A New Job

It all began a couple months ago when I decided I needed to find a part-time job somewhere so that I could earn a little extra money to get us through this last year of dental school and well to be honest I needed a little break from the kids and everyday home life. I workout at Fitness Works on Higley and Baseline (which I absolutely love) and I thought it would be fun to maybe work there as well. So, I turned in my application and low and behold I got a call back from the Operationals Manager that day asking if I could come in for an interview the next day. I was so excited and even more excited when they offered me the job at the Front desk in the mornings. I kind of felt like I was back in high school working the front desk at the tire store, but hey I just couldn't pass up all the perks. On top of getting paid hourly, my membership at the gym is now free and my kids get to play in the kid zone day care for free while I work. That alone was something I wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. All in all it has been a great decision and I love working there.

Since I have been working the last month and a half I kept thinking to myself how fun it would be to become an instructor. I have a couple friends who are and they love it and have told me that I would love it too. So, I talked to the Group Fitness Director (she's in charge of all the instructors and the classes at the gym) and I asked her what traing would allow me to get a class the fastest. She told me that the gym was introducing a new water aerobics class that would be launching in August and I would pretty much be guranteed a class since there weren't very many instructors and the class would be brand new. And, lucky me, the training was being held in a couple days and it wasn't too late for me to sign up. There were also some other great perks to taking the Water in Motion training like only one day of training instead of 3, the training was cheaper than any other, and Water in Motion instructors get paid more per hour than any other instructors at the gym.

So, I decided to go for it and showed up for training last Saturday morning. First off, for those of you that don't know much about Fitness Works all of there classes are designed with pre-choreographed moves and music...which is one reason why I love Fitness Works. Well, little did I know that taking those classes is so very, very different than instructing them. For 10 grueling hours I learned all about what it takes to be an instructor, how different it is to be a water instructor, what your participants feel like and expect and then was forced to learn an entire track (which means one song of pre-choreographed moves) in about an hour and then present that in front of the instructor and the rest of the class while being videotaped. It was the single most mind-challenging and nerve-racking thing I have ever done. I had to learn music (counts, reps, leads), music and verbal cueing, new moves, perfect form (since I will be the instructor), and when I say "Go right" that really means "left" for me since as the instructor you teach on the deck so participants are mirroring you. I swear half way through the day I wanted to quit. It was so hard keeping everything straight and from my mind going crazy. I have a whole new respect for all Fitness Works instructors.

I guess the good news is I passed my track and with some great compliments from the instructor and the other girls taking the training. Now I have to learn the eleven other tracks that were given to make up the 1 hour water class and then be ready for launch in August. I also have until September to get myself ready to be videotaped again because the company requires that I demonstrate that I can teach all 12 tracks in perfert form and choreography. Doesn't that sound so fun?! Aaaahhhh!!! I'm a little stressed about it, but hopefully I will start feeling a little more confident in the next couple weeks. When I decide the day to be videotaped I am allowed to invite anyone who would like to come (whether you have a Fitness Works membership or not). So, I will be calling for all my friends and family for support on that day. Also, I must tell you that you might be thinking this is some easy little water aerobics class designed for older people. Suprisingly, it is actually a really great workout and can definitely be a challenge if you push yourself. So, that's what I have been up to lately and will be up to for the next little while. Be looking for the "big day" date, so you can come have some fun with me in the pool.