Crush

I was reading my Twitter feed this morning when I came across Katie (@katierosman) tweet about today's Wall Street Journal article, My Muscle Mentor (http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10000872396390443618604577621950491909074-lMyQjAxMTAyMDAwNDAwODQ3Wj.html?mod=wsj_valetleft_email)
I have had fitness crushes in my life that has inspired and motivated me to go for my personal best. There was an aerobics instructor back in my teens that had a great playlist that seemed like it was taken from a mix tape of mine. I looked forward to her classes and planned to go. When there was a sub, many in the class were disappointed. As aerobics like Jane Fonda declined, so did her class offerings, and I was one of the few hangers on until they ceased all together.
Fast forward a decade. I took a spinning class at the gym I belonged to then. I wasn't a big fan of the genre,but the instructor was a different story. I only took her classes, because they were exciting, engaging and one heck of a workout. I would leave class a sweaty, sore mess and looking forward to the next time. After years of dance and dance oriented classes, spinning was a very different environment for me. That was part of the allure. It was the personality of the instructor that kept me on the bike. She was part drill sergeant, part soothing earth mama, which was the right combination for that class.
After she stopped teaching, spinning was no longer in my rotation.
I've had yoga instructors too, that were essential to me continuing in that form or style. I was loyal to my studio, Princeton Center for Yoga (http://www.princetonyoga.com)and I'd they thought an instructor was worthy enough to teach there, I should at least try their class. One instructor did a yoga mix, combining different styles in class, and I loved the variety. It wasn't her instructional style or even the asanas. It was the little anecdotes she shared. I learned about everything from Neti treatments to vegan cooking to the best way to clean my yoga mat. I almost wanted to bring a notebook to class & scribble when she talked.
As a yoga instructor, I find I can be chatty, and subconsciously I am replicating that experience. However, my "hook" is a printed page sharing my playlist and some general info on class. However my dialogue during class is all ad libbed.
Maybe one day I might be the subject of a fitness crush. Or even better I might be the inspiration for someone to find their fitness groove. That's a long term relationship.


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