TURBO JAM in OXYGEN

TURBOJAM has made the REVIEWS section as "Things they think are great!" in the latest edition of Oxygen Magazine (February 2006).

This magazine is AWESOME for women as it really brings you to a new level in fitness. Many of the other fitness minded magazines for women, in my opinion, are too soft. They basically give you the same ol', same ol' info taking you no where near the goals you might have for yourself; if you have been fitness minded and really want to up it to the next level.

Other weight training magazines are too hard as well. Centering on taking tons of supplements and routines that are just not effective for women.
Oxygen is the best mix! It really brings you to a new level in health and fitness.

Personally, I've been fitness minded ever since I can remember. Always into sports, and in high school, competing as a cheerleader nationally and running track. You had to be strong and fit.
I'm no stranger to the weight room, and have learned more by jumping into the free weight room with the guys rather than staying on the cardio machines for 2 hours. Not saying doing cardio is bad, but hey, we all know, weight training is huge and you can't just do cardio!

So with this magazine featuring one of my MOST favorite workouts, I feel like we are soaring! TurboJam, TurboKick, and PiYo really are taking off even more! People have come to find that this is not just another workout!

I taught my last TK class last night at one of the branches of our 5 locations of the RAC's here in Rochester. With the start of the new year, I will be teaching at both Greece locations. It was so great to talk with members after class and hear one say she will miss me...but I told her, at least you will still have TK in this time slot. She said it's the best workout and hits everything! She won't give it up. It was so great to hear this from her, as YEAH, she's right! It hits every part of your body inside and out! BUT, also that it was coming from her who is about 55-60 years old. Turbo has no limits and won't limit anyone!

I'm so thankful to have been introduced to the Turbo family back in 2001. It's really taken me and a TON others to a new level in fitness and happiness in their workouts.

Tips to add variety to your Mind/Body classes

1) Introduce an uncommon pose – Try something unusual. For less popular poses visit http://www.allspiritfitness.com/library/features/aa062802a.shtml

2) The Rule of Half: If your style of PiYo™ or yoga is to hold each pose between 4 and 5 breaths, try the rule of halves. This means that you take your average number of breaths per pose and add approximately one half your current total. Therefore, if you hold poses for 4 breaths, and half of that is 2, then add 2 to the 4 breaths you currently practice, totaling 6 breaths. This change in style will place greater emphasis on the meditative benefits and challenge the static strength of participants. A few weeks later try reducing the number of breaths you use by one half, using 2 breaths per pose. This will place emphasis on the dynamic movement style of your workout and create a more physical experience.

3) Change Your Perspective: It’s such a basic way to change the feel of your class by asking participants to rotate their mats one ¼ turn. Be sure to practice your choreography with this new orientation. It should spark some amazing creativity

4) The Sense of Smell: While many facilities disallow the use of candles due to their inherent fire risk, the benefits of aroma therapy can be safely experienced by using personally mixed aromas at Bath and Body Works found in most malls. My favorite is eucalyptus and spearmint combined.

5) The Personal Touch – There are many ways to make physical contact with your participants without crossing the line. The use of aromatic oils and lotions is a great way to make safe contact. Before class begins visit each participant. Apply a small dab of aromatic lotion on two fingers. Ask each participant to extend two of his or her fingers. Now transfer the lotion. Explain that the lotion can be soothed into pressure points at the wrist, temples and a small dab under the nose. Nothing is more powerful than the lightest of human touch. Combine that with a soothing scent and you’ve created a powerful experience

6) The Endless Circle: Vary from the traditional class formation with everyone facing the mirror. Instead, lay your mat, or a candle (where allowed) in the center of the room. Ask each person to form a circle around the center. This helps participants learn to self-correct and avoid using the mirror for alignment cues.

7) BEGIN with a Quote: Often instructors END their classes with a quote, something to think about as participants embark on their day. Why not give them something to ponder all hour. This week BEGIN your class with a quote. I use http://www.thinkexist.com/ for inspirational or topical quotes.
(Powder Blue Productions Newsletter July 2004)

Just under 7 Months

Happy Holidays!
Today marks the day of my 33rd birthday and hitting 27 weeks and 1 day pregnant.
Figured I should start taking some pictures of me during this changing time. I feel great! This is a fantastic pregnancy. I truly believe that if you are active before and during, your pregnancy is a lot easier and better. I still have a ton of energy, still teach 7 classes a week, and believe that little Johnny inside will come out and want to hear his lullaby of Turbo music when he wants to go to sleep.

He moves around a lot, except when I put daddy's hand to feel, then he stops. Must be joking with daddy.
Registery is done and so has the bedroom set been purchased. Now just forever waiting on delivery and for my hubby to attack painting the room. He has some great ideas and I can't wait to see it complete.
Will be hosting a Jack and Jill shower most likely on January 21st or 28th. I would rather us party with friends and play catch phrase or mad gab. That will be a fun night, loud, but fun (surely loud as John has a few Blue lights in him).

Tips for New and Veteran Instructors-IDEA newsletter

With his dynamic personality, innovative moves and ability to inspire, Len Kravitz, PhD, an IDEA member since 1983, exemplified the best qualities of a fitness instructor in 1987, when he won the first IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year award. Now he teaches future fitness professionals in his role as program coordinator of exercise science and researcher at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

What advice does he have for group exercise instructors? Here are the Top 10 ideas he shares with colleagues, which he discussed in “Being the Message” in the October 2005 issue of IDEA Fitness Journal.

1. On self-improvement: The largest room in the world is the room for improvement.
2. On professional development: Capitalize on how you differ from others. Promote these assets to the fullest.
3. On dealing with industry changes: Change is the law of life. Our mind is like a parachute; it functions only when open.
4. On business ventures: Business is like a wheelbarrow; it stands still unless you pick it up and push it.
5. On luck: The harder I work, the luckier I get. Remember, triumph is just “umph” added to “try.”
6. On goal setting: If your mind can conceive it and your heart can believe it, then you can achieve it.
7. On breaking out of “ruts”: The toughest form of mountain climbing is getting out of a rut.
8. On life: Life is like riding a bicycle; you don’t fall off unless you stop pedaling.
9. On your professional services: Don’t promise more than you can deliver; deliver more than you can promise.
10. On being a role model: It isn’t good enough to teach a message; be the message.
For more of Kravitz’s insights, see pages 94-95 of the October 2005 issue of IDEA Fitness Journal.

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