me to be the most knowledgeable, the most fit, the most professional.  I mean - who among us instructors hasn't accidentally cussed in the mic, tripped over their own foot, or pee'ed their pants during the jumping jacks. 

The beauty of being an instructor is that you are in charge - when you succeed the glory is yours!  Students thank you for days, talk about you in the locker room, request more of your name on the schedule.  The beast in all that is that when you screw up everyone sees.  The failure is bigger, louder, harder.  If you couldn't laugh you'd have to cry.

So that's what I do.  I try to pass my embarrasments on to you, hoping you may be able to avoid some of the same ones.  I sure would love to hear some of yours though.  Got one?  Email me using the form below.