Reflections of 2020

So here we are…at the end of a crazy year! This is one year that each and every one of us has had our challenges. Not one person or business has not been touched by COVID-19 whether it is personally, financially, physically, or mentally. So what have you learned from all of this? What is the good, the bad, and the ugly? For a moment think about what that might mean to you. Really…take a moment to reflect…

For me, it has been an emotional rollercoaster. There have been many ups and downs but my focus with today’s message is about the ups. Prior to Covid I worked at the gym Mon - Thurs 12-14 hour days and Fri & Sat half days. I also do social media freelance work, volunteer work for NB Wellness Initiative along with starting my nutritional coaching business. Once everything shut down and I got over my two-week pity party it was time to adapt. What could I do to help? How could I help everyone stay connected?

My first idea was to start sending daily workouts to everyone on my email list and the response was overwhelming. Many people started subscribing to my emails and were so grateful to have at home workouts with minimal to no equipment. Next came my in home videos (way out of my comfort zone) anything from bodyweight, soup can, step stool workouts, and more. Then one day one of my clients Cindy had reached out to me. She was encouraging me to do Zoom workouts (again out of my comfort zone). I was leery because I had never really done anything online…I am a senior in my field and everything I had done up to that point was in person. So with Cindy giving me a push…I did my first Zoom class. (So that I didn’t drive my Al crazy I decided to do them at the gym.) My Zoom class became so popular I decided to add a second day of group training. Many of my clients and members of the gym were so grateful. This was a great way to get some much-needed exercise and for all of us to stay connected.

My next focus while I was stuck at home was…What are all the things I wish I had time for? Cleaning my house from top to bottom but more importantly…Continuing Education! I completed a long time goal to get my TRX Certification, Motivational Interviewing Course, and Parkinson’s & Exercise Course.

The last focus was what was I going to do to stay in shape in order to come back and teach at the level of fitness I was teaching at before we shutdown? I have been teaching group fitness classes for over 14 years and my main focus has been to give every person in my class the best experience. With being shutdown even with the free Zoom classes I offered it wasn’t enough exercise. One of my goals for many years has been to get back to running but I taught so much that there was never enough energy at the end of my week or time for that matter. So I figured there was no time like the present. When I started it was tough…I mean really tough…so tough that my 2-mile run would exhaust me for an entire day but I kept at it. I made a goal by the end of summer to be able to run 6 miles 3 times a week. I reached my goal in August. Of course, all the gyms were open by July but once I went back to teaching I was in pretty decent cardiovascular shape that it was easy to get back in the swing of things.

Many great lessons learned professionally and personally, Professionally I learned that I work with amazing owners and staff (aka Corona Team). Words cannot express how grateful and thankful I am every day to work with such a great team of dedicated people. I have also reduced my hours (kind of) to have a healthier work-life balance. Personally, I realized what is important in life (always a work in progress), who my real friends are, how much I love and appreciate the outdoors, and the really tough one for me how to embrace change on a daily basis.

I continue to adapt to these uncertain times by doing FB Live Classes, Offering Zoom personal training through Total Fitness to those folks who are unable to come back to the gym right away. I also, take many of my Nutritional Coaching by phone, FaceTime, and Zoom.

There are many things that 2020 taught me and I am sure that I will continue to learn new and exciting things in 2021. May this year be better than the last 🙏🏻 Wishing everyone a Happy & Healthy New Year!