Stacey Hellman

I have always been an active individual and enjoyed the endorphin rush that comes from getting a good workout either in the gym, outside, as a group or individually.  Growing up I was active in group sports such as soccer, softball and swimming and soon transitioned into the gym with weights and exercise classes.  These offered different experiences, trained and taught different attributes, but I loved it all.  Physical activity has a powerful impact on me and allows me to push beyond limits that I didn’t think I had.  It is one of the most powerful tools in my mind.  As my undergraduate career ended at the University of Kansas, I moved back to my home state, but to a new city.  It was here, where although I was close to home, I knew no one.  The gym once again became an outlet for me to not only push through some lonely times, but to also meet new people who enjoyed doing what I did.  I began taking cycle classes, and caught on quickly.  Riding wasn’t new to me, but riding indoors is a much different type of workout than riding a bike outside and I had to adapt to new techniques and form. I soon found myself in class 2-3 times a week, most often waiting in line with other to get in the class (I would even get their early so that I could get a good bike – to me they were all different).  Each class became a new challenge to push myself harder than the one before.

I soon began to wonder what it would be like to teach.  I took enough classes a week, I loved the motivation that came from the classes, the way it made me feel when I left and I loved being around the people in those classes, so why not do some research on becoming an instructor myself?  I engaged with instructors at the gym, sent out some emails and soon enough I was registered for the GroupX certification weekend with 24Hour Fitness.  This weekend-long, 16, hour extensive program took me through everything that I needed to know to become an effective and motivational instructor to the organization.  The beginning of my instructing career started slow.  I was getting used to the systems; the microphones, the members and the feeling of sitting front and center.  I was creating my own rides with music that provided a little bit of everything from genre to where the song took us in the ride and I was getting used to the counts, when to add the resistance, when to stand and sit.  However, it didn’t take me long to feel comfortable.  Soon I was seeing my “regulars” come to class.  I was seeing my “newbies” try it out and I was driven by the people.  From those who had been riding forever to those who had just started; those who were young and those who were old.  They all inspired me and pushed me to become a motivation in their lives.  Class was often the best part of my day, and I want the members to feel that way as well.  Good day or bad, coming to class became a release, and a good one. 

I am entering into my 6^thyear of being a Group Exercise instructor.  Throughout the years, I have had the opportunity to teach other classes such as boot camps, circuit training, Everlast Shadowboxing and Core Training and they all have given me the opportunity to expand in my fitness career, but more importantly, to help and inspire others.  Without the members, I may not be where I am today.  They are the reason that I continue to teach, push, motivate and inspire on a daily basis. 

My most prideful moment as an instructor came when a young gentleman came up to me after class one day.  He was one of my regulars and always pushed beyond his limits.  As he was preparing to clean his bike, he came of over and told me he had been taking my class for 3 month, and within those three months, I had helped him lose 25 pounds.  My response to him was that he had done it.  He made the effort and pushed his body to make that change.  I was just happy to have been a tool to allow him to make the changes.  He was inspiring, as so many of the people I meet are.  It is moments such as that one, and others that inspire me to continue what I am doing and become a better instructor everyday. 

I hope to contribute all of this to your program and inspire and motivate people at various resorts to push beyond their limits and have fun, even when they are on vacation.