Well, I finally have my very own soapbox to spout off on! For those of you who have followed my Light-Hearted Leadership articles, I want to thank you for taking the time to read them and for responding with your nice comments and e-mails.

I plan on continuing my Light-hearted Leadership column for the AEA website, which is dedicated to aquatic fitness professionals, but will also be writing a second column on this website geared more towards land instructors and personal trainers.

Naturally, we are all part of one big fitness family and my Leadership articles have been well received by both aquatic and land instructors. I often get e-mails from instructors applauding, and sometimes questioning me for my brutally honest reflections regarding my own struggles with ego and professionalism. My rampant neuroses are well documented and I suppose you could call me the Seinfeld of aerobics! I say what everyone else thinks, but would never fess up to!

The issues I write about are universal and instructors from around the world can certainly relate, given the responses I have received. I decided that the perfect way to launch my new column was to take a trip down memory lane and reflect on some of my more popular Leadership articles.

I suppose my breakout article was Confessions of a Choreography Monster. Given the numerous responses I received, one can only conclude that many others are inflicted with this progressive and crippling disorder, characterized by the need to dazzle with mind numbing complexity. The article chronicles my journey as an instructor, from clumsy buffoon to Tapless Step King. Along the way, I killed a few classes, excluded an entire generation of potential group fitness participants, and steadfastly refused to admit my complicity. Today, I continue to struggle with complex and intricate temptations, but through chastised enlightenment, the wisdom of multi-level formatting and inclusive programming has been revealed to me.

Having touched a raw nerve with Choreography Monster, I decided to write about my deepest insecurities in Small Class Phobia. If you have ever had a really small class and thought, “Oh my God, I must suck,” this article is for you. For me, a small class was like a dagger in the heart. They don’t like me! Naturally, the specter of abandonment and rejection fed into my neurotic issues and elicited some of my most shameful tantrums in class. Well,..I GUESS I don’t need the microphone TODAY! Once again, given the responses, it was clear that others shared similar fears. Moreover, I was disturbed to read about some of the hurtful comments directed towards instructors by students and peers alike. Sadly, having the courage to step into the spotlight and teach also exposes us to unfair criticism. I’d like to think that this article conveys a message of self-acceptance and the simple truth that you will NEVER please everyone.

Ok, have you ever sat in front of your collection of aerobic tapes and CD’s, unable to pick out a single tape you WANTED to play and wishing you could just get a sub for class instead? I HAVE! My obsession with finding decent music led me to write a searing diatribe about what I perceived as a conspiracy by the aerobic music industry. Music Freak was my most controversial article. I credit AEA for posting the article and I also commend the aerobic music industry for their recent efforts in listening to instructors and improving the selection and quality of their product. Unfortunately, I still sit in front of my more than 150 tapes and CD’s and whine I need new music!

Hoping for some humor, I decided to contact some of the leading aquatic fitness presenters and asked them to recall their Most Embarrassing Moment in class. I was hoping that someone could outdo the time I left my microphone on while going to the bathroom and had to return to a roomful of red-faced, tittering female students.

Naturally, I couldn’t resist the urge to write about another embarrassment, instructor’s paychecks! Why doesn’t anyone talk about money? You NEVER hear anyone bring up money in workshops or certifications. I figured it was time to bring it up and wrote A Fair Wage? I know, I know, we are supposed to do it for passion not money. Well, I have a passion for teaching, but I also have a passion for paying my bills! Aside from complaining, this article also provides instructors with do’s and don’ts when negotiating raises.

When the passion wanes, the purpose forgotten, the routine is stale, and you feel utterly uninspired, the time has come for Re-inventing Yourself! Yes, we burn out, but never fear, whether it be a new format, new moves, a new workshop, new music, or a new outfit, we must always keep dreaming up new schemes to keep ourselves and our classes fresh and exciting. This article details some of the techniques I employ to avoid instructor burnout.

Speaking of trying to stay fresh and exciting, I decided it was time to re-invent my personal training and bought a BOSU. For those who are unaware, A BOSU is a two-sided stability and balance device. One side is a rubber dome, (think ball) and the other side is a flat disc (think flying saucer). One of my clients asked, “Are we going to be exercising on that thing that looks like a large breast?”

I plan on rolling out the BOSU this month with my clients and eventually utilizing them in a group fitness or group personal training format. Stay tuned for the May Motivator and my BOSU adventures. 

Thanks for checking out my website. I would love to hear about some of the ways you re-invent yourselves and motivate your classes. Your comments and e-mails are always welcome!

Stay fit and motivated!

Mark