Why I Love Group Fitness in a Small Town

• I get paid to work out. Could there be a better incentive to exercise. I mean, as much as we like to deny it, $ really is the great motivator. There is no way I would have rolled out of bed to brave the 50 below weather for a 6:00 AM workout if there wasn't some form of payment involved!


• Watching people in the mirrors. People think mirrors are bad, but when used to watch others, they can be a great entertainment tool. The actual purpose of the mirrors if for me (the instructor) to watch your form. I also use it to monitor the intensity of the workout. I watch how hard people are breathing and how much they are sweating. Is their face turning beat red? It's also great for people to watch me. Watch my foot placement, my posture, etc. But the fun part is watching their expressions. I teach a hip-hop aerobics class and watching people try to hip and hop is the funniest thing. The moves are simple and everyone can do them, but there is just something about hip-hop that brings out the facial expressions. Especially on the Big Butt/Big Gut move.


• I've made some great friends. Who knew that you could meet such amazing friends in an aerobics class. I have met such a fascinating variety of people, and I have learned so much about life from them all. I have people in my classes ranging in age from late teens to early 70's. The conversations that happen during cool down of a kickboxing class can be mind blowing!


• I get to act like an idiot and people think it's cool. Well, maybe they are just laughing at me, but at any rate it's a great time. I sing, I shake, I say off the wall comments that embarrass people. Seriously...it's a good time.


• The Up-Beat music. OK, I do have to buy the music and it's not cheap, but there is nothing like the beat of a good aerobics CD to get you moving.