This week started off with a bang! Things are a little manic as we fly to Colorado on Friday for 5 days skiing.
I am a little overwhelmed… trying to get into the routine of a new job, finding time to study, take care of my sweet child, and get ready for our trip!
I found myself doing housework at 7 o’clock this morning before taking G to school!

Had a good morning at the studio.
I studied for an hour and then we all did a master class together. It was myself, Karen, Kendra, Ellen, and Danielle.
K, K, & E all taught various sections of the class and it was jolly hard! We did a Level 2 type class which has extra sets of thigh and seat work! Killer!
After that I spotted Kendra’s class that she was teaching. It went pretty well. It is definitely going to be helpful and I already know areas I need to work on.
I am sure it will help build my confidence up to start off doing this and then integrate the verbal side of teaching.
There is so much to think about and put together!

Tomorrow I am spotting Karen’s class, then Kendra is working with me for an hour or so and then I will participate in her 12:15pm class.

And now it’s back to the books!!!!

P.S. Did you know that the gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body? Baby got back!!!

I can’t believe this week is over!!! I have just been reading through my previous posts and I can’t believe I felt so alone earlier in the week. Today I have been fighting back the tears as I have to leave these 7 amazing women and continue on my path. I am going to really miss them all! We have been through one hell of a week together.

On the way to the airport, Martine and I were all shell-shocked and she hit the nail on the head when she said, “I feel like I’ve been through some kind of trauma!” It will be so good to get home and decompress a little before embarking on our post-training and more studying.

The test went well. By some miracle I managed to get 100%. We all passed and it was such a relief. Jen was such an amazing instructor. We were very blessed to have her with us.

Sitting here at Houston Airport waiting for my connecting flight to Orlando. Can’t wait to see Bill. I will pick Gwennie use from school tomorrow (she is still at my MIL’s). I can’t wait to get my hands on her! I hope she will be pleased to see me too!

Today has been a major improvement on yesterday! Whilst tired, I have been able to get through this day with a smile on my face and positivity in my heart. Thank you all for spurring me on. Whilst I would like to say it is because I got a good sleep, I can’t, but I think it is more because of the good support I received from family, friends, and boss… and possibly the fact that I indulged in the most amazing burger and fries last night! I was so worth it, let me tell you! Have been eating a bit like a rabbit since I got here and I think I just needed some good old MEAT to make me feel better! Hahaha!

It’s been a long day. Four of us went in to do the 8:15am class and then we practiced our set-ups (for teaching all the different exercises throughout class) for an hour before beginning training. I got to teach standing-seat today. “What’s that?!” I hear you cry! Well it’s one of the many amazing seat exercises that make your bum look absolutely fabulous in jeans! It went pretty well and I got some good positive feedback and helpful constructive criticism. It was one of the other girls’ turn to have a meltdown today. Bless her… she was just being hard on herself. I totally understood her frustration. Secretly it helped me to know that someone else was feeling the pressure. I think everyone has felt tired and overloaded with information, but I think each of us is reaching that “Oh shit!” moment at different stages.

We’ve pretty much worked our way though the manual…. we just have to implement everything physically now. It’s amazing how much we have covered in just 3 days. My brain is on fire. I feel like I am going to be dreaming about this stuff soon. As it is, it is the first thing I think about whenever I wake up (during the night…. several times!!!).

I managed to read some and study tonight. Tomorrow I have to teach warm-up. We are all teaching sections of the class. Then we are working on hands-on adjustments. All good fun! I like that part particularly, as I have done a lot of adjustments during my time as a yoga instructor. I’m not afraid to grab and body and tweak it!

I’m currently waiting on the hotel’s laundry service. I’m getting though workout clothes and Bar Method socks like there is no tomorrow! Had to do a little wash to tide me over! Nine hours a day of being a working, sweaty body will do that! I hope they come soon coz I’m ready for bed!

We plan to be at the studio for 8:15am again tomorrow. Practice first and then class afterwards.

WOW. I have a feeling I am not going to be able to post much on here from now on until I get home! It is FULL-ON!!!

It went great today. Just a very long day. I had a rough night sleep wise. Awake every hour from 1am onwards…. my room and bed are great but my mind was doing overtime! Got to the studio at 9am only to be told that our trainer didn’t want us doing a class as she was going to teach us one and wanted us to be fresh. I ended up going to Starbucks for a bit to kill time.

Jen, our trainer, is really great. She is funny and knowledgeable and seems very fair. She taught us a class, and then we all had to get up and teach sections of class. Nerve-wracking, but I was grateful to my boss, Karen, for giving me a heads-up so it wasn’t a complete shock! Then we got our manuals (bibles!!!)…. they are very thick and have all the rules, set-ups, and so on written inside. We have to learn, read, eat, and breathe this thing! I have 20 pages to read tonight.

We have a test on Saturday, pertaining to the first section of the book. We will take our anatomy and physiology tests at our local studios in 2 weeks time.

There are seven of us girls training…. 3 from the Austin studio, 1 from Denver, 1 from New Orleans, and 1 from LA, who is also British. Three of us are in the same hotel. I think we will probably start getting together in the evenings to study and test each other. I walked home with Martine (the Brit) tonight. I got a cab to the studio this morning. Rachael, the girl from New Orleans, is staying in a different hotel but has hired a car. She is going to pick us up in the morning. We are very grateful! She stayed after training tonight to observe a class. Katie, the Denver lass, went shopping! Bless her! These youngsters have more stamina than me!

I am the oldest of the bunch!!! I would think Martine is probably in her 30s but the others are mid-twenties.

Everyone seems nice. Obviously the Austin girls are pretty tight as they all know each other but they have all been very welcoming.

And now I must away to my new “Bible”. It awaits me with a glaring stare. And then I must try and get a better night’s sleep! Us 4 out-of-towners are taking a class before training in the morning.

Pass me the ibuprofen!!!!

I had a good flight into Austin. All went smoothly. I was pretty tickled at the huge guitars they had in the baggage claim of the airport. I took a pic of my favourite one (see previous post) and also found one later in front of my hotel… which I liked even more! It was called Twinkle Twinkle Lonestar. I feel a bit like a little twinkling lone star in this big ole city!

I threw all my stuff in my room and decided to get going and take a walk to find the Bar Method studio. It was easy to find thanks to my handy iPhone gps! It was a good 30 minute walk. My phone took me the direct route and I passed by what seemed to be a campsite of sorts for homeless people. I took a different route on the way back! No offence to homeless people, but there were a lot more of them than there was of me! It was a bit intimidating.

Austin seems interesting. As with any city, there are lovely bits and downright grotty bits! The restaurants and bars I passed looked pretty cool… and there are a wide variety of different eclectic types walking around!

Tonight I plan to keep it simple and go to the TGI Friday’s in the hotel. They also have a Starbucks here… oh choirs of angels sing!!!! Then I will come back to my room, practice my set-ups for tomorrow, have a nice bath, and snuggle up with A bit of TV and bed!

I plan to take the 9:30am class tomorrow before we start our training. I called and reserved myself a spot.

I’m looking forward to meeting our trainers and the other trainees tomorrow. I’m pretty nervous too, but hopefully I will soon get into the swing of things!

Have just spoken to Bill and sent a video message to Gwennie. I loathed leaving her this morning. She woke up with a cough. Typical! She seems bright enough in herself. I just hope it doesn’t t develop into anything worse. I hate to put upon my MIL like that… although I know she doesn’t mind and is more than capable of looking after her. But I’m her Mum and I worry. It’s what we mothers do, right?

Ok, I’m off to unpack my case and get settled!