Instructors Who Inspire
A workout is only as good as its instructor. Someone to lead us, guide us, teach us, move us, motivate us, inspire us, stretch us and send us on our way feeling better than when we first walked into class. I used to go into class and leave right after. Recently, I began spending more time with our dedicated and talented fitness professionals. I really started to take notice of the huge amount of work and effort that goes into each and every class. Everyone always tells me I should teach and my response is always the same, “I could never do that!”. But I am blessed that I get to be a student!
Our instructors spend hours working on the most captivating and inspiring playlist. They formulate the best sequence of moves to strengthen our bodies and make us sweat. They make sure each class is appropriate for various abilities and fitness levels and provide modifications to protect our bodies. And when it’s show time, they shout, they preach, they smile, they cheer, they enlighten and they motivate us to perform to the best of our ability on that particular day.
Our fitness professionals give us so much of themselves with each workout. I wanted to celebrate and recognize all of their hard work this month so I asked you all to share some stories with me; to highlight a professional that motivated you; to let me know about all of the talent we have surrounding us.
I want to share my own personal #instructorwhoinspires-me-story first. Her name is Yael Rhode. She got me to not only change my whole week around to take her class, but she made me show up routinely for a workout that isn’t one of my favorites. Yael is a spin instructor at Remix Fitness. While spinning isn’t my workout of choice, I signed up for her class after following her on Instagram— she looked fun! Well, within 5 seconds of the lights turned down, the music pumping and Yael spitting her inspiration, I was hooked. There is nothing like her class. She makes you laugh with her overuse of what she claims to be her favorite word “fuck”. She inspires you with motivational phrase after phrase. She even tells cute and relatable anecdotes during class. This week, she shared a personal parenting moment about her young child experiencing a neighborhood child who was different. She took the strong message of this story and related it back to that spin room in a way that will stick with me (with a few “fucks” mixed in).
Yael teaches at Remix but she is also the co-founder of The Philly Spin In, which is a 2-day charity spin event that raises money for the smallest hearts and the incredible humans that heal them at CHOP. I was so inspired that I formed a 2-bike team with 8 people and a goal to raise $5,000 for cardiac research and treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Yael is going to be doing a charity ride to help our team meet our fundraising goal on April 29 at 12:00 pm. Mark your calendars now— 100% of the proceeds from this class will go towards The Philly Spin In.
Yael with her co-founder (and best buddy) of The Philly Spin In.
I’ve been writing down motivational quotes from my instructors all month long and sharing them on Instagram. But I couldn’t keep up with what came out of Yael’s mouth during class. I could write a book (someone should because it’s just too good to stay in that spin room only). Here are just a few of her gems of wisdom (because there aren’t enough days in the month to share them all on IG).
“Access your strength. She’s right there.”
“This is the part where you look for a way in, not a way out.”
“With every inhale, mentally say the words ‘I deserve it.’ And with every exhale say ‘thank you.’”
“That’s the beauty of resilience. You don’t have to look for it. It’s already there.”
“Once you feel it, you will start to see it, so inhale that work, that desire.”
“I did something I didn’t want to do for five seconds but then I finished that and was like ‘yeah bitch’.”
You have to go experience Yael for yourself. You can take a spin class with her at Remix Fitness on Sunday at 8:30 and 9:30 am (that’s when I go) and Fridays at 9:30 am. On Tuesdays at 9:30 am and 12:30, she teaches Remix’s signature “Method” class. Same inspiration, different workout. And you can always try Remix Fitness for a free week using the code, FitnessFindsontheMainLine when you register.
Here is a story that one of my readers shared with me about her Instructor Who Inspires, Kirstin Boquist (about her virtual program, KBO Fitness, that motivated so many to keep dancing during the pandemic).
“My #instructorswhoinspire is Kristin Boquist. Last year, I had decided that after putting kids, work, home, husband first that I was going to finally show up for me. I have always been very active but seeing how far my fitness had fallen was disappointing and hearbreaking— I didn’t know who I was. Being that it was during the pandemic, I didn’t know what to do until a friend from high school posted that she took cardio dance with Kristin (virtually). I thought ‘well no one can see me and if I am paying, then I’m going to show up!’ I sent a message to Kristin and was immediately welcomed with huge energy! After my first class, she checked in on me. I loved how she interacted with us, made us laugh and encouraged us, even if she couldn’t always see us (not everyone turns their cameras on). She was always accessible, willing to help with modifications and was such a big cheerleader when I met some goals. She was exactly the type of trainer, turned friend, that I needed. I look up to her as a woman, professional, mom and friend. She has shown me that fitness can be a lifelong healthy relationship that doesn’t have to be full of starvation and over exercising. You can take rest days and have off days and it’s okay. Her balance, approach to life, amazing dance moves and energy are a blessing.” Jessica S.
Thank you to everyone who shared an #instructorwhoinspires this month. I loved hearing how one person can make such a difference in the health and wellness of so many. Please continue to celebrate and say thank you to your fitness professionals. They are pretty awesome people!
And don’t forget to come out THIS THURSDAY and support our local fitness community at Athleta, as we kick off the Friends & Family event on April 7 at 7 pm with a fashion show! Local fitness professionals (along with some of their daughters) will be modeling the clothes and as emcee of the evening, I will be sharing all about these INSTRUCTORS WHO INSPIRE!
