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I thought as I approach the one year mark of inMOTION Studios being in business, I would share my origin story. It starts out very sad, and ends up very happy! It was November 2021 when my family left Idaho. I had spent the past 6 years building an incredible fitness community in Boise. I was in the ZONE! I had packed classes, I taught almost every format, and I new that I was very loved and appreciated. It was in those years that I learned to love myself for the loud energetic person that I am. I learned that what I saw as character flaws were actually strengths! I just needed to tap in and direct it. It was liberating! I finally felt free; so when we had to move, my heart was broken. We moved to a small city in Northern Indiana where you could here the klip klop of horses carrying Amish buggies down the road. It was so different. It was a culture shock that I was not prepared for. The thought of building classes at any of the gyms in the area wasn’t very palatable for me after leaving such a beautiful big gym with an incredible group fitness program. Axiom Fitness spoiled me, and I couldn’t see myself teaching for another gym anywhere else. My fitness story took a dramatic turn. I had to drop my Les Mills Formats because there weren’t any nearby licensed facilities, and started creating my own programs. It kept me busy, but couldn’t repair the gaping hole of loss. I was so lonely. I had the hardest time finding friends. Making friends in the Midwest is very different. I was terrible at it. I unintentionally offended so many people. I’m not a subtle person, but I had to learn how to be. Indiana was a place of humbling. I learned not to expect anything from others just because of who I was. Relationships are earned. For 12 months I grinded. I served as the Relief Society President for my ward at church and helped orchestrate and meet the needs of the women and their families in our community. Meal trains, grocery shopping, ministering visits, activities, and Sunday lessons were a few of my responsibilities. It was overwhelming at times, but the calling saved me. I cried every day in Indiana. It was often on my darkest days that my phone would vibrate to let me know that somebody needed help. I’m so grateful I had something to pull me out of my personal cloud of grief. I often felt better after focusing on, and serving someone else. In this time I decided that if I couldn’t have the gym experience and community that I wanted, I would build it myself. I learned how to make a website, got good at Canva, and “taught” classes in the park. I was also seen trying to make classes work at a little workplace gym, police department, old movie theatre, public pool, church, my home, a couple other small gyms, a pond, and rec center. I made up a yoga flow class, mixed martial arts class, dance fitness class, strength class, and water aerobics class. I also personal trained a woman from our ward. 75% of my classes were no shows. I hate working out alone, but I knew I had to have a plan B for myself. If I didn’t have my workout for the day, I knew it would sink me into a deeper depression. Enter Plan B! One day as I sat alone on the park bench feeling sorry for myself, I decided that I was going to make up a workout just for me. So I made a showtunes playlist. I started choreographing to Newsies and Hamilton, and after a couple hours I had created my first Theare Fitness release! It brought me so much joy! I even showed some of my friends back in Idaho on Marco Polo! Something inside me woke up! It had been a long time since I had danced like that, and it was addicting. After newsies and Hamilton I made another one to Chicago and Six, and then Lion King and Tarzan! My class of 0 turned into something that I looked forward to. I would envision myself teaching young performers my workouts on a stage and it brought a little bit of my spark back. My husband could see the toll living in Indiana was taking on the family, especially me, and moved us down to another one of his company’s plants in Texas. Oh Texas! You are a breath of fresh air. The sunlight! The warmth! I got better quickly. The culture is very different from Idaho and Indiana, but it’s my vibe. Making friends still requires effort; that hasn’t changed. My original fitness endeavors have however. I learned that teaching fitness classes at the gym has lost some of it’s luster, and I found myself craving my Theatre Fitness routines. I knew I wanted to shift back into theatre, and found a job opening for a Theatre Teacher at a nearby Elementry last summer in ‘23. Although I have never taught in a school before, I thought I’d send in an application and see what happened. I was surprised when I got a call for an interview. I was introduced to the Waxahachie High School Theatre Director Andy Reynolds, and had a long conversation about who I was, and my experience as performer. I told him a little bit about my Indiana experience and my fun “theatre workout”, to which he responded “Why don’t you teach it to my kids?” Within a month I was literally reenacting the vision I had created in that park in Indiana. It was so surreal. Class went exactly as I envisioned it. I knew I needed to find a way to move more theatre kids. I knew in my heart that this was something that was good and needed to be shared with as many people as I could. I didn’t get the Theatre Teacher Job, and I quickly started creating workouts, and a fitness program for High Schools. I made a little slideshow and started reaching out to nearby teachers asking if I could meet with them. I met with Kirk Corley at Summit High School and landed my first contract! He encouraged me to attend Texas Thespians, and it was then that I decided I was ALL IN. I put every penny I made from my contract into paying for a booth and I just started meeting educators. My world has been opened and I’ve been scared, intimidated, embarrassed, and lost, but there’s one thing that has pushed me forward. I know my program will change lives. I have seen who these young High School and University students are, and what they’re up against in this world. I am not the smartest, most experienced, or most talented person, but I have something important to give. I could write another blog about my adolescent years, but I won’t. I will say that I understand what it’s like to be bullied, and not fit in. I understand what it’s like to worry about how you’re perceived. I know what rejection feels like. I know the longing to be good at something and the effort required to get there. My life experiences has defined my underlying mission: to build resilient human beings through fitness and musical theatre ! I know that what I am doing is so much more than that! With every participant I lock eyes with and coach, I am creating a healthy situation for students to chose “fight” over “flight”. I know that if I create a learning atmosphere of acceptance, respect, safety, and love I can move each student. I know that every time they make it through a class, they build mental resilience. In a way, I am helping the younger version of myself learn to put the negative voice of self doubt aside, to stop worrying about what others think, to know that I belong, and that I’m valued. If I could give this back to the students I teach, I am satisfied with what I have created and shared. I can’t believe it’s only been a year since I registered my business with the state of Texas. As I look back on my life, it is so clear that everything good and bad that has happened had a specific timing and purpose. My loss, sadness, failures, and setbacks have been the catalyst to bringing inMOTION Studios into existence. I have been sent angels who have helped me propel my business in huge ways, and I have so much gratitude for the kindness and support I have received along the way. Where there was a closed door, there is now an open one. Life is like that sometimes. I want to say that if you’re going through a difficult time, know that it will pass. You will come through it. I know that when you look back on it, you will be able to see the role it plays into the person you are becoming. Hold on and keep moving. Be brave and do the new scary things. Taking risks has the potential for the greatest reward. Joy cannot be so exquisite without the contrasting emotion, because you will know the price that was paid to get there.

There was a period of time where I performed over 500 shows in 4 months. I would have to ice my feet at night so I could walk in the morning! It was a high energy and extremely demanding summer, that’s for sure. I find it humorous that I would go on to get a degree in exercise science and teach fitness for the next decade (almost 2! Yeesh). I have taught kickboxing, dance, aqua, yoga, Pilates, and strength classes for many years. I remember one year in particular with 416 classes. It was insane, but how did I do it without getting injured or dying? Eating was a big part of my success. I want to share with you some of the habits I put in place to maintain my active lifestyle. I don’t track calories, I don’t participate in any popular diets, and I try not to over analyze everything. I have a few standards that I live by that guide me when I’m feeling weak tired and prone to pig out on the next sugary pastry I can get my hands on. Carbs and Sugar. Your body needs glucose to generate ATP (energy) quickly. Just like a car needs gas, you need glucose. Where your fuel comes from matters, so go for premium. I get my glucose from the best carbohydrates. Get the best bread, oats, fruit, etc that you can. Sugary processed snacks, carbs, and high fructose have a similar short lasting effect on your body’s energy levels. If sugar is not monitored, it lowers the immune system, causes inflammation in the joints, and major health issues down the road. I’ve shared with you some of my favorite foods for longer lasting energy boosts below. Caffeine. Kids… stop drinking Monster. Caffeine is designed to increase energy metabolism by activating noradrenaline neurons and local release of dopamine. The chemical exchanges in the brain’s neurons and hormone patterns is what makes it addictive. Are you capable of starting the day without coffee? If the answer is “no”, you might consider how that habit might be negatively effecting your health and energy capabilities. The body develops tolerances to the substance resulting in energy crashes and the need for more to stimulate the same response. If you can change one habit in your diet today. Stop drinking soda. It will change your life. Protein. Upping my protein intake to support my active lifestyle was a game changer. My joints felt better, my muscle tone remained, and it kept me from feeling light headed or like I was wasting away. I remember teaching an early morning kickboxing class that was so hard to get up for. I found that an apple and a little baybel cheese in the morning gave me exactly what I needed to kick it into gear. A couple of my favorite ways to get in a little extra protein were through adding BCAA’s to my water during exercise, and protein shakes and protein balls (I’ll share my recipes below. They’re awesome) after exercise. Having protein readily available post exercise makes a difference in muscle recovery. Hydration. Every time I felt weak or pulled a muscle from a class, I was dehydrated. Every time. As a performer you will sweat A LOT. Here are the water recommendations for an adult pre and post exercise. 2-3 cups within 2 hours of exercise. 1 cup every 20 minutes during exercise. 2-3 cups post exercise. Don’t go crazy; you don’t want to pee on stage. Make adjustments according to the physical demands of your show. Emily’s favorite Recipes… Oatmeal Chia Seed Bowl 1 cup of cooked steel cut oats Honey to sweeten 2 T vanilla yogurt 2 T coconut milk 1 t chia seeds 1/4 c blueberries Sliced banana Granola to top *Mix oats, honey, yogurt, and milk. Top with berries, banana, and chia seeds. Chocolate Protein Shake 1 chocolate premier protein shake 1 scoop of whey protein 1 T Peanut Butter 1 banana 1/4 ice cubes *blend into creamy goodness! Protein Balls 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 honey 2 t chia seeds 1/4 t vanilla 1/4 water 1/4 whey protein (the chocolate kind makes it yummy) 2 c quick oats 1/3 c carob chips or mini chocolate chips *Mix all but quick oats first, then add oats until the consistency reaches firm ball stage. A few more of my favorite snacks… Baybel cheese + Apple Almonds + Dehydrated Mangos Blueberries + Grapenuts + Plain Yogurt + a little honey If you’re coming up on tech week and you know there are a lot of long late nights in your future, come prepared! If you’re a director, might I suggest making a batch of protein balls for your cast? If you’re an actor, don’t skip a meal. Everything you eat and when you eat it has a purpose. It’s not how you look, but how you feel my friends. It’s about having energy and strength to do what you love. In a world where we’re so hyper focused on image, It is my hope that this little blog will inspire you to bring better food and beverage choices into your life to help replace the energy draining ones. All my love! 3 cups post workout

I’d like to introduce myself. I’m a loser too! I lose everyday. I lose my attention, patience, time, opportunities, money, etc. I have lost big and suffered the consequences. I have let my losses paralyze me from time to time. I know what it’s like to be rejected. I know what it’s like to go home empty handed. I know what it’s like to hate yourself. I have climbed out of those low points though. I haven’t given up, and I want to share with you some powerful tools and ways of thinking to help you get through your losing streak… I recently read a story about British cycling history. Over a 100 year span, the Brits had been the laughing stock of the cycling world; taking home only a few Olympic medals and constant failed attempts at the Tour de France. It wasn’t until a new coach, Sir Dave Brailsford, implemented a new training program by means of “aggregation of marginal gains.” In a nutshell, by making small improvements over long periods of time, you make lasting changes that grow into winning! This method has resulted in the Brits winning Tour de France six times, and taking home more Olympic gold medals than any other country for cycling! I love this idea! Be 1% better… My sister played softball in college and would always say this. It’s encouraging. We live in a fast paced world, and can fall prey to the idea that if we can’t get what we want, we can easily drive around the corner and get it somewhere else and be instantly gratified. As a result of our culture, we want everything NOW! If you can’t get those things, is there an excuse or someone to blame, or is it somehow a reflection on your character or worth as a person? Do you write yourself off of ever getting what you want because it’s out of your reach or capabilities? Don’t believe it! That’s not true! Real change is a process, and you have all the power! It takes time, patience, and diligence. Do not be discouraged when you put in your time and energy to find that the road to change is not a short one. You don’t have to let that defeat you; let it fuel you! You can set reasonable goals towards improvement. The process will develop your confidence and provide the momentum required to get you on the path to reaching your goal. You don’t have to demand anything unkind or unreasonable of yourself. Just improvement. A meager 1% is enough. It means you’re still in the game, and putting in the effort every day. It also means that if you fall short, it isn’t the end of the world. You can easily start again without beating yourself up. Regardless of your intentions, you will become what your surround yourself with… A quote from my great grandmother hits home. As you consider your goals and aspirations, can you look back and see how your friends, habits, and consumerism have influenced you as a person? Is there something in your life that is helping you, or distracting you? Are you choosing to use your time to consume or create? Everyone gets tripped up throughout the week. Can you take ownership of what’s holding you back? Perhaps what you are surrounding yourself with can be lessened, redirected, or eliminated? Maybe just 1% less? Fall in love with the work… As you continue to move forward with your life, it is my great hope that you can find joy along the way. The pains, struggles and setbacks will give you the contrast and vibrancy in your life because you fully understand the price you paid to get there. It makes the joy so much sweeter. I encourage you to broaden your vision while you’re in the thick of your life. Recognize where you where, and where you are, and where you are going. Realign and lace your day to day with gratitude. As you do, it is my hope and my experience that you will find more clarity and drive to do the work. Your mindset is everything. You don’t need to hate the struggle because its rewards aren’t fully present or realized yet. You don’t need to hate that you have a roadblock either. You can zoom out and re-strategize if necessary. Or maybe you just keep on keeping on. Stay humble as you blaze your trail. Humility comes with having gratitude each day. How are you lucky to be where you are right now?

I have never bought anything so extravagant in my life. I was shamelessly seduced and influenced through instagram to get myself a pair of genuine leather character boots from the LaDuca store in NYC. These are the exact boots that every Rockette at Radio City is wearing. I am broke, but I have a pair of LaDuca shoes. It’s official. Let it sink in. LaaaaaaDuuuuuucaaaaaa. I have now entered into a whole new level of legitimacy. I. Feel. So. Cool… and maybe a little guilty for being so vain and extravagant. In my persuit of seeking out contracts, bookings, and locations to teach my T-Fit program to teens and young adults in the Dallas area; I have had a thought continue to enter my mind. “Is this the right fit?” What does that even mean? Good chemistry between two people? A relationship that serves both parties? Or something that makes business sense? A shoe that’s just the right size? Let’s talk about relationships. I’ve noticed, that our society has shifted. We are more self reflective and protective of our time, energy, and who we share it with. I think everyone is just tired of getting burned. It makes sense. I have definitely “cast my pearls before swine” more times than I care to admit. These negative experiences where my gifts weren’t valued have caused me to be a little more cautious for sure. Is it possible that our caution caused from past hurts stopping us from creating positive interactions with others? Are we so concerned with how something is going to serve us that we stop truly serving others? A good fit in a relationship is how you feel when you pour your good into something. And how are you supposed to know if it’s a good fit, unless you put in the energy first? Currently, my new LaDuca shoes squeeze my toes together and aren’t very comfortable. I was told that the leather will mold and shape to my feet as I break them in. If I would’ve gotten a size up, they’d be comfortable at first, but then end up stretching out and my feet would slide around. My LaDuca shoes weren’t cheap. I had to risk getting them shipped to me, not quite sure if I’d even like the way they fit. In time, these beauties will be perfectly molded to my feet. I have to break them in first. It’s going to require getting them a little dirty, and taking the time to dance in them. Is there a parallel here? Maybe we just need to give people, situations, and relationships a little bit of our time. We can be so gaurded and judgemental. Have a little faith. Not everything is an absolute perfect fit at first, so put the shoes on and start dancing.

I have been training at various schools universities and theatre companies over the past year and I have observed some pretty interesting effects of the Theatre Fitness Program. The need for this unique program has become more apparent than before. It’s more than just a fun time. It is truly a strategic approach to a performer’s ability to bust past barriers and limiting beliefs. This program levels up performers and changes lives. Here are 10 reasons why you are going to want to implement this program into your next school year: 1: Break the ice! Especially for incoming freshman, kids are so worried about how they are perceived by others. T-Fit helps break down barriers that discourage creativity and taking risks. 2: Expose your students to multiple dance genres like Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Pantomime, Fosse, and Ballet. 3: Develop the skill of blending vocals with movement. Training this skill consistently builds a greater capacity to layer in multiple levels of performance and blend them. 4: Build resiliency. T-Fit isn’t simple. It requires leaning into new movement challenges that might make you feel silly at first. Every time you do something hard, it changes the way you think. learn that you can do hard things and see it through. In time, confidence grows and insecurity diminishes. 5: Improve fitness levels! Students increase their respiratory recovery rate, and can bring out powerful vocals. 6: Enhance storytelling skills. T-Fit layers in movement texture and stylization that shifts and evolves throughout the workout, encouraging creative ownership and taking artistic risks. 7: Improve vocal breath technique. We apply lower abdominal breathing techniques and vocal fold closure while under fatigue to improve respiratory recovery and breath budgeting. 8: Instill a love of fitness. T-Fit challenges the traditional look and expectation of what fitness is. Approaching fitness from a theatrical angle, truly moves a drama kid in ways that other physical activities can’t. 9: Add to your student’s dance toolkit. Each workout incorporates dance techniques from different disciplines. The next time your students are working with their choreographer, it won’t be the first time they’ve heard of a pas de bouree, pirouette, or a time step. 10: T-Fit is SO MUCH FUN! In just an hour, we simulate a real life musical. It morphs into sweet musical theatre bliss! Did I miss anything?

When I was taking dance lessons as a teenager, there were a few sisters who were always put in the front. They were absolutely beautiful and talented dancers and should be in the front for everyone to see. I’ll admit, I was a little jealous. I like the front and I wanted my chance to shine too. It never helped that I was the tallest one in class either; the odds weren’t quite in my favor. I decided that even though I didn’t have control over my height, I did have control over developing my technique. So, I made it a point to stand behind them in ballet class. I learned so much from watching and mimicking those girls. I also befriended them and asked for guidance and feedback. I’m grateful I didn’t let my pride get in the way of my progress. As a choreographer and instructor, I make a point to invite my students to stand next to people who are better than they are. Surrounding yourself with those who hold a high standard helps you rise to greater heights. I spent the last week at the Texas Thespians Educator’s Conference, and it was incredibly inspiring to watch the collaboration going on between educators. We had such a great time connecting, sharing, and collaborating. I’ve really been able to see and learn about the role of a theatre teacher. It’s very dynamic and there are so many hats they have to wear. Props, sets, choreography, music, blocking, makeup, costumes, character development, improv, lighting, sound… the list goes on. And there were so many artists sharing their knowledge, talents, and skills to help level up all these teachers! As I sat back and watched everyone, I felt so much gratitude to be surrounded by so many passionate people. Putting on giant projects like a play goes way beyond showing up for class during school hours. It’s managing people, resources, time, money, not to mention working with a school administration that might not be completely aligned with your goals. All these things are critical to really being able to pull these projects off. I discussed a lot of barriers that theatre teachers have in trying to accomplish the things they want for their students. I wish I could give everyone a hug and say THANK YOU! We have a world where so many people are asleep. Showing up for the paycheck and going through the motions. Nobody was required to be at that conference or to participate in all the silly little “goose chases”; it was a choice. A choice to further skills, build relationships, and support others. After all, it takes a village. And rubbing shoulders with so many experienced masters, compels me to level up my game. So, here’s to a year of stepping into the uncomfortable as I try to reach a higher level of excellence. Let’s go Texas Thespians!

While visiting family over the Christmas holiday, I was once again lovingly schooled by my father. I was reminded of something he told me when I was a young college student: “Part of being a mature adult is recognizing that your actions affect others, and choices should include more people than just yourself.” During the 20 hour drive home, my husband and I started setting ourselves up for the coming year. We’ve got some “big kid” problems that need to be solved like adults. It requires more grit, and less dreamy eyed ideas. It isn’t fun and it isn’t what anyone hopes for, but it’s being an adult. If y’all know me, this isn’t my strongest suit, but with the proper motivation, perspective, and long view, it is doable and perhaps even palatable. So like most, I started listing out all the changes and implementations that need to take place in the new year. It’s a long list. To sum it up, my husband and I are set on one word for the new year: “INTENTIONAL”. How else do we go into work and put in the time, sweat, and grit required day in and day out? There’s got to be a reason why. Once the WHY has been identified, the HOW can become clearer. So make your lists and New Year’s resolutions, but be intentional on how it is to be carried out! Here are a few things you might try to be more successful in maintaining your new habits… Make yourself accountable Track your effort Reward yourself Here’s to all of us making changes for the new year! Improving one’s self and circumstances is well worth pursuing. I may not have achieved all the goals I have set, but I can whole-heartedly say that I am better off having tried, than having stayed stagnant. I hope you can find the support you need. If there’s anything I can do for you to get you closer to where you want to be, just ask.

I want to share a little bit more about me and my story. It's a journey of healing and self discovery, and I hope those of you who read this might find encouragement and inspiration. I am not subtle. I am tall. I am loud. I am over the top. I move in big ways! In fact, I am the proud recipient of the "Extatic, Raidiant, Beaming, Ritalin Needing, Friendly Greeting" Award! Although this is a silly joke from my peers in the High School Show Choir, at the time, it was very hurtful to me. As an adolescent, you become very keen and aware to how you can effect others and the consequences that come from your words and actions. For me, the consequences presented themselves in forms of name calling, ostracizing, odd looks, judgement, and all the self loathing that comes after. It is hard for a young person to understand and fully embrace their unique energy, because standing out often sets them up to be teased and critisized. It's hard to understand the difference between self mastery and completely changing who you are. One day, I put up a sign by my bathroom mirror that read "Emily = Restraint". In my mind, the only way to avoid the negative consequences to my energy was to change myself. You can only inmagine how well that went. Oh how frustrating and discouraging it was! I would over-annalyze everything that came out of my mouth (how it came out, how it sounded, and what came out), every look and reaction that came as a result of my actions. It woud linger with me and it was paralyzing. No matter how well rehersed I was and in control of my behavior and energy, I felt so uncomfortable with myself. I really struggled developing friendships because I got in my own way. I felt like I was never able to let my gaurd down for fear of messing up. I even kicked myself out of groups and activities; convincing myself that people would rather not have me there and I'd be happier staying home, avoiding the situation altogether. The "Emily = Resraint" mantra was something that made me feel powerless. How can someone restrain their divine personality traits? This negative focus of restraint has been hard wired into my brain and is still something I am redefining in my adult life. Since then, I have risen above many of my personal insecurities and proven to myself and others, that despite my sometimes large and inappropriate personality, I am capable of learning and developing skills with hard work. However, no diploma certificate or accilade can provide a lasting feeling of confidence and self worth. I put myself on the fitness stage as a professional with all the required certificates training and kowledge and still felt like I was not enough. It was mentally exhausting to teach classes at the gym. I had everything I needed to be successful, but felt like I wasn't privy to the rewards and results of consistent diligent work because I was just one of those people that nobody would ever take seriously or even like. There was no place in the industry for a person like myself unless I was able to master the art of mimicing other successful individuals. This blog is so hard to write because it's so depressing! Here's where everything starts to change. I'm not quite sure when exactly my mind started to change, but I think throughout the years of teaching, one's hyperview of themselves tends to fade with maturity. We start to realize that the world doesn't revolve around us and we just try to do good. We learn to look outside of ourselves and serve others. I stopped asking myself "Am I good enough yet?" and started coming up with ways to just do good with what I've got; my knowledge, talents, experience, and unique loud personality. I realized that my energy was actually my greatest asset. My strength! It's about time I started tapping into it! Poor little teenage Emily only needed to learn how to focus and direct her energy. Yes, there are consequences to bringing energy at inappropriate times and ways, but those mistakes are not linked to my self worth and value. Oh no no no. I was learning just like any adolescent, that our words and actions effect others. If I could go back in time to coach mini Emily, here's what I would have to say: You have the courage to stand out, work hard, and liven up a room. That is a strength! The efforts you make to do and be good may not always have the outcome you are looking for. You can't control that. Sometimes people are unkind. Stop wondering what you did wrong. You have nothing to do with it. Be patient, loving, and understanding. Give them grace for their failings as they give grace to you. Everyone is dealing with their own insecurities. Stop comparing! There is no possible way to do that. People are so different, and thank goodness for that! Just be the best you! That means being aware and kind to others. You can restrain your natural impulses to be big when someone needs the time to be seen and heard. That doesn't change who you are. You can show respect for the spaces that require silence. You can choose how and when to share your strengths, so you can show up as the best version of yourself. This is what makes impact; impact that you couldn't have made had you tried to fit into a mold you were not ment to fit into.

Becoming a "triple threat" is much harder than becoming proficient in the skills of dance acting and singing. As soon as the lights hit the stage, can you bring a character to life and tell a story, or are you lost in the notes, choreography, or lines? A true performer has mastered the blending of all these skills! Here are a few tips on how to build this skill. 1) Layer your learning. Whenever I teach a class, I have to teach movement layer by layer. It takes the tangled-up mess of choreography, technique, music, and acting and organizes it, so one can build from a stronger foundation. Before a dance can be mastered, one has to know body part directions and placements before they can layer in technique or texture. Before acting can truly take place, one must have the lines memorized. There's no need to let all the aspects of a performance overwhelm you. Take it apart and focus on building one layer at a time. The fine tuning can wait. 2) Broad vs Narrow Focus A professional tennis pro who has years of training suddenly chokes! Why? Our brains have specific responses to stress, and one of those responses is located in a different part of the brain where muscle memory is. When nerves start to take over, the brain goes from its flow state to its learning state; overanalyzing what should be coming naturally. As a performer, there are so many things that can distract and pull you out of the moment and out of your flow. So what can you do to bring yourself back in? The beat of the music, the grounding of your feet to the floor, and your breath, perhaps? As a performer it is your job to spin many plates at once and it requires that broader view. As you improve each layer of performance to where it can feel more like "muscle memory", it becomes easier to broaden your focus to be in the moment, or to react to what is happening in more authentic ways. Nobody is perfect, but learning how to switch between broad and narrow focuses is a skill that will improve your ability to balance all three disciplines despite any hiccups or distractions. 3) Practice! Bringing everything together is a skill that comes with time. Just like a muscle, it only grows when you consistently put it under pressure. Is there anything that you are consistently doing to train all three threats together?

When an individual walks into a group fitness class, they have 3 important psychological needs. Competency, Autonomy, and Relatedness to their leader. When an instructor and program can meet all of these needs for multiple individuals, they can truly make an impact. This blog post is for my fellow instructor friends. How are you doing in meeting these needs? Are there any other needs that you feel should be included? Competency: This is the baseline for a successful program. It is very hard for anyone to feel the full power, energy, and magic that comes from a fitness class if they don't know what the crap is going on and what to do. An instructor doesn't need to be a magic fairy to meet this need. Just tell them what to do and when. It's simple, it's clear, it's consistent, and it comes in plenty of time. I am soooo guilty of getting carried away with the fun and I have distracted myself from delivering the most fundamental and important part of class; to get my class moving. If you are a new instructor, I suggest focusing on just this. There will be magic, personality, connection, and fun, but without a strong foundation in your basic body part movement cues, nothing else that you have planned will land or make any impact. So shorten your verbiage, make it clear, and practice spitting out your cues around 4 counts before it happens. Be so good at this that it comes without thinking. Think: Body part, direction, timing, and move name. This is level one. This skill takes time practice and experience. You might need a friend to watch you and help you identify any gaps you might have. Are your cues consistently coming in advance. Are there too many words being used? Are you team teaching with the music? How's your timing, and technique? What are the barriers keeping you from delivering a clear instruction of what to do, and when to do it? Identifying those things are the first step to improving and taking control over your instructor journey. Autonomy: Members really like to feel like they have choices. It lets them know that they are seen as a person with individual needs. Your class is not a cookie cutter class. It is designed to fit their needs, and they have choices. Choices to modify, challenges specific to their level, and room for them to turn the class into what they want it to be, and what they came hoping to receive. An experienced instructor knows there are so many different types of participants. Some are cautious, some LOVE attention, some want a challenge, some want details. Some want to be left the heck alone! When we honor those needs, we can deliver cuing and formatting that truly meet the specific needs of our participants. It allows us instructors to break the "4th wall" if you will. We are no longer just a robot spouting out base level cues, but we are offering relevant cuing and options to the people in front of us. When we do that tastefully, we are seeing the people in front of us. We are giving them choices so they can take full control of their workout. Oh how people love choices! Give it to them! Relatedness: It doesn't matter how skilled you are in your technique, cuing, coaching, or performance; if you can't connect with the people in your class, you will lose client retention. A class participant wants to feel like they can relate to their leader. Perhaps it's through how you communicate your cues, or the relevance of those cues. It could also be what is happening before and after class. How can you create an atmosphere of belonging? Where the class is a team, or community. There's really no formula to making this happen. It's an art. Have you ever seen a football team joshing around between one another? A good healthy dose of lighthearted banter proves to increase comradery between players and coaches. How can you create comradery in your class? It doesn't happen overnight. It most certainly doesn't happen unless you know who is in your class. Start with their names. Then learn about who they are. In time, memories are made, and the magic of community starts to take form. I hope that some of these insights puts a "why" behind why what we are cuing as group fitness instructors. I also hope it inspires some new thoughts or ideas on how you might better meet the needs of the people coming into your class. Remember that every instructor has different priorities and values than the next instructor. Sometimes they shift and change. It's wonderful that we have so many different kinds of people behind a mic teaching all sorts of classes. We need it that way so we can bring in as many people as we can. Your kind of people will gravitate towards you and your values, as they will to other instructors. If you're looking for more participants to gravitate to your class. Perhaps there's a need that is getting neglected in your class. How are you going to work on that?

A snowball collects snow as it rolls down a hill and grows bigger and bigger. Waves react to outward forces and grow with powerful momentum. Our mind can analyze the smallest things and draw the largest conclusions. I want to talk about and warn about the power of momentum. Everyone. EVERYONE has demons and insecurities. It's part of our genetic makeup, our personality, our upbringing. It's what makes us finely attuned to how we see and react to people and the world. Can I share with you one of my demons? My fear of failure. I am 1 of 12 very successful children. When I was preparing to graduate HS, I struggled with the ACT test and was tortured by this demon in a very profound way. Every single one of my elder siblings was accepted into BYU; a very prestigious and competitive university in my church. I took that test 4 times and didn't get a high enough score to be accepted. I failed dismally. My score wasn't even close. I was the one dumb kid in the dozen. See, I'm already getting ahead of myself. How did I take an instance of a failed test and turn it against me to describe myself as the "dumb kid". Oh how cruel we can be to ourselves. Why do we do that? How do we stop doing that? And if we can't, how can we continue to make progress despite it? I don't have the answers, but I'll share some of my thoughts, and invite you to share yours as well because friends, right now in my life, my demons are yelling loud and clear in my mind. I'm not sitting in a pretty place mentally. 1: Recognize one situation at a time before you try to connect the dots. Momentum occurs when we can take something and piggy back it to something else and make the force greater. It works positively and negatively. I have hit a lot of speed bumps recently. A LOT. If I look back at the past 6 months I could make a pretty hefty list. Why haven't I quit? Because I have to separate my road blocks into individual events. They suck, but there's nobody calling the universe and notifying everyone and everything to go against me too. They are events, not defining characteristics. I can cry about it and take a break to regroup and come up with another path to take. And that's what I do. Recently, I've been set back because I've had quite a few setbacks happen all at once. It's a bit much for me. I'll let you know when I'm ready to try again. 2: Social Media Lies. When I have nothing to show for my hard work, I am very vulnerable and IG and FB is a dangerous place for me; being very motivated and driven by success. I love my friends, but I am guilty of comparing. I'm pretty sure all our brains are conditioned to do just that when we start scrolling. When it gets hard, sometimes I delete my apps until I feel better. Searching for love and validation leaves me empty and wanting for more. You know what else? I feel a pressure to be doing more More MORE! To stay hungry, to keep grinding, keep pushing. It's a loud voice. But in all reality, all the media does is sell us an idea. We get clips and reels pushed onto our feed to do just that, FEED. If you're not in a healthy mental space, it's not good for you. No matter what is being fed. You could be being fed a big mac of positivity that's going to give you atherosclerosis! Our minds are already good at building upon a thought and connecting real life situations and outcomes to whatever conclusion we're trying to prove. I'm not good enough, not smart enough, not rich enough, not successful enough, you get the picture. The more we feed the thought through our news feed, the more we solidify the thought patterns in our brain. Can you see how this pattern of behavior can be so paralyzing? 3: Come up with a plan B. I'm getting used to failing. In fact, I showed up to teach 4 classes this week. I taught one person on Saturday. I'm not complaining. Here's what I did instead. I had a plan B. I know that if I can't be successful in one way, I can be successful in another. How else can you use your time when the world doesn't show up for you in the way you want it to? How can you doctor your failed recipe and make something else out of it? I may not have taught a whole lot of people, but I've created another hour of choreography. Maybe it will grow into something someday. Maybe it won't, but it brought me joy, and in the moment, it redirected my energy so I could spare myself the time I would've spent in my feelings of disappointment and failure. 4: Fall in love with the work. If you love what you are doing, is the lack of income or recognition a failure? I'd say being able to do what you love is winning. I'm trying to move my way of thinking to thoughts of gratitude. I can do that when I get off the social media and look around at the facts. I think I'll list them. Have you ever counted your blessings? I bet if you asked your friends to help you, they could get you started. I think you'd be surprised at how good you have it. What a nice break from the demons. Maybe we can create momentum in a positive direction. I suppose it's worth a try.

We live in a very educated world. Answers to so many questions are easily at our fingertips. We can learn and understand so many aspects of the world around us and ourselves. There are so many variables that come into play when trying to sort out various circumstances, opinions, and viewpoints. If we get into a tricky situation, it is so easy to back up our decisions and our position with data and support. Not only that, but if you want validation for it, you can have it instantly. Receiving validation can set us at ease but does nothing to propel anyone forward. Coming from a person who has unhealthily used social media to seek out value love and self-worth, I can say that it is short lived, and you will find yourself repeating whatever behaviors you can to feed the monster. The monster is lazy and goes nowhere. Sometimes life doesn't pan out. People hurt us. We are victims of terrible TERRIBLE circumstances. I am not a therapist by ANY means, and some of these situations I have no grounds to speak on whatsoever, but if there is anything we can possibly do to better our sorry situations, shouldn't we try? What if we gave all our accusations and explanations and excuses a rest? Can we take extreme ownership of our problems? It may feel unfair or unjust to have to be the one to set something right when it wasn't our fault or responsibility. Waiting around for someone or something else to make it right has a high probability of leaving you waiting around bitter for the rest of your life. If you want something to change, OWN IT. Take the circumstance, the person, the limitations and eliminate it from the combination. I'm not trying to say that excuses setbacks and responsible 3rd parties don't exist, but a victim mentality is also a very real enemy. Choosing to take ownership gives you back some power. You get to choose how you want to move forward. Pointing a finger gets you nowhere. If you're in charge, what's your next move? Is there something that you can change? Can you change your mind? Can you apologize? Is there someone who can help you? Stop pointing fingers at everyone and everything else. Let's get into a new habit of turning the finger around and seeing the truth of what we lack and how we can change for the better.