Coaches Lifestyle Tip – Intelligence, community, and total awesomeness
I am writing this post to congratulate all of you that are members of this fine club (Synergy Strength) as I truly had a special moment in class today that made me realize how great you all are and how much you all have improved and are continually improving. I hope the story to follow makes sense and does not sound like never ending gibberish.
Teaching the noon hour class today started like many others, but the crowd was slightly bigger than a normal crowd, which is always slightly daunting as it makes us as trainers think fast on our feet as to how to best set-up the room and make the workout flow properly. We had a record 28 people in class at noon today, which meant 7 racks of 4 people for bench press and pull-ups. I asked everyone to come in towards the whiteboard and asked for silence for at least 4-5 minutes as I explained the workout. After which everyone began to warm-up properly and get to the proper starting loads for the workout. Once this was completed (which everyone did properly) we got started into the workout. Again with 28 people I often wonder how well things will run and how well everyone will do on timing and structure throughout the hour. At this point I sat back and watched as 28 people seamlessly cruised through the workout without a hitch. There was a moment in time where things appeared to slow a bit, 7 people got out of the rack and made their way towards the pull-up bar as 7 others climbed under the bar and without cues or instruction placed their toes under their knees and strapped their shoulder blades down tight to dig in for their set, every rack had at least one spotter, which assisted their fellow partner to get the bar form the rack at the start of the set. This all happened in unison and on time. It might be hard to put into words, but I truly thought it was a thing of beauty. It quickly hit me how awesome this was and how well informed a group this was, with no needed instruction on mechanics and safety – it was all unfolding perfectly. Now as a owner of a fitness facility – what more could I ask for; an intelligent group of people working towards a common goal of better fitness and better health and doing so with ease in a community oriented group fashion. It truly was a moment in time that hit me in a very positive and emotional way as it felt good to watch the workout from a distance and watch all members helping each other out and guiding each other and assisting each other towards that common goal.
Within the same class was our top female athlete (Laurie M – a courageous leader and inspiration for many), one of my favourite new members who puts forth her best efforts every day and is steadily improving (Lynne – age of 68 and focused on constant steady improvement), a first time Beatdown participant who and is nervous as can be (Joanne – training harder and harder everyday), a kind hearted and full of zest fashion queen (Ronda – who is not afraid to put weight on the bar anymore and constantly pushes those around her). Point being we have all different kinds of athletes in our club who are special in their own way, but they were all together and working harder to improve.
I really don’t know if I can put in words what I saw and felt in that instant, but it truly was inspirational and I must say THANKS to you all for being simply…..awesome.
