Why do we overprotect our kids?

As I sit writing to you this morning, there are two cars parked up at the corner. These two cars are there every morning, rain or shine.  They have been arriving there since the first day of school, over three weeks ago.  Inside sit some kids who are waiting for the school bus to pick them up and take them to elementary school.

I guess I can understand a parents worry on the first few days of school but now that the kids are used to their new routine and the bus experience, I fear that these parents are doing a disservice to their kids.  Kids need to learn to how to become independent.

Perhaps I am one of the lucky ones, who had kids who survived being tossed out the door into the big bad world. Many peers of mine have told me outright that their kids have issues that did not permit them to parent the way I did.  I dropped my kids off at high school, grade 7 and I never went in to interfere with their learning.  By interfere, I mean I did not run in to solve every single problem that came up. I did not do their homework for them. I left the teacher to do their job and I admired what the kids produced.  The only time I would go in was if a teacher specifically requested a meeting. Actually that is not true, I did speak to a principal once when I was concerned about a teacher, "chatting socially" with my child on Facebook at 8pm on a Wednesday night, when it had nothing to do with school work. In that case, I stated my concerns and I left the administration to deal with the matter. I monitored from a distance.

The school environment is the perfect place for kids to test their wings on all sorts of things and if they get into trouble, there are caring teachers and administrators there to help them out.  If we overprotect them at this time, then they have to learn the lessons the hard way while at their job. My daughter, now 20, is the manager of the waiting staff at her place of work.  She has told me how hard it is to find good workers her age.  She says that most of them whine about their job, simply have no sense of commitment and to top it all off, get into ridiculous arguments with co-workers. One of the workers actually came in with their mother, to defend her daughter over a work place dispute! 

In her book, "How to Raise an Adult," Julie Lythcott-Haims speaks about how parents are showing up with their kids to university!  I heard her being interviewed on CJAD one afternoon and it was so refreshing to hear someone reflect my ideas on parenting as there are not many around me who share my view.

If your kids are young, I suggest you pick up this book and plan for the future.  Do you really want your kids with you forever? Yes, we love them and want them to always be in our lives but my hope is that you want to have a life of your own as well. 

I hope that eventually these parents who are sitting outside my window, in their cars with their kids, actually let go of their little ones. We live in the least threatening place, surrounded by trees and nature. No traffic and no danger.  The worst thing that could happen to them would be they would get dirty, climbing down into the ditch to pick the raspberries on the branches.  

Have a great day.

Beth

There is a teacher for everyone!

It is no secret that I have many adoring students but I am not "everyone's cup of tea." 

Many years ago, our boss decided to give clients the opportunity to evaluate each class.  They were able to do so anonymously.  The only complaint that I ever received on one of these forms said that "I was too happy!" I understood what they were trying to say even though it hurt my feelings at the time.  I am very bubbly and I like to laugh. I smile a lot because I love what I do.  I tend to joke with the students during class and to be fair, not everyone likes this type of teacher.

That comment came my way over 10 years ago. The next time I taught that class I tried not to smile or make jokes and I was absolutely miserable. I told my boss that if this is what teaching fitness is, I am not interested.  She had not asked me to change anything, I just decided to tone down my happiness a notch to try to be respectful of everyone in the class. As I think back on this I realize how silly it was to even try to be something other than myself! Life is too awesome to be miserable by choice.

I am happy to say that over the years I have come to learn and accept that I am not going to please everyone. I can try very hard to reach people and make an impact on their lives in some positive way but I must realize that some people will not like my style.  In my opinion, it is more important that I actually love the activities that I asking my clients to do in class.  When you attend my classes, you can see that I am happy to be there acting as your guide and coach. My hope is that my love for the said activity will spread and make you enjoy your workout as much as possible because lets be honest, working out can be dreadfully dull.

So if you attend a fitness class and the teacher does something that puts you off, you can choose not to return. My hope however is that you will go to another class, with a different teacher and not give up on the whole idea of going to the gym altogether.   Eventually you will find someone who motivates you in just the right way.  We are not all the same and that is a wonderful thing!

Have you found your teacher yet?

Beth

The Solution is Easy!

Sometimes I wish that I had a magic pill or an ancient remedy that I could share with everyone to help them to lose weight and be healthier.  The reason I say this is that people generally do not believe me when I tell them that the answer to their weight loss is within reach, if they make a series of lifestyle changes. People seem to want to believe that those green coffee beans are what they need or that they have to get their hands on the latest, greatest supplement.

People want to believe this because they want to keep living their lives in exactly the same way and be able to lose the weight around their mid-section. People want me to give them exercises but they do not want me to look at what they are actually consuming because it may mean that they have to give up their favorite food, which incidentally may be the reason that they cannot lose weight.

I have had clients tell me directly that they will do all of the exercises I suggest but they will not stop drinking diet soda, nor will they stop eating bread or sugar.  One client told me that she hates water!  How can someone hate water?  What that tells me is that this person has become addicted to sweetened beverages or sugar in general. In my experience, just getting people to stop drinking sweetened beverages and replace all of them with plain water, makes a huge difference in their waist line.

Aside from what people are eating, I tell them to make sure that they are getting formal exercise in every single day. Then the excuses start. "Well I have no time."  In my experience, I can find thirty minutes to an hour of idle time in almost everyones day.  Most people are watching television or surfing the net at some point to relax.  Swap out that time for a walk or some muscle conditioning and stretching. If there really is no time wasted on watching television etc., than I tell people to get up thirty minutes earlier and do a home based workout.  "But I cannot do that!"

The solution is simple. The problem is you need to get out of your own way!

If you really want to lose weight, that should become your focus until you achieve success. Enlist the help of every professional you can find. Ask your friends to help you out by working out together. Shed the house of all processed food ( I had to do this because of an allergy and everyone is healthier as a result) and get your family cooking and eating well as a unit. Stop eating out. Drink plenty of water. Avoid all soda and processed sugar. Focus on eating tons of fruit and vegetables and lean protein.

I had no choice but to stop eating almost all processed foods because of an allergy to gluten.  While I do not suggest that people follow my diet, I will tell you that not being able to eat bread ( I really have not found a yummy replacement) forced me to turn to vegetables and fruits more. The problem may not be the bread but the fact that you are not consuming enough of the other good food groups because you are filling up on bread, crackers, cookies and muffins.

I lost ten pounds within two months simply by changing my diet and I was not looking to lose weight. I lost the weight around my middle.  Now one year later, at the age of 48, I can actually see my six pack when so many people told me that it will never happen.  I had resigned myself to the frump of old age but my gluten allergy helped me to become far healthier and now happier.

I know that you wish I had a magic pill but just think how much that pill would cost and invest instead in good quality food and if needed, a personal trainer...:)

Have a great day everyone.
Beth

A Teacher's Struggle.

 

I teach a variety of things every week.  This keeps my life interesting as I get to meet different people, from different backgrounds. I must confess however, that one of the things I struggle with is trying to keep the class interesting for all these different types of students.

In every class, there are different levels of capability. My struggle is to make it interesting for the more advanced student, but keep it easy enough for the new ones to catch on and feel motivated to return. No teacher wants to lose students. We want every student who comes into our classes to feel welcome and supported. We want them to keep coming and to achieve their goals.

Life is hard however. No matter what the subject, the student has to commit to doing what it takes to get their prize! I cannot make someones feet move in dance class by simply willing them to do so, anymore than I can make someone write an essay or read a book. All I can do is try to provide the best environment for the said activity to take place and then fill it with love and respect and hopefully some fun.

Getting into shape is hard work but the benefits are absolutely huge.  Finishing high school and moving on with life is hard but so necessary in today's world.  I am surrounded by hard working students everyday.  I admire those who are doing all they can to succeed and at the end of the day, if I can help just one of you achieve your goal, I will be ecstatic!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!
Beth

Everyone is fighting a battle!

 

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting many new students into my fitness classes.

One meeting in particular, has reminded me that no matter how we look on the outside, all of us are fighting some sort of battle and because of this, we should never assume or judge anyone before we get to know them.

A lovely lady, who I am guessing is passed the young age of 75, participated quietly in my class on the first day.  She stood out to me because she reminded me of my Mother who passed away 8 years ago.  She has beautiful blue eyes, bright red lips and freckles and the warmest smile that you can imagine.

On the second day, she came right up to me to tell me that while she loved my class, she could not continue for the next month.  When I asked why, she told me that the hospital had called and that she had to go in for extensive treatments. The details do not matter.  What struck me was her mood.  I expressed my concern for her situation and wished her well.  She then asked me if I have a DVD that she could buy and follow while away from class.  I told her that I have been working on one for years but have not finalized this project because I am too busy working. I told her that during this time, she should be thinking about recovering and not working out.

With a big bright smile, she said, " oh I am not the least bit worried about my health but I think that it is time you got a DVD together don't you?"

I laughed because now not only did she look like my Mom but she sounded just like her as well!

My Mother suffered from a number of health problems.  Shortly before she died she had lost vision in one eye.  She asked me to take her to the eye doctor and when we got there he chastised us for coming, told my mother that she would never see again out of that eye and said that she should have gone directly to the hospital when it had first happened two days prior.   Actually, he told me to tell my mother, who was two feet away, that she would never see again.  What a terrible bedside manner this man had.

At any rate, my mother was not the least bit fazed. I was freaking out, texting my sister and all my mother wanted to do was to go and have potatoe soup at La Baton Rouge.

No matter what we look like on the outside, we all are struggling with some sort of situation. We therefore all need to be treated with respect, kindness and love.  My Mom is the perfect example of someone who did not show her struggles on the outside.  We can all smile and get through the day but just because we seem to have life all under control, we can never assume what life is like for anyone.

Have a great day everyone!

Beth

Are your home fires burning?

On this first day of Autumn, I am sitting by our fireplace to write this blog post to you today. I live out in the country so the mornings are a bit chillier than they are in the city.

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. The temperatures are comfortable and the colours are beautiful.  My husband and I regard this season as special because we met at John Abbott College in October of 1985.  Years later we decided to get engaged after hiking up in St. Agathe on a beautiful afternoon in the Fall. 

It is a busy time of year as most of us have new and exciting projects on the go to carry us into the start of Winter. We have joined the gym and are active in the classes and also in our communities. Perhaps we are taking courses to improve ourselves.

My message today is to ignite the passion inside of you for a new adventure. Winter is a long season in Quebec. Set yourself up for activities that get you out of the house. Make connections in your community now, while the weather is good, for when it gets cold, too many of us huddle in our homes and wait for Spring.  This inactivity can lead to many adverse side affects so start thinking about what you can do to keep active and fit.

The clients that I train, who do the best over the Winter season, are the ones who grab a friend and committ to walking everyday or meeting at the gym. Make a plan for yourself now so that you can continue to be active and hopefully happy and healthy over the cold months ahead.

Get those home fires burning!

Have a great day.

Beth

"Fake it until you make it."

As many of you know, I have started a new job teaching English to Adult students, who need this course to obtain their high school diploma.  The students I am working with are for the most part wonderful kids who just need a second chance to move on with their lives.

Last week, they all did oral presentations in front of the class and yesterday I gave them their grades. The class average was 80% but there were a few who barely passed.  In speaking with these kids in particular, I told them that their body language during the presentation was giving off a vibe that they were shy or afraid and that the reading of their cue cards with heads down, made them impossible to hear.

I know that some of the kids were terrified to be at the front of the class. As I spend 20+ hours a week speaking to crowds, I know how stressful this can be but part of being successful is believing in yourself!  I told them to "fake it until they make it." 

I had to explain this statement to mean that at times in life our coach or our boss may ask us if we can do something for the team. We may be worried about the outcome but our leader does not want to hear that we cannot do it. If we act worried, he/she may question why we were selected for the job and regret this decision! We have to try and try our best. We have to believe that we can do something and walk with an air of confidence. This is half the battle.  In time, the rest will come with hard work!

When my fitness students are learning a new aerobic routine or dance, we have to stumble through the steps and practice to get the movements just right. During the weekly classes, we must believe that we can achieve our goals before we even try. If you tell yourself you "cannot" do something, you will not do it for sure. The choice is up to you..

See you soon where we will be faking the moves together until we get them just right!

Have a great day,
Beth

Start getting ready now.

The weather is definitely changing. My oldest son, who loves the winter, showed up at our house yesterday wearing his tuque and he will wear it until next Spring. He has taken off the baseball cap and is now getting ready for Winter.  I know that this seems a bit early but in reality, if you are a winter sports enthusiast, now is the time to start training for your favorite winter sport.

I know of a few men who gather once a week during the cold winter months, to play an hour or two of hockey.  There are also Old Timer leagues in some towns, for players who are passed 30 years old.

My concern with both of these groups is that very few of the players spend any real time at the gym training for their sport. They then jump onto the ice and push themselves too fast, too hard and some end up getting badly injured.

My advice for you today is to join your local gym and start using the treadmill or join an aerobics class to improve your cardio before you lace up your skates. Follow that up with some muscular conditioning and stretching. By the time the outdoor rink is ready, you will be in fine form and ready to be the best at your favorite game.

When you start training under safe conditions, you can then see how your body responds and address any issues that might arise. Don't assume that because you were the best player when you were 18 years old, that your body today, will be ready to respond the same way. Regularly test your limits in a safe way. Get to know what a good workout feels like so that if you start having a health crisis of any kind, you will know your body well enough to seek attention and help quickly, instead of ignoring your symptoms for the sake of the game and your friends.

Have a great day everyone,


Beth

How would you spend your last day?

Recently I learned of the passing of one of my students, whom I had not seen regularly in my classes for quite some time.  She was only 69 years old and apparently she died from a stroke. I do know that her husband had passed away in February and that these past few months had been very difficult for her.

When we learn of a tragedy such as this, it forces us to stop and evaluate our lives.

We cannot know what the future holds regarding our health or the health of our loved ones. I believe that when we are capable of designing our days, we should put as much fun and love and joy in each moment as we possibly can.

If today was your last day on earth, how would you spend it? 

I am only asking the question to get you to think about how you are spending your time versus how you would LOVE to spend your time. Many of us have to work and we have lots of responsibilities that we have to honor throughout the day, however I am sure that if you discovered you had only so long to live, that you would make adjustments to your schedule to fit in visits with friends etc.

So why do we wait to live fully, when waiting to do the things that we love, could result in us never getting the chance to live the way we want to?

In learning of this lady's passing, I woke up this morning thinking that I have to make a few changes to my routine so that I can do some of the things that I would do if today was my last day. For instance, when I leave work I rush into a wall of cars and inch along at 20 km an hour for over an hour to make my way home.  Starting today, I am going to pick up a lovely snack and head down by the lake. I will get some beach time in while the traffic clears and I will be doing something that I love.  This is just a small change but it will result in me feeling happier and more joyful.

I also got off the highway yesterday morning and took the lake shore road all the way to work.  It takes me the same amount of time as it would if I sat in traffic inching along, as it does to drive 40km by the lake.

I encourage you to make a small, lasting change to your routine today that brings you joy. We have to live fully while we are here. Call an old friend. Find time to laugh so hard that you cry. Breathe deeply and love completely!

Have a great weekend everyone,

Beth

Are you perfect?

 I am asking this question with my tongue in my cheek because I know that no one is perfect, yet I do meet people who love to point out my imperfections.  Perhaps this is because I am the one at the front of the class who they believe must be "perfect" because why would I have been hired otherwise? I have had clients come up and tap my belly and tell me that they are happy that they are not the only one who ate well over the summer!  That is just the tip of the iceberg.

I believe that we have created a world in which women and men in general are striving for the perfect body, the perfect job, the perfect mate, the perfect home. People are waiting until the perfect moment to live.

"Things will be great, once I get that perfect job or the perfect house or that six pack!"

Perhaps because I work in the business of helping people work toward achieving the goal of getting in better shape, I see that clients are always focused on the future. They are living for that day when they can get back into those awesome jeans or feel like they are beautiful again.

I am happy to say that I stopped trying to be perfect many years ago. I am not the perfect teacher. I make mistakes but I set up a safe environment in my classes where it is alright to be imperfect. My hope is that students can actually be themselves and relax in my classes and let learning take place.

This constant striving for perfection is exhausting and unrealistic. We are never going to look like the people on the covers of magazines because they have teams of people following them around to keep them looking perfect! The photos are usually airbrushed to take out the supposed imperfections.

I see that many young people have dreams of making lots of money playing professional sports. I fear that if they do not make it, they will feel like failures and not realize that the living that they have been doing while striving for their dreams, is where happiness lies. When you are coming to the gym to get in shape you are meeting people and laughing and experiencing life, this is what is important. When we feel good and when we feel loved and accepted it makes achieving our dreams that much easier. 

What happens if we cannot achieve our goals? Does this mean we are imperfect?

Remember that is great to have dreams of making ourselves better but we have to live each day as if it is our last and laugh and love along the way. Be fully present in each moment, not solely focused on the future. Be realistic in your goals and set yourself up for success.

Most of all remember that it is important to love yourself just as you are. You are already perfect because you alone can decide what the perfect version of yourself looks like.

In my world, I have the perfect life but if I compare myself to what society labels as perfect, I would be considered a failure. I do not have money. I drive an old car. I live far into the woods in a humble home that we built with our own hands.  I have ailments and sore joints.  I am old (er)...ha,ha...

I know that I have the most amazing life because I ask myself in every moment, "do I have everything I need right now?"  And the answer is always "yes!"

I have food. I have shelter. I have employment. I have the ability to get to work each day. I can walk and I can breathe.  Most of all, I am happy just being me.

Do you have all you really need to live today fully?


Beth

Beth the Gatekeeper!

One of the greatest joys of my life is teaching fitness. It is so rewarding to watch clients walk into class for the first time in September and see them improve over the year. I try very hard to create a comfortable environment for everyone so that learning is both easy and fun. 

It can come as quite a surprise to some of my students when they arrive at some of my classes and find that class is too full for them to be able to stay. There are limits to how much equipment I have to use and how many people can safely and effectively exercise in one space.

I am therefore not only a teacher but the gatekeeper for everyone's experience. I ask my students to give themselves enough time to get into class and set up their equipment before I begin the activity.

I know that occasionally we are late. If the door has not been locked, that usually means that there is enough room for you to safely enter and join us, however if the door is locked, it means that the room has reached its capacity. In this case, it means that even if you did enter, you would not have all of the equipment that you need, or that there is physically not enough space for you to be safe during your workout.

It is my job to make sure that the class is enjoyable for everyone attending. It is also my job to keep you safe. Please do not take it personally if I cannot let you in due to you running late. You can always use that time for yourself, in some other way. Go to the gym and use the treadmill or go for a walk,  The world thinks that you are busy for that hour, so treat yourself to something special and turn the frown upside down!

My wish is that every student who wants to be in my class, arrives safely and that we can improve together over the next few months.

Have a great day!
See you soon,
Beth

Start Carefully.

Today, I will be meeting many new students at the gym as we begin a new session of fitness classes. Having been in this field for over 15 years I see a lot of students come and go during the first few weeks of classes.
While it is great to be excited and want to try every class your gym is offering, I suggest that you take it slowly in the beginning, especially if you have not exercised in awhile.

What often ends up happening is people try to make up for lost time and they push themselves too hard that first day. Remember that you cannot make up for months or years of being lazy in one single workout. Listen to your body. Pace yourself and you will be fine.

Ideally, we want students to exercise daily but you have to be selective when attending classes because you can get injured by working out the same muscle groups on back to back days. So if you attend a class where the teacher works your legs and arms, do not do those same muscle groups the very next day or you can risk injuring yourself. If you absolutely love the class that happens to be training your legs and arms, then pick very lite weights or use no weights at all. If you attend my classes on Monday and then on Tuesday, I design my programming to keep you safe.

Remember to drink water. Students can arrive in my class already dehydrated and then working out can aggravate this condition. Be sure to drink water after the workout to make up for lost fluids.

I cannot wait to be back in our old fitness room. It now has a new roof, windows and fresh paint!

I wish you a wonderful fall fitness session.

See you soon,
Beth

Taking a break for one week

Good Morning Everyone,

As you know I started a new job last week, teaching English in the Adult Education Sector, and as a result I need to take a week off from writing my blog.  We start fitness classes next week and my blog will return that morning. I have to make up for many years of being out of a standard classroom, so all of my time is being dedicated to writing lesson plans. 

Thanks for your understanding.
See you September 14th!

Have a great day.
Beth

A New Opportunity

I am happy to announce that today I am starting a new job!  I have been hired to teach English Secondary V, in an Adult Learning Center, four afternoons a week.

A number of you received this news directly from me yesterday, as I have had to cancel all of my afternoon fitness commitments in order to make this dream a reality.

Please note that none of my morning classes will be affected.

I originally studied at McGill University to teach English and MRE ( moral and religious education) at the secondary level. I came out of school full of energy, ready to help young people achieve their goals.  I did some substitution work but then my husband and I decided to start our family, so I put my dreams on the shelf and focused on raising our three amazing children.

I went to school at night to become a Personal Trainer/Fitness Instructor and then once I completed that dream, I worked in the evenings when my husband could be at home with the kids.

I fell in love with helping people to become healthier but my heart has always wanted to get back into the classroom. I need to know if I can have as great an impact on today's kids, as I have had on all of you!

I am so lucky to have many retired teachers in my fitness classes and one of them in particular felt that I would be best suited to teaching in the Adult sector. She saw something in me that I had forgotten was there.  Last year, she took me by the hand to this particular center and introduced me to some of the staff.  I have not been in a typical classroom in over 15 years, so part of me thought that she was a bit nuts however I felt that I needed to trust her.  As things unfolded last year it became apparent to me that the timing was not right.

On Wednesday, the phone rang and I was called in for an interview for a teaching job that would start Friday. What a crazy few days this has been.

I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity to see if I can help young adults.

This is my dream job. I get to keep leading and teaching my fitness students, while at the same time teaching English at the high school level.

I am going to make mistakes but as I have explained to you before, if I wait until I think I am perfect, I will never do anything different. The classroom is so different from when I studied at McGill. I am going to need a lot of help.

Am I the best English teacher the world has ever known?  Probably not.

Do I really care about my students and want them to succeed? Absolutely.

Will I do everything that is physically possible to help them to be successful?  Yes. 

I have the heart and I have the will. The rest will fall into place.

Please wish me luck.

Have a great weekend everyone,
Beth

My 100th Post!

 I started this blog in mid April of this year and I cannot believe that I am writing my 100th post this morning.

My hope in writing this blog was that it would bring me a bit closer to my students. We have such a short time together everyday, and often there are so many people in the room, that this blog allows me to reach out and speak to you after class.

I have been teaching at the same location for 17 years and in that time attendance has easily doubled. In one of my classes I used to get 15 students, now I get 45. Those 45 have to wait in line before class to get a number and if you are number 46 that day, unfortunately you miss out.

I am thrilled about the success of this particular class but I also feel some frustration from students who just want to exercise but at times cannot get in.

The blog gives me an opportunity to share information with all of my students whether you miss class or not.

I have very faithful readers who take a moment to tell me that they have read the morning's post. This brings us just a little bit closer together and in the end, my goal is to reach out and impact my students any way that I can!

Truth be told, I had no idea how to start this blog. I bought myself a "how to" book at Chapter's and jumped right in with both feet. I created my page and even though I had no one to tell me if it looked good or not, I went "live." I decided that my desire is not to be perfect, but to speak as if we are having coffee together. I believe that I have achieved this goal.


All of you are registering for the September programs. Most of you were not in class this summer as you vacationed and enjoyed the wonderful weather.

I cannot wait to see you all back in classes during the week of the 14th.

Have a great day everyone,

p.s  maybe I will make a gluten free "100th post" cake to celebrate!

Beth

My Home Studio

Many years ago, my carpenter husband made one of my dreams come true when he helped me to build a studio in our basement.  At the time, I had a few classes going in the area close to my home but the rent was expensive so I convinced Peter that it would be a great way to use the space.

I am happy to say that this little gym has been the one of the best things that we ever did. I offer three classes a week here and then when it is not in use, the family can use it for their own personal fitness. I also offer personal training here for those clients who live close by.

As a trainer, I am always trying to help my clients find a space in their home to workout and I am sad when they push themselves down into a dingy basement or a cluttered living room.  You have to love the space or you will not go there on you own to workout.

Fitness should not be last on your list. It should be first. If the space is set up beautifully and the equipment is easy to access, you can jump out of bed and get to your exercise quickly and before you know it, you are done and ready to start your day.

Of all of my clients, the ones who truly succeed, are the ones who carve out time in the early morning for exercise.  You are very busy and once the day starts, it is easy to put off time for yourself.

Get up 30 minutes earlier and devote that time to a short warm up and then basic exercises and stretching. Do not get on social media or turn on the TV.  Focus on you and your health for the first 30 minutes of each and every day. 

Today classes start in my home studio. I have been training 5 dedicated individuals in this space for the last 5 years or so. My space can fit 12 students so once in a while I invite my Pointe Claire students to come out to my house and after exercise, we have a lovely breakfast. We have so much fun that I have lost track of exactly how many years it has been.

Consider rearranging your space today to make working out easier and fun. You will be happy that you did!


See you soon,
Beth

You are my focus!

All over the world, trainers like myself are preparing programs for our September start up.  I want to let you in on a little secret.  When I am designing my classes, you are the focus, not me.

I think sometimes we enter classes and already we feel like we will never measure up.  That somehow we are failures unless we can keep up to the teacher.  Maybe we feel like the teacher is just a paid robot at the front of the class, hired to look good and push people beyond their limits.

This is not my goal. I do not want you to become me. I want you to become a healthier version of you!

I want you to enjoy your experience in my class so that you keep coming back. If the class is large, my  biggest fear is that beginners will slip through the cracks, feel unnoticed and not return.

So I want you to know that though I absolutely love my returning students, I have an eye out for the new kid on the block.

I am scoping out the class and trying as hard as I can to connect with the newcomers because I have been that nervous newbie in the back. I know what it is to get up the courage to try a new class and feel goofy in the process. I know how hard it is to find time to get to my class. I know that you are busy and so when you appear, it is my mission to let you know that I see you and I am here to serve you!

I do not teach 12-16 classes a week to be the strongest, best performer in the group. I teach that many classes so that I can reach that many people.

I want to give a hand up to someone who has just been told that they have diabetes and they have to exercise more.  I am there to guide that individual who has been told that they have high cholesterol and high blood pressure and that they have to improve their numbers or their lives are at risk. 

Let's face it, some people go to the gym to improve their appearance. While I am there for those people, what truly motivates me everyday is helping people improve their health, combat disease and have fun in the process.

Recently, I have been joking with some of my family and friends, saying that I believe my calling in fitness is to take care of the broken and wounded students. While it is a thrill to help elite athletes be even better, it is ten times more rewarding when a student tells me that because of my class, they are able to get off of medication or that they can now do the things that they love, pain free.

So introduce yourself to me on the first day. Share your success stories with me.

I am looking for you and I am ready to help.

Sincerely,
Beth