The above video testimonial was sent in from Lyn Lebowitz of Manhasset, NY.
Lyn is a subscriber who had posted several nice comments on Facebook about how the Fitmotivation videos have been helping her and her classes. I challenged her to make a video testimonial and she did! Love that shirt and love the face at the end. That is how my face looks when I am done filming a long talking segment with several retakes. :)
This August I am celebrating my 20th anniversary as a fitness leader. Looking back, I can still recall the excitement and nervousness I had in progressing from the ranks of a group fitness participant to the head of the class as the teacher. Passionate about fitness, I embarked on a career that I felt was meaningful and purposeful. My intention was to become a personal trainer and group fitness instructor and to help people lose weight and feel good about them selves. At the time, I was going through some really heavy personal issues and I relied on spirituality to help me get through this dark time. The book, A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson was a game changer for me. It helped bring me back to the light and it inspired me to follow my passion. I had one goal: I wanted to bring health, joy and fitness into the world.
The passion still burns within me and nothing brings me more joy than teaching my classes at the YMCA. After 20 years of doing this, I am sure of one thing. It is an absolute blessing to be a part of this industry.
Over the last few months I have received many emails and messages from instructors, many of them new, telling me how much the videos are helping them with their classes. Therefore, I decided to dedicate this month to new instructors.
Two new videos posted this month geared towards instructional skills.
Deck Cueing Skills features a review of techniques for teaching with low & non- impact movement demonstration and visual cueing.
Aqua Musicology is dedicated to helping instructors who struggle with teaching to the music. This video will help instructors hear the beats, identify the phrasing and understand how many beats of music aquatic moves are taught to at varying tempos.
Three classic articles were also posted this month with topics relevant to the new instructor
My Aqua Certification I had to dig deep for this one. Written 15 years ago, this article details my travails with studying for the AEA certification
Mean Students This article was originally written in 2004 and includes scary stories about scary students.
Fun Instructors What makes them so fun? This article written 11 years ago is about a topic I hold very near and dear to my heart.
The Fitmotivation subscriber base is growing internationally and there are now subscribers from 16 countries logging on and getting busy.
Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Israel, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, United States
This truly is becoming the Aqua Nation!
Below are a few recent comments from instructors.
Loving all the videos you are posting and how regular new videos appear on your website. In my class today I did the Circuit h2O workout. My participants loved it. Such a simple concept, yet challenging. Thank you.
Linda Taylor, Australia
In the pursuit for more current and relevant techniques for my classes, I found Fitmotivation. The videos have helped me integrate more innovative skills and moves to my classes, making me a much more rounded instructor. Today my students love me, and I love you Mark Grevelding!
Felix Guzman, Miami, FL
I am loving your videos and they are helping me tremendously in my classes. As a new instructor your videos are helping me to build confidence in teaching my classes and the participants are loving it.
Beverly Simon, Washington D.C. area
This must be one of the best investments I have ever made! I really appreciate the quality and the thought behind your videos.
Bill Stevens, Australia
I'm a new group exercise instructor for aqua (since April 2015). I teach at four different clubs. My class members are men and women of all ages from teens to 93, and each club has it’s own culture. Thus, I need fresh material for each class. The Fitmotivation videos have given me a basic warm-up, which I use in every class and then I build my choreography with exercises and various modifications I have found in your videos. Thanks for the excellent coaching you give in your videos so I can help my class members be successful in their workouts.
Rosemary Nichols (age 76!), Beaverton, OR
I love your energy, enthusiasm and humor (not bad for an American!) and I love the on deck and underwater footage. I take your creative ideas and work them into my classes for the way my brain works. My classes are always full and I've won a very hard group of ladies over!
Rachel Murrey, Australia
Dear Subscribers: Please keep these comments coming. They inspire me and they make me realize that collectively we really do bring health, joy and fitness into the world.