Proud Moments

Dear Diary...months went by as I started to make new friends at the leisure Center, hanging out in the sauna and chatting, which I found opened up new horizons. I was beginning to feel so confident, my body was looking how I wanted it to look.

 

A voice inside said; “Go on Jenny – you could be teaching your own classes, then you'd be able to workout whenever you wanted.” Remembering how much fun the teacher made the class I attended at the school – how she always smiled, whooping and geeing us on, I never felt bored with her enthusiasm and had a feeling I could put just as much into taking a class myself as she did.

 

So putting my thoughts into action, that's when I decided to go to London to a fitness show I'd seen advertised, it would be a chance to see whether I could teach as well. I wasn't experienced enough to get behind the wheel of a car around London having never driven there before, so was glad my other half was happy to take me.

 

It was a huge venue I can't remember exactly where it was in London, but there were hundreds of people all as interested as I was by what was on offer, there was everything from fitness gear, to different healthy drinks and foods to eat, how to set up your own classes – also demonstrations of routines by different groups from all over the country, it was a real fun day out although hubby wasn't really into the whole thing of exercise, but he made the most of my enthusiasm.

 

After much walking around the many stalls on offer, picking up loads of leaflets, I found the lady who had created the classes I attended back in Swindon that I wanted to teach.

 

She was so vivacious, giving me lots of pamphlets and forms, in fact all the information I would need, saying that if I was serious about taking classes I could put my name down for the next teacher training weekend which would be held in Surrey. I was up for that and gave her my details there and then before heading home.

 

So on a cold weekend in 1987 I drove to Surrey. I attended with the usual feelings of trepidation, but only because I was nerves I wouldn't be good enough.

 

Staying at the young peoples accomodation was my only option as it was cheaper than a bed and breakfast and was all I could afford at the time. It was comfortable not that I would be there much, my room had a bed, table and chair, also a wardrobe and tv, I think there was a sink in the room, but the showers and toilets were along the corridor which we had to share, that was fine by me.

 

The weekend was held in a fitness center, not far from where I was staying, it looked strangely like a pub from the outside. As you went in there was a huge hall and a room at the front with a bar and a comfortable seating area, which I later found out was where we'd rest and have our lunch. We spent most of the weekend being judged on how well we'd picked up the routines and whether we were suitable candidates to teach.

 

It was instilled into us that we should always smile and be happy no matter how we were feeling, also give praise where it was due and make sure everyone new the safety tips; as like demonstrating never to lift the lower back up off the floor when doing pelvic work. I was also told that I would need to wear makeup during teaching, always have clean tidy hair and smart leotards, there was no room for looking dowdy or wearing tea shirts or scruffy gear, we would also have to keep our bodies in tip top condition.

 

We also had to do a written paper to test us on if we knew where the muscles were in the body and how they worked. I can honestly say I'd never exerted my body and mind so hard as I did that weekend, but I felt proud that I passed all tests with flying colors and was now on my way to becoming a fully Fledged teacher.

 

From the moment I passed the training and was able to take classes, I was now anxious to get out there and put my teaching into practice. With money I'd saved I spent a small fortune on new outfits, which for me was a necessity now I was a certified teacher.

 

I sent off for a mail order catalog which I couldn't wait to arrive. It was so exciting browsing through the pages, I never realized leotards came in so many different colors and styles. Leg warmers were a must have as was Lycra leggings too. It was also essential to have a shell suit which was the height of fashion, we certainly knew how to dress back then.

 

It was so exciting when the garments I ordered arrived, I think I spent a couple of hours trying everything on, practicing poses in front of the mirror to make sure I looked the part of a teacher. Finally I no longer looked gawky.

 

I remember the first of my new leotards I wore, was pink with the black silhouette of a fit shaped female on the front, I'd seen a woman wearing the same outfit at the training in Surrey, thinking at the time how I would love the same one.

 

Next on the agenda was a decent pair of trainers, I'd always worn Reeboks and decided on a boot rather than just the ordinary trainer though they were a little more expensive, but they gave my ankles the support they would need which was important, high impact aerobics called for a lot of pounding on the feet and ankles and my intention was to do many hard workouts.

 

Here I was ready to take on the world, but something was missing – now what was it? Ah Yes! I needed a sound system. The other teachers had been really helpful telling me of a shop in Surrey which supplied decent sized mobile record players and speakers to other teachers.

 

The record player was quite bulky and heavy but manageable, it came with a handle attached for carrying. Speakers were attached together and came apart, they too had a handle for carrying. Much later on I managed to get hold of a head microphone, a bit like the one Maddona wore on stage. Last but not not least: Yes! We were supplied with vinyl records and VHS videos to learn the routines. It was a whole other world back then, that I can only say in the words of Tina Turner: were Simply The Best.

 

 

Soon after returning from my training, I went out on my own looking for halls that would be available for use. Once I had the venue it was time to advertise my class in the local paper. My first class came to fruition, though I have to say it was slightly awkward as only one woman turned up. I sure wasn't going to let that put me off, so did a whole hours class with just me and her. What can I say? It wasn't the most perfect beginning to my career, but at least she enjoyed the workout coming back again the next week with a friend to my utter delight, then word soon got around and soon more ladies came.

 

It was a long journey that set me out on a road of discovery. Soon I was teaching five classes a week and loving every moment of it. I still got nerves before a class, but that was good because it kept me on the ball and made me work even harder. When I finally achieved my goals of putting together my own classes, where many woman finally came to love what I was teaching, it was as if something inside had given me hope of accomplishing my dreams.

 

For me it was a unique insight into a world where I was able to lead people. Yes! Me! A solitary woman on my own fusing so many ladies together, giving them something to look forward to each week. Some women came then I never saw them again, but I did have my regulars that stuck with me through all the difficult times and became solid good friends and for that I thank them.

 

It was 1989 when I was offered the chance to extend my training, by taking a PEA course by the teacher I attended at the Oasis leisure Center, which meant I'd be able to put together and perform my own routines – though to be honest I wasn't that interested in doing my own choreography, but at least I could if I wanted to and it was an extra string to my bow.

 

Again I attended another weekend training course, but this time it was at our local college and there were only four of us taking part, so for me it wasn't daunting at all having had a lot of experience by now. I passed again with flying colors and felt so proud of myself, as did many of the ladies that attended my classes.

 

It was like aerobic fever had hit Swindon, or perhaps it was because it seemed that way to me considering I was surrounded by the fitness bug wherever I went.

 

Just before Christmas 1989 I did my end of the year class in fancy dress and asked all the other women to come dressed up, most didn't, but those that did made me proud. I taught a whole class dressed up as a clown which my regulars found very amusing. My life would never be the same again, it was about to change forever as the 1980s drifted into the 1990s.

 

To be continued...