Monday March 24, 2014 was a “long” day for me. I had two SPIN classes to teach as well as a TRX class. It was pretty fun to have a full morning of classes. I was also supposed to run five miles, but as has happened all year, my running has taken a bit of a back seat to teaching classes. Anyway, that day was one where I could say, why yes I have done my job as a group fitness instructor.

The first class of the day was really great. We did what I label as the “hardest ride ever” which consisted of nothing but hills with some sprints sprinkled in for good measure. There were times I even thought, um, WHY am I doing this? Nevertheless, the class did it quite well and had a good time.

Then, it was off to teach at my “home” club of Lincoln Square Athletic Club. I’m always a bit nervous teaching there because I am around it so much doing my own thing and I know a lot of the people. Because I know so many, part of me feels I need to really step up my game because I know members talk to each other about how an instructor is. In any event, we did another tough ride, but with fewer hills comparatively however we still had some sprints.

In my classes, I always tell people to do what they need to do because it is their ride. Not to mention that I would much prefer someone do that than try to keep up with me and get hurt. Because injury means no workouts and no workouts is just a sad state of affairs in my world.

So after the second ride, it was on to teaching TRX. I really like taking this class and because of that, I realize how hard seemingly simple exercises can be. So, we went about our workout in there and I had people trying some things to really push themselves. And they were great about it. At the end of class, I had one member ask me when my regular TRX class was because she liked mine so much. I had to tell her unfortunately I don’t have one  yet. Then, the “I’ve done my job” moment happened.

Another member came up to me after class. She said to me “you know at one point in class, I just thought, fuck you Cheryl. But only for a brief second.” Honestly, I loved that. The fact that she stuck around to do TRX makes it even more of a compliment that she thought this. And that she told me. I didn’t ask her what exactly I had asked them to do that caused this thought, but my guess is that it was after we had done some hills and moved on to a second set of sprints that I made “evil” by making them progressively longer and on a hill instead of a flat road. In any event, I had to laugh along with her when she said it.

Moments like that are what it is about. I can help someone push themselves more than they might have thought they could go. It is also nice when someone comes up to you after class to tell you such things and then comes back for more. Even when I say in class if you’re not feeling this move, then by all means do something else. And I mean that because I want people to have a good time and come back for more. The best way to make sure that happens is to not get injured trying to keep up if you’re not ready to.