So yesterday I represented one of the gyms I teach at by leading the warm up at one of those big fund raising walks (The JDRF Walk.)  I have to say - that was the biggest croud I have ever been in front of, and it was scary.

I wanted to post what I did in case anyone else would like to take the idea and use it.  I would also love to hear about what you guys do for these things, so email me!

I used a song called 'Cha Cha' by Chelo.  It's a catchy song with very wide appeal, and it doesn't contain any offensive lyrics or harsh beats, so it worked well for a large croud like that.

During the first verse I had them do slow single leg lunges, during the chorus they did a little cha cha in place.  In the second verse the stepped 2 times to the right, 2 times to the left (like a simplified grapevine.)  Then the cha cha again during the chorus.  After the second chorus is the instrumental break.  They stretched their low backs and hamstrings.  Then the chorus plays again, cha cha again.  They last part of the song I had them put a hand on the person to the left's shoulder, and stretch their quads; then they stepped left foot behind the right and stretched the left arm over the head, and repeated on the other side.

Hope this helps if you have to do a warm up some time for your gym.  Try it - it gave me a script to go by so I wasn't just 'winging it.'

I was watching 'The Colbert Report' on Comedy Central (I am not a political person, but that guy is just funny.)  So there he was with Jane Fonda and Gloria Stienem.  He has got them in aprons making apple pie while they talked about their new radio station.  Then Steven flashes up this picture of Gloria in her Playboy bunny costume - from back when they had Playboy clubs.  And he starts of course making sexist remarks about how good she looks and blah, blah.

Well Gloria takes it with a laugh, and starts to explain that she was working there under cover doing an expose on the exploitation of young women in those clubs.  She went on to say that they were over-worked, under-payed, had to buy the expensive uniform.  Yet young women were lined up for this job.

It got me thinking about fitness instructors.  It seems to me that at some clubs aerobics instructors may just be the Playboy bunnies of our time.  It's a desirable job because it comes with a lot of prestige.  Some clubs (depending on the clientele) really benefit from having the youngest, cutest instructors.  And those are the exact clubs that usually pay the least.  They are also the clubs who DON'T value the actual knowledge, professionalism, and skill it takes to really lead a great class.  If you are reading this you know what I am talking about, because chances are you are using your valuable free time to research for your class.

I won't name names, but there are emerging pre-choreographed, heavily branded fitness classes owned by big parent companies who will come in and teach management how to make money on their group fitness program.  And what is one of the first things they teach?  That the individual instructor is a dime a dozen.  That if an instructor doesn't fit the mold, or wants to be paid what they are worth get rid of them.  Their theory is that if an instructor is trained by them, and teaching one of their pre-choreographed classes, he/she is as good as any other instructor.  There is no difference; and no reason to pay them well.

What can we do?  Don't instruct for those clubs!  There are gyms in your area that will value you.  Give them a chance.  Don't settle for clubs that pay low hourly rates or barter teaching for free membership.  What you have to offer is valuable and should be respected.

That's my 2 cents at least.  I would love to hear what you think!  Send me an email...