It has taken me years to get here, but it was only a few months ago that I decided it was time to take the plunge and become an aerobics instructor. And today, I finally taught my first class.
It is no secret that I’ve been going to Richard Simmon’s class for years now (even dancing in his infamous Sweatin’ To The Oldies 5 DVD) and that he has been a major influence on me. But my interest in aerobics actually goes all the way back to the late ’80s, when my friend Dory’s mom began teaching it. I can vividly remember her playing the music from a stack of vinyl 45s, long before you could create such a thing as a playlist.
In high school my friends Andrea and Gaby would take me to their Jazzercise class that was held at the local elementary school, during one of the first moments in my life I felt that I belonged.
I only made it through one semester of college, which was just enough time to get one article published in the school paper and fall in love with our aerobics instructor named Joy Free (yep, that really was her name and one of the only classes I attended with any regularity).
After months of studying and getting certified, today marked the first time I stood in front of people and taught an entire class from beginning to end. I hand picked just a few of my friends to participate. Friends I knew I could rely on to push me through and not feel like an idiot when I’d forget to count or run out of choreography. They were the best cheerleaders I could have asked for.
Teaching today represented more to me than I realized. For starters, I have never been associated with anything that involves fitness or exercise that didn’t involve failing. Today I succeeded. As mentioned already, I didn’t make it through college long enough to get a degree. After taking one of the hardest tests in my life to become certified, I am happy to say I succeeded. For someone who feels like he has a lot of ideas and doesn’t always make them happen, today I am happy to say I succeeded.
I will never be the next Richard Simmons (let’s face it, he’s irreplaceable), but I do hope to carve out my own little space in this world where I maintain this commitment to myself to get and stay healthy as well as to inspire, motivate and participate in helping others discover what I’ve learned along the way involving fitness and self-love.
To the girls who danced with me today and held me up with unconditional love and to Richard and Anne and Joy Free who’ve inspired me and to everyone who has supported me and told me I can do this and they can’t wait to take my class, I am bursting with gratitude. It is hard to put into words what this means to me, but I hope to be able to show it to you at some point in the future when you come dance and sweat with me!
And for those wondering, here was my carefully constructed playlist:
The Edge Of Glory – Lady Gaga
Magic (2011 version) – Olivia Newton-John
Dancing On The Ceiling – Lionel Richie
Borderline/Open Your Heart – Glee
One Minute – Kelly Clarkson
Neutron Dance – Pointer Sisters
Into The Groove – Madonna
Hey (Nah Neh Nah) – Milk & Sugar
Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen
Own It – Black Eyed Peas
Glitter In The Air – P!nk
Our official dance studio
I brought a little Richard Simmons along for good luck
My cheat sheet in case I couldn't remember any choreography
Since Dolly didn't make the playlist, I found another way to make her presence known
Forevermore, they will be known as my original dancing Baubles. Baub and the Baubettes!
Photos courtesy of Brandy Meneffe
