Another Milestone Reached

I’m gradually edging closer to becoming a qualified PT. I recently attended the workshop for my Level 3 qualification, having completed the accompanying e-learning for Advanced Anatomy & Physiology and Programming & Coaching. In my mind, although I have a long way to go before completing my advanced diploma, this was the biggie. Failing my A&P exam would mean resits hanging over me while I completed my coursework. Failing on the assessment would mean that certificates for other modules would be delayed, even if I passed them.

Another London course, another swanky studio...

I seem to have some sort of aptitude for study, but not a huge amount of self-belief. I love studying and learning and for the most part, don’t get freaked out by exams. But I have never been brilliant at “science-y”  things, giving up Science at school at the earliest opportunity in favour of Literature and Maths. This goes someway to explaining why the A&P parts of my course have held so much fear for me. I’m interested in the body, it’s a fascinating thing, but it’s a complex machine described by lots of long and complicated names. There was never really a point in my study where I felt comfortable with my level of knowledge. I could remember a bunch of stuff but I didn’t necessarily *understand* things.

So it was with some trepidation that I turned over the question paper containing 37 multiple choice questions on the afternoon of day 1 of the workshop. “Multiple choice” no longer equates to “easy” in my mind. Somehow James, my tutor, managed to distract us from our pending results for the remainder of the course to the point I almost forgot I was awaiting them.

The roof terrace at 37 Degrees

I am over the moon with my solid pass. I can now focus on the assessment I need to complete in the next 5 weeks without feeling distracted by scheduling resits and revising again. The assessment, while a lot of work at this stage, as I’m not used to carrying out fitness assessments or designing programmes for real, live people, feels straightforward. I can do this. I’m methodical and organised and will get it done. Hopefully it will be fun along the way.

And ultimately I know I will pass because I care about getting this qualification. I am interested in the subject and I want to be able to apply my knowledge. Leaving the course venue at Olympia, having spent two days with a great bunch of people, some new faces, some familiar, learning by design and by sharing ideas, I felt elated. I was enthused and excited. This was how I wanted to spend my time. It felt like home and even though I’m a quietly-spoken, introverted 30-something who takes on far too many challenges and there are definitely people who are better suited to be a PT than, I know I will make something of this in some way, because I really really want to.

Living life in balance isn't always easy

King of the Swingers : Kettlebells 101

It was back to school again for me last weekend to do a course I'd been looking forward to for a while, the latest in my FutureFit adventure, kettlebells. This time I got to go to the wonderful facility that is the UEL SportsDock. I want to go back to University... purely to study somewhere like that.

We had a double whammy of instructors, James and Jacqueline. Jacqueline actually designed the course and James has a great method of delivery. Kettlebells are thought to have originated in Russia and the exercises you perform are built on a philosophy of effectiveness of movement. This was reinforced a great deal throughout the course. When you get your head around that the techniques make a lot more sense. When you learn that the Russian masters of sport have to have spent at least 10,000 hours in training alone to merit the award then you know they mean business.

I'm sure many of you have wielded a kettle bell at some point in your fitness life. Maybe you've done deadlifts or swings or even presses. Now I thought I knew how to do a kettlebell swing. Boy was I wrong! 

"More hip snap Vikki"

"You're extending your arms too much"

"Don't lift with your arms!"

Kettlebells are a very humbling thing. They can give you a great full body work out but so much comes from the lower body. Anything that involves lifting the bell, pretty much comes from the glutes. We've sent so much time being told to stand with feet hip distance apart that the wider base you often need feels alien, as does sticking your hip out to rest on in the rack position. 

We had about 2 hours in the class room and the rest of the course was a constant work out in the studio, learning and practicing techniques and exercises. As a beginner you run the risk of getting horribly bruised. By the end of the first day I already had the beginnings of callouses, bruised forearms and biceps even with sweatbands to pad the area and chalk to reduce friction. On the plus side my core has never felt so toned!

Another bruise for the collection

Beginnings of callouses

It was a fantastic course; challenging but so rewarding. I got to meet up with Louise who I met on the Level 2 Fitness Instructor course and I get to spend the weekend with James again this weekend as I take on the Level 3 PT workshop. However if I hear one more joke about cups of tea when I mention kettle bells then I might scream. Or throw one at the offender. And man would that hurt, believe me.

Oh and the course... yeah... nailed it!

Just about in shot flaunting H&S rules and NOT looking at my kettlebell in windmill pose 

Sluggishness and Nerves

Last weekend got off to a brilliant start as I made it to parkrun and ran a very satisfying 27:47 - 20 seconds away from my PB! I couldn't go this week as I had my Gym Instructor assessment (more on that in a minute) but I also couldn't fit in my PT session or go through my program more than once by myself so I doubt I'd have seen any improvement. I am so keen to see my speeds drop I'm prepared to put the effort in, it's just a question of available time. How long before I'm seeing parkrun times starting with a 26 I wonder?

The rest of the weekend was equally fab involved food and friends more that exercise. I treated myself to lunch on Saturday, went to wedding reception on Saturday evening, was treated to brunch with my fella on Sunday and ended it by travelling up to see my lovely friend Alex in Ipswich on Sunday afternoon. She's just started her training for the Brighton Marathon next year and is embarking on a low carb diet and having an hours PT session once a week to keep her on the straight and narrow. It'll be the second time she's taken part in the marathon and I'm so proud of her. I wish I could do it with her but I can't face the fundraising I'd have to commit to for a place so I'm just looking forward to the training run we're doing together in February in the form of the 10 Miles Carnival du Nice. Oh and I'll be going along to support her in Brighton of course. Can't wait!

I didn't get back from Ipswich until Tuesday and had intended to do a Group Kick class that evening. Unfortunately a tummy bug and all the driving wiped me out so I cried off. I regret that now as I'm starting to really feel the sluggishness of a more sedentary lifestyle kicking in and getting frustrated by it. I'm not bemoaning my social calendar or commitments but when I felt so much better for finally getting to Body Balance on Thursday evening and doing something. I made the effort to get up early this morning and work out to a DVD. I used to find it fairly tough but it's testament to my training this year that I felt very strong in class last night and this morning.

Tomorrow morning I take my Gym Instructor assessment. I'm a bit nervous but the things I'm worried about (stumbling over my words, getting things in the wrong order) aren't the end of the world. I do know my stuff and I've informally taught most of it to friends before, even before I started the course so it should go ok.

I'd love to get up to my allotment in the afternoon but the weather forecast predicts storms which gives me the perfect excuse to hole up in the gym a while and attack some intervals and weights. In the evening I'm going to my first ever ice hockey game with some friends. Pretty darn excited about that!! My fella has suggested going for a run together on Sunday which I'm unduly nervous about. I expect to be grumpy for most of it as I'm sure I'll be dragged out rain or shine and there's bound to be hills involved. On the other hand I know I'll feel better for it and there'll be tea when we finish. Can't argue with tea.

Is anyone else struggling to get into an autumn workout routine? Ever been to watch ice hockey? What's it like?

Gym Instructor : Part 1

This weekend just gone I went back to school. School on a weekend? Yep, in a sense. From Friday morning until Sunday afternoon I was at my local sport centre taking my Anatomy and Physiology exams and my Gym Instructor workshop with Future Fit Training.

Back in the summer I enrolled on the Specialist Diploma in Personal Training with a specialism in Pre and Post Natal Training. There are 16 modules to take in total with a mix of online learning, workshops and assessments. So far I've completed the Client Motivation and Psychology module and am really enjoying the course. I've found it relatively easy to fit into my busy schedule as and when but this weekend was a welcome chance to dedicate some time to it and get immersed in the material and meet some other people in the area taking this or a variation of the course.

By a happy coincidence it was held at my local gym, of which I'm a member, so I was able to catch up with my PT and his latest Ironman shenanigans. He texted me over the course of the weekend too, wishing my luck and offering to help me practice for my practical, which I thought was really sweet. It was a great group, nine of us in total, of all ages and backgrounds. Our tutor was fantastic too. She gave us loads of recommendations for books, blogs and websites to look at for more information on various aspects of health and fitness at the end of the course, which I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into.

Friday and Saturday featured two Anatomy and Physiology exams apiece and in between we were taught how to put together a gym programme for a beginner or intermediate client, draw up session plans and how to demonstrate all the equipment and stretches that we might use as part of a programme. It was a lot of fun but a lot to take in over three days. The exams were a bit nerve wracking. The order of the exams was switched from what we'd been expecting from the pre-course information, something that really threw a few of us and left us expecting to have to resit at least one exam but I'm absolutely delighted to say that I passed every single one, and the one I expected to fail was my second highest score - go figure!

The next step is the practical assessment where I have to draw up a programme for a real live person and teach it to them in front of an assessor. My lovely friend Joanne is going to be my "client" and I've got 4 weeks to prepare for it. I'll be down the gym a few times in between now and then practising my "spiel" for each of the machines. looking a bit mad, talking to myself. I' really looking forward to the assessment because if/when I pass I'll be a REPS Level 2 fitness instructor and I'll feel as though I'm really on the way towards becoming a PT (although I'm still not sure whether I'll do it ad hoc, part-time or think more seriously... all in good time).

The next course will start in November and is one of the nutrition modules, which I'm really interested in. This is such an exciting journey for me. It's another dimension to my love of health and fitness and extension of my love of learning. I am a perpetual student! I'll keep you updated as to my progress over the rest of the course.

Have you ever thought about taking a course to qualify in some aspect of fitness?