It dawned on me the other day as I searched till I sweat for my car tweezers, not to be confused with my bathroom tweezers or my work tweezers, that I AM GETTING OLDER. Not old, but not young by any means. This came to me as I remember the feverish pitch that use to come over me in my early twenties as I searched the car for a LIGHTER. Yep I worked up the same sweat 20 years ago in the car, at a stop light, music loud.( I'm not dead I still like my tunes)

This isnt a rant about how I miss my youth and all its uncomplicatedness. Not one of those pieces that says " Im 40 and I think I'm better then ever" I read all those and love it, but I just gotta say I cant sometimes believe I'm not checking off the box for 30-35 anymore. WTF! I feel like I missed the call that came in to let me know its the second half of the game. And listen, I know your gonna say 40 isnt old. I know that, I get it. I just know that sometimes I still get a pang of fear that I didnt call my mom to tell her I was sleeping out. ( And I am about 4 years away from that call so joke is on me)

I love love love my job. This is the place I get to see women give the middle finger to the number that says how long they have been alive. I had a class this AM with women from 20-50. Isnt that cool? Like a sweatfest where the number flew out the window and the no matter what the age they all wanted to come out beating THEMSELVES. I LOVE IT! I love that at the end each one was taking the time to look at the other one to say" You kinda killled it today" I love that the Young Bucks of the crew look at the Stallions and say "Please let that be me in 20 years" No one was counting anyones's Burpees. No one looked to see who was jumping highest. At the end, they all smiled at their pool of sweat and the number didnt matter.

Lets face it, 23 out of the 24 hours in a day we get it. Age calls many shots. I now need to sit in the first few rows of a movie theatre and for some reason the font on my phone is getting smaller by the minute. Forever 21 isnt making alot in a length acceptable for teachers meetings AND I am pretty sure that my chances of getting on the Real World have slimmed down to um ..NONE. But for an hour a day I get to watch sweat and hardwork tell the 30-35 yr old box to pound sand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So this is what I see. We may not believe we are THIS OLD, but some youngen is looking at us saying" I cant believe she is that GOOD and that old"

 

 

 

 

On the 3rd mile this morning,in the heat, I started to replay ALL the stupid crap Ive done in my life. Ok realizing that the list is longer then the constitution,I focused on one. I brought SNAPS into the Zoo On an 8th grade field trip. Snaps are mini explosives that pop when thrown to the ground. Summary: Me throwing snaps, a riot caused in the monkey cage by sounds, entire school thrown out and me writing letters to Zoo, teachers and heads of schools to try to explain. As STUPID as this sounds, I felt at mile 3 on an already 80 degree day at 7AM, Snaps were smarter then running a half marathon.

By Mile 4 I started getting my stride, the aches and pains of being 35(+5) were working themselves out. I can actually breathe and DMX was yelling at me in my ears. The thoughts turn to my new understanding of how this whole running thing might actually have a purpose, and its got nothing to do with producing physical results.

Quick history. I am a Fitness chick, have a studio, teach classes, train clients, and LOVE what I do. I am also a S.A.R slow ass runner. (BTW Im trying to coin that term so try to use it now to give it street cred) I have numerous clients saying "well I need to do something else I only run." I have forever thought to myself after hearing these words "What the hell is wrong with you" I could NEVER imagine choosing my hour of me time to put on ugly sneakers( Lets face it a cross trainer comes in much better colors) go OUTSIDE( Im a nature observer..Not a lover) and in my mind feel short of breathe and ready to puke.

Why wouldnt you just always choose a climate controlled studio, a big group of people, cuter Sneakers and fun with friends? Anyone who knows my classes knows its not a tea party, but we have our share of laughs and 90s hip hop to get us through. Ive had runners loving classes, coming back for more, loving the new challenge. But they wI'll most often say " I still need the run"

Fast Forward to April of this year. A family member ran never finished. One of thousands. I was taken by the emotion that poured out of so many runners. Not about the events, thats obvious, about their attachment to running. The stories. We ALL have them, but I still was thinking why not a giant SPINATHON, a ZumbaFest even. Not for them. They had to run.

I'd try it. I'd lace up my sneakers to confirm the it was not the thing for me. Not only did I HATE it, Ive had countless Doctors and PTs tell me with my failing partial knee replacement and my need for another, running was right up there with smoking while I pump gas. First run was hilarious, started off as though I was doing a 7 minute mile and about 2 minutes in was at about an 18 minute mile pace, barely. The next 4 were like that. I kept saying" yeah Im all set,   I'll do it one more time to make sure it SUCKS as bad as I knew it would.

Then the day came. Off to run my 3 stupid, sucky gross miles, I decided to forgo my normal route and go by the water. It was one of like 3 of the nice spring  days and I felt good. Started breathing better, feeling better. I got home and looked at the running App I also hated as it often reminds me Im a Sad SAR. It said 7 miles. Weird. I got hooked that second.

Ok its been 3 months. Im up to 3-4  runs a week. Im not going to BLAH BLAH I run this far this fast. Not my gig. I did an amazing run with 4 of the coolest MHEAD chicks going. I was the SAR of the group but I'll tell ya they were the balls. Actually waited for me at the finish(IM SURE FOR AWHILE) and cheered me on like I was Shalane herself. Just the people at that run were NOT the Brooks wearing Bengay Stenching weirdos I once thought. They were interesting even. Im running the BAA half marathon in October. Im thinking the BIG KAHUNNA in April. Im thinking I am tapped even as I write this.

I gotta say everytime I lace up my BROOKS and pull on my compression socks( really??) I think running sucks. When the nike lady whispers in my ear "1 Mile" and I already want to stop and puke. I think it sucks. Then something happens, and I kinda like it.

Im going to blog about my weird little journey. I think there are many laughs to come!

 

 

I am addicted to music. Anyone who knows me knows I always have music on, LOUDLY. Pretty much all types and yes at 40 I will admit I have a deep rooted love for Gangsta Rap&Hip Hop. ( I have real posters in my closet of the Beastie Boys..who even has posters anymore?)

My classes revolve around a beat and as you all know if you have taken my classes, a song comes on that moves me, forget it we are going hard! I love looking out at a class and watching the same thing happen to you, singing, hooting, and an occasional hip shake are pretty common place at Burn. So where do we take this? So there is this thing people sometimes do to music, you may have heard of it, DANCING!

I hear the cyber groans from here! Ok people we are not pulling Baby out of the corner anytime soon, and there isn't a disco ball going up. But its time to MOVE kids. When I was away over the holidays I took some amazing Cardio Dance classes that knocked my socks off AND made me sweat like a 5 mile run! I love a good squat and punch like the next cardio junkie but this was FUN! I've kept in touch with some great instructors I met and along with some moves of my own I am in the final stages of creating my new class Beat&Brawn

Fun, easy, high cardio choreographed songs mixed with good old fashion weight training. How bad could it be right? I mean be honest we all hear those songs on the radio in the car and at least tap on the steering wheel right? Lets take it to the next level.

Not to mention that it's the hottest new cardio movement in NYC with at least seven Cardio Dance studios opening up in the last 6 months. If its good enough for Tracey Anderson to whip Gwyneth, JoLo and Madonna into shape I think its high time the Burn Babes took a crack at it! Meanwhile I took a Tracey Anderson beginner method dance class and felt like I did 3 spin classes I was dripping! Oh and it wasn't hard to catch on AT ALL!

We will also be lifting ladies. YES the key to it all! NO joke more muscle more fat burned even when you are sitting on those dancing little booties you are burning the fat off them when you lift weights. So it's a win win.

Yes the lady who loves to squat, sprint, pedal and push you to your limits has one simple question,

WANNA DANCE??

 

 

I'll admit it, I hate country music. Everything about it bugs me. The twangy guitar mixed with the lyrics about beer bottles and broken hearts literally makes me itchy. Don't even get me started on the bad clothes. Cowboy hats are not OK when mixed with evening wear. Then came the Dixey Chicks. One of my all time favorite bands. 3 cool MOMS that speak their minds, are hysterically funny and have catchy songs that stick with me for days..COUNTRY SONGS! A friend turned me on to them by saying " They are a band you will hate till you listen to them." I redefined my music comfort zone.

Exercise is by nature out of our comfort zone. Sure we all have come accustomed to jumping around to loud music as we slip in our sweat, but we find one thing, one class, one environment where we feel the safest and stick to it. The path of least resistence. So often I hear this " I only run" or " I cant do that class its too hard" or " I CANT get up that early"  To most of this I usually reply " If you think you cant, you cant" 

I am running my first round of P90X. We meet everyday at 5:30AM. Let me tell you, this is no ones comfort zone. But 9 people are kicking ass and taking names before the sun comes up. One member texted me over the weekend " OK I see a difference". That my friends is the reward for doing the things you cant ever imagine doing. SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENS!

This applies to everyday life. Change something! Anything. Take a risk. Surprise yourself.

 

 

 

 

Its just like me. Start a blog not at the start of a month, at the end. Not on a Monday but a Tuesday. Going outside the box is my nature.

I've been in the fitness industry for almost 17 years. When I started I wore leotards and taught step classes. I taught everywhere from Gloria Stevens in Miami FLA to the Lynn YMCA. I am so lucky to still have a career in this ever changing industry. One thing rings true. Sweat makes people happy.

Something about a good class, a good song in that class, a good exercise move that you feel for days, it makes us smile. Even if we are miserable doing it, a sense of accomplishment gives us satisfaction, and in some cases a sore behind:)

So I am starting this blog to motivate people, tell inspiring stories, and make you laugh. To share the crazy things people say and the changes that people make as they try to lead a healthy lifestyle.

I have to start by something that knocked my socks off today. I was teaching a spin class. My favorite thing to teach. Music loud and room was super steamy. I clicked a Kanye song on that as I heard the first few beats I knew might raise a few eyebrows. " Sorry guys Ill get back to something more mainstream" as I changed the song the man in the front row..in his late 60s..yelled" Bring it ON". Yep he was craving some GOLD DIGGER! 

This is why I love what I do. I love to see people get out of their comfort zones and let the workout take them somewhere else.

Enjoy today! Stay tuned for more blog entries.. No names ever, I PROMISE!

It dawned on me the other day as I searched till I sweat for my car tweezers, not to be confused with my bathroom tweezers or my work tweezers, that I AM GETTING OLDER. Not old, but not young by any means. This came to me as I remember the feverish pitch that use to come over me in my...

On the 3rd mile this morning,in the heat, I started to replay ALL the stupid crap Ive done in my life. Ok realizing that the list is longer then the constitution,I focused on one. I brought SNAPS into the Zoo On an 8th grade field trip. Snaps are mini explosives that pop when thrown to...

I am addicted to music. Anyone who knows me knows I always have music on, LOUDLY. Pretty much all types and yes at 40 I will admit I have a deep rooted love for Gangsta Rap&Hip Hop. ( I have real posters in my closet of the Beastie Boys..who even has posters anymore?) My classes revolve around...

I'll admit it, I hate country music. Everything about it bugs me. The twangy guitar mixed with the lyrics about beer bottles and broken hearts literally makes me itchy. Don't even get me started on the bad clothes. Cowboy hats are not OK when mixed with evening wear. Then came the Dixey Chicks....

Its just like me. Start a blog not at the start of a month, at the end. Not on a Monday but a Tuesday. Going outside the box is my nature. I've been in the fitness industry for almost 17 years. When I started I wore leotards and taught step classes. I taught everywhere from Gloria Stevens in...