Having always enjoyed dance as a youngster (I paid for my own ballet classes with money I earned from singing in the church choir) then aerobics
through my teenage years and latterly Zumba classes (we’re very lucky to have
an awesome instructor who teaches in our teeny Cornish town once a week), it
always made sense to pursue the fitness teaching dream through Exercise to
Music. The music degree and performance
experience helped too.
Here’s a bit about my style and what you can expect from one
of my classes.
Original choreography
It wasn’t until I started my course that I gave some proper
thought towards the kind of classes I wanted to create. The creation element is important to me, I
like to mix up my workouts to keep things fresh and keep my body challenged. Pre-choreographed programmes can become quite
repetitive and don’t enable (for the instructor at any rate) the hard work and
subsequent satisfaction of devising your own routines.
Awesome music
My training as a musician has equipped me to choose music
which inspires and excites (I hope). At
least it inspires and excites me when I’m working on a class. For my pre-assessment mini class I chose
tracks by Jamiroquai, Beyonce and Florence and the Machine. For my assessment I went full on 70’s with
Abba, Earth, Wind and Fire, Sister Sledge and the Gibson Brothers all taking
centre stage.
God knows what the
hardcore weight lifting mafia at the gym thought! My current obsession is mixed and mashed up
early 90’s dance music (The Cut Up Boys are incredible). I feel it adds originality to my classes.
Track by track vs
continuous play
Zumba classes use track by track choreography. If you can’t pick up the dance in the 3-4
minute window, your opportunity is gone.
I’m probably sounding a little overdramatic here and of course, Zumba teachers will repeat tracks regularly so
that after a few weeks of attending, you can dance along like a pro. Of course I was quite mindful of that fact
that we already have an amazing Zumba class locally and therefore it would
probably pay to do something different.
As a new instructor, one continuous length of music with the
same number of beats per minute is great.
You don’t have to spend hours perfecting your routines as there is more
flexibility to adapt your routines according to your class (FANTASTIC for a
fledgling class with small numbers; it means you can focus on individuals much
more and be much more ad hoc in your approach).
I enjoy the opportunity for higher repetitions of a routine
with this style of music. It gives
people a better chance of picking up the choreography, perfecting it, honing
technique and developing fitness.
Brain power
There is an overwhelming body of evidence out there which
states that dance is good for you and will facilitate a long and healthy
life. This is down to the dual benefit
of physical health and also the mental workout you get from learning and
remembering a routine. Teaching my class
brings my mind into sharp focus at the end of a long day at the office. Attending others’ classes and perfecting the
moves set out in front of me makes my mind work in a way which going for a long
run or a swim never will (not that
there’s anything wrong with either of those activities of course!).
My classes comprise of a couple of warm up tracks and a main
aerobic session in which I’ll teach three to four short routines (each
comprising of approx four moves). These
routines are eventually linked together and ‘performed’.
I try to throw in a conditioning element to the class too as
despite what Tracy Anderson says, it is important to work the major muscle
groups in the body. Sorry Trace. I went to a dance class a few months ago and whilst I was sweating up a storm and
loving the cardio element to the class, came away feeling like I had only
really worked my ankles and calves. I
aim to deliver something more challenging and beneficial for the whole body.
Fun fun fun
Enjoyment is all because if you don’t enjoy something you
won’t stick to it. I hope that my
classes are engaging, satisfying and a good laugh. Informality is important to me. I also think it’s really important that the
classes are non-competitive (years of solo running and yoga to thank for that) and
that people can be satisfied with their own personal progression whatever their
fitness / ability level.
So what are you waiting for?
6.30pm, every Monday at F1 Fitness, Highfield road, Camelford. Free to members, £3 non-members, first class
free.
