Dear younger me

PERSONAL

Oct 31

It's been a crazy time in the fitness biz for me this month. The fall season is often filled with conferences, training and special classes on the group fitness schedule. So I typically ride the wave... and then crash ;) The best part about it though is connecting with so many instructors. Some fairly new in the field, others with a few years under their belt. We're all different in what and how we teach, our unique styles and coaching skills. And yet we are very much all the same.
We love fitness.
We love people.
We work hard.
We are passionate about what we do & the lives we impact.

After more than 2 decades teaching fitness, I've experienced moments of pure joy & other moments of sheer frustration. Being on a stage in front of 'them' is not as easy as it looks. It can be daunting & intimidating to say the least. As you begin to 'own' that stage however, it becomes a space that bears excitement & adrenaline all wrapped into one.

I wish someone would've told me 20 years ago that I'd be OK.
That the butterflies that formed in my tummy would eventually fly free.
That my sweaty palms would dry.
That my dry mouth would moisten once again!
That my confidence would grow with each class I taught, every mistake I made and every year that passed.

But I didn't.
So here's what I wish someone would have told me back in 1994.

1. Not everyone will like you. And that's OK.

One of the hardest hurdles to climb is to be ok with not being liked as an instructor. You are you. And YOU are not necessarily the flavor others are looking for.

Dita Von Teese said it best:

“You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.”

Once you get over that need to be liked, it's absolutely liberating. You can be yourself as a person and instructor and attract your tribe. Authenticity is a magnet. People sense it and are attracted to it. Those who don't like you will find another instructor that they do. Be ok with that and focus on appreciating and building your own tribe.

2. Teach in the present but think of your future.

We all start out by teaching a class, workout or program that we LOVE. Likely it's that workout that got you hooked into fitness in the first place. It's your 'baby', your 'I-can't-live-without-it', your 'purpose'.
Hold on. Take a step back. Look ahead.
Today that's what drives you, fuels your energy and gets you on that stage ready to deliver the goods.
But maybe not in 5 years from now.
And that too is OK.
Fitness evolves. And you should too.
Enjoy what you're teaching today. But think about where you see yourself in a few years from now. Will teaching that same class still ignite your energy and spark your passion?
Maybe. Maybe not. To build a career in fitness, you need to grow alongside this industry that keeps changing.
Be willing to let go. Because one day you might be forced to.

3. Be kind to your body

Your tool of trade is your body. It's your instrument to teach, inspire and lead others. And yet sometimes we forget how to take good care of it. Adequate recovery, sound nutrition & getting enough sleep are just a few ways show your body some TLC. Don't abuse it by pushing too hard & ignoring the signs of over training. Know when to say no. When to say yes. When to stop and when to keep going. Don't drain your energy reserves at the gym, to come home completely depleted with nothing left to give to those you love.
Be good to your body & it'll be good to you for years to come.

4. The 10,000 hour rule

Don't expect to be amazing overnight. Mastering the skills to teach fitness classes with confidence & finesse takes years...not months. In fact, Malcolm Gladwell suggests it takes 10,000 hours or approximately 10 years to perfect a talent. That's why someone like Tiger Woods looked like an overnight success at 21 years old winning the U.S Masters with a record score. Of course, he had been swinging a golf ball with his dad since he was 3 years old. Success seeds were planted early on. Hours and hours and hours later, they blossomed. Though that principle can be disputed since talent is part of the mix, there is no doubt that teaching a class with awesome form & mastery of the art of coaching takes TIME. Any skill takes a fair amount of practice to master. That's something that can't be rushed. Nor can it be mimicked.

It's the 'it' factor that can't be taught. It must be learned through experience,
So be patient.
Stay coachable.
And practice, practice, practice.

And there you have it.
The advice I wish I was told back in the 90's.
Maybe that would've helped steer my course a little better.
Who knows?
Either way, two decades later, I'm still teaching, still passionate about what I get to do everyday, and still learning how to get better!
Do you teach fitness classes?
What's your best advice to share?
I'd love to hear from you!