Definition of a dance teacher…
Someone who doesn’t know what one more time means!
Definition of a HIIT teacher…
Someone who doesn’t know how long a minute is!
And this…
Well you know I always have your best interests at heart… honest!
Reality Check
I think that we have to face facts, we are likely to have various restrictions and mini-lockdowns imposed on us in the coming months which will affect the fitness and dance sectors and I want to help you be prepared to keep fit and well from home!
Things to consider
We won’t have the same weather or daylight hours as we did the first time, so outdoor training is more difficult and less appealing.
We are all somewhat tired and stressed by these past months of living the Covid life and so our energy, mood and resolve are not a good as they were the first time round.
But…we can make the best out of this situation by being prepared and supporting each other.
I want to help you get ready to stay fit healthy and safe, so please sort out your home exercise equipment and environment, if you haven’t already(I have had a request for some hand weights – does anyone else need some too or anything else? Let me know asap and I will then get the order off to my supplier).
Steps to borrow for Class I have two steps that are available to borrow if you want to join our Wednesday night Old Skool Step class.
The Best Experience
I’ve said it before but if you can attach your Zoom device to external speakers or even better your TV via an HDMI cable (only a few pounds and readily available online) you will have a much better Zoom experience with us at class/training. Note some devices require an adapter but we can advise, so do ask.
Connecting directly to the router via an ethernet cable certainly provides a more stable connection than wifi, reducing the incidences of drop out etc.
Check you are up to date with computer/tablet/ phone and Zoom updates.
Zoom has reintroduced the mandatory waiting room, so can you please sign in to class in good time as admitting late comers is disruptive to the running of the class and I will have to wait for an appropriate time to break away from teaching to admit those arriving late (understandably it can’t be helped at times but I know that with some better planning and paying attention to the time, late arrivals can often be prevented)
Why Zoom? I have chosen to invest in teaching via Zoom (as opposed to Facebook or instagram) so that I can see you as you train and so effectively coach, advise, monitor and motivate you and we can enjoy a two-way experience that is as close to our regular class as is possible. (Note my insurance and my ethics require me to be able to see you during our classes so ensuring that as much of you is in shot, plus you are well lit, is important please).
I have chosen to invest in excellent tech to provide as close to a commercial TV experience as possible to maximize the quality of my output (cables, camera, mic, stereo, specialist lighting and TV so I can see you all clearly on my screen)
I have chosen to invest in a specialist music broadcast license to enable me to purchase and play you original artist music (rather than copyright-free) for your classes
I have chosen to adapt the use of my brand new one to one gym and studio to be able to broadcast live to you and invite a couple of participants to join face to face at the same time and have had to move out/sell some of my equipment etc. to do so.
I have chosen to add class recordings to a private Vimeo account so that membership holders can access class videos on demand as a bonus – these videos take an hour everyday to edit and upload.
I have chosen to increase the turnover of new class content and choreography to keep our DYBO home exercise experience fresh and inspiring!
We have turned our home and life upside down to ensure we provide you all with the very best service available and am very happy to do so, but please remember that not all Zoom/online classes are the same (my classes are always the best available in my field either face to face or via online) those who have tried other online classes have attested to this. My overheads are greater because of this investment in service, I am a teaching professional with decades of experience and extensive qualifications, this is not a hobby and I will only offer the best service possible.
Can you imagine how I feel when someone says that I must be saving a fortune because I’m not hiring All Hallows! (they should see my bills for building a studio and setting it up) or that Zoom classes are rubbish, despite not trying mine, or that they can’t be bothered to move the coffee table to the side and other such statements.
I am here to help always, and in these challenging times I’ve ensured that I am still here helping you be fit, healthy, sane and safe but I can only help if you show up!
For those of you who are rocking the home workout, I applaud you – I love seeing you every week and I love being your teacher and friend, thank you!
Spread the word and keep up the great work…
DYBO Live & Online – This week’s Classes are as follows:
Monday
6.30pm Boogie Fit (Beginners/Returners)
7.15pm The Middle Bit – Complimentary when attending BF or CD or £3.50
7.45pm Cardio Dance (Intermediate)
Tuesday
6.30pm HIIT (Simple & effective fitness training)
7.15pm Core Power – Complimentary when attending HIIT or DF or £3.50
7.45pm Dance Fit (Intermediate)
Wednesday
6.30pm Old Skool Step (All levels)
7.15pm Barre Fit (All levels)
Thursday
6.15pm Contemporary Stretch (All levels)
7.30pm Dance & Perspiration (Fitness with a Dance focus, more experienced)
Friday
6.30pm Freestyle Fitness Yoga (Relax, Restore and Reboot)
****** All the above classes change and vary weekly! *****
How to prepare your environment
- You need space to move 2 side steps, 4 walks forward, 4 backward. Move trip hazards and furniture as much as you can (get help, be careful!) to give you maximum space for upper and lower body movement. Roll up rugs or secure them so they don’t slip or cause you to trip.
- Plugging your device in to your TV with an HDMI cable is brilliant as it gives you a good picture of you (like a mirror) and me – as well as boosting the sound if you go through the TV/Hi-Fi sound system. If you can place your device under the TV, then even better.
- I know some of you are using your phones – try to plug in to a speaker system (even those little speakers we have when we go on holiday would help) so that you can hear better as you move back from the phone. Angie has tried Bluetooth earphones and it worked well.
- Ensure you have maximum access to your Wi-Fi in the house and as close to the router as is feasible. Take phones off the Wi-Fi system and pop them on to your 4/5G network or place on airplane mode, unless that’s what you are using to join us, obviously. Ask family to do the same for the duration of your class – keep them off the internet whilst you need the bandwidth. The more bandwidth you have, the better the picture and sound and the less likely you are to lose the feed. Your health is a priority at this time and I’m sure they can do something else for that short time!
- Ventilate your exercise space, have plenty of water and towels to hand, keep your exercise equipment close – if you need anything, let me know.
- Wear correct footwear for your activity – putting an old pair of socks over the toes and ball of your trainers will help reduce friction when exercising on carpet (if they are a really old pair, cutting the toes open and then just having them over the ball of the foot is even better). It’s up to you if you want to dance or train in bare feet but be careful if you don’t usually do this as it takes time for the muscles and connective tissue of the feet and rest of the body to adapt to barefoot training.
- Make your own gym equipment. Save laundry liquid or milk bottles – you can fill them with water or wet sand/rice etc. to add weight and make a dumbell/kettlebell. I recommend you make a few in differing weights and you have written on them so you know what they weigh and seal the caps with tape to prevent leakage. Get a heavy duty shopping bag and put weighty items in it, check they can’t fall out and you have a kettlebell alternative. Make your own hurdles, put cushions, pillows, boxes, books on the floor to jump over. Use household items as floor markers for circuit activities. The stairs and outdoor steps are great temporary steps/benches for cardio and upper body work. The garden is a great open space to make an assault course or if you can get a signal, take your class or PT session outside, but do make it safe.
Fees, you have three options!
£6.50 per class. Paid in advance please.
10 Class Voucher £55
Membership, unlimited classes, £50 plus a lockdown bonus of free access to all videos of the classes!
(Valid first to last day of calendar month, paid on the first day of the month)
If things get so tight that you can’t afford it then please reach out to me, I want to keep you healthy and happy and help you through this tough time and trust that no-one will take advantage of me.
Bank details are UK Fitness Academy Ltd.
Sort Code 09-01-28, Acc No. 04284324
Please email me when you have made a payment and use your name and what it’s for as a reference.
eg. Jane Smith Class Voucher. As reference, I do have a Paypal account but it costs money to receive and move money.
Another good week of results for Steve’s Team Sunweb!
Marc Hirschi winning the major one day race, Flèche Wallone and Søren Kragh Andersen winning the Time Trial stage at the Binck Bank Tour in Belgium.
Nuts and Seeds Porridge (Vegan)
Packed with gut friendly goodies, tasty and comforting.
Ingredients
2 tbsp coconut flakes
1 tbsp ground almonds
1 tsp pumpkin seeds
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp chopped walnuts
1 tbsp flax seeds
1 tsp chia seeds
½ banana
110ml almond milk
110ml water cup water
A few mixed berries
Put all ingredients in a small pot and bring to boil.
Immediately lower temperature and simmer for 10mins.
Serve with a scattering of berries.
Have a fab week and remember hands, face, space!
Stay classy Dudes and Divas,
Love ya.
Helen
