At the end of the day, no matter what happens.  The world has lost one of the greatest entertainer and song writer. NOBODY put on a better performance than him…but his music will live on forever!”

He was truly the greatest entertainer of all time. When I was young, I tell everybody when I grow up, I want to be like him…till today I still can’t do the moon walk… )

I have lots of favorite Michael Jackson songs like Thriller, Beat it, Bad, Jam, Black or White, Heal the World, Man in the Mirror and etc.

Michael Jackson has been part of our workouts routines in Les Mills Body Training Systems…  

Michael Jackson lives on Forever in Les Mills Body Training Systems:

Les Mills Body Pump 16, Track 3 –  The Way You Make Me Feel

Les Mills Body Pump 20, Track 8 – Jam

Les Mills Body Pump 23, Track 8 – Blood On The Dance Floor

Les Mills Body Pump 28, Track 7 – Can You Feel It

Les Mills Body Balance 7, Track 3 – Man In The Mirror

Les Mills Body Balance 17, Track 6 – Unbreakable

Les Mills Body Balance 18, Track 6 – You Rock My World

Les Mills Body Attack 10, Track 8 – Scream

Les Mills Body Attack 18, Track 4 – Blood On The Dance Floor

Les Mills Body Attack 19, Track 11 – History

Les Mills Body Jam 20, Track 9 – Rock My World

Les Mills Body Jam 21, Track 5 – Thriller

Les Mills Body Jam 4, Track 11 – Blood On The Dance Floor

Les Mills Body Combat 37, Track 2 – Beat It (sung byFall Out Boy Feat, John Mayer)

Les Mills Body Combat 36, Track 6 – Bad

Les Mills Body Combat 14, Track 2 – Smooth Criminal

Les Mills Body Combat 12, Track 5 – Beat It

Thanks for the loving memories Michael and may you rest in peace…
Body Fitness Exercise

I myself got my Muay Thai training from Muay Thai Institute. It is a great skill to have if you are into personal training.

I only know of a handful of Exercise Fitness Trainer out there that is train in Muay Thai and is able to incorporate Muay Thai into their personal training programs for their clients.

I would greatly recommend Muay Thai to any Exercise Fitness Trainer as this is the next up and coming fitness faze. Another great tool for you to sell yourself but of cause you must at least have the basics.

A little introduction to Nai Kha Nom Tom Ceremony, proudly presented by Muay Thai Institute

One of the most important traditions of MuayThai is “Wai Kru” (Paying respect to your parents, maters, teachers and trainers) and the philosophy which it encapsulates. Wai Kru is an ancient custom which is closely bound to the fundamental Thai concept that provides of knowledge are all teachers — and are worthy of utmost respect.

In the pecking order, the “kru yai” or headmaster. Between teachers — parents, educators, trainers or mentors — and their students a special relationship is believe to exist, one which will endure and leave a lasting impression.

Likewise, the bond between those who study under the same teacher is regarded as being parallel to kinship, so that such students refer to each other as “pee nong”, brothers and sisters.

When students seek knowledge from their teacher, they first offer symbols of respect: flowers, garlands, incense-sticks and candles.

If these seem overly religious and more suited to temple offerings, then bear in mind that monks are also teachers while in their own turn being disciple of Buddha: just two more manifestations of the core teacher-student bond.
 
Informing the Spirits Ceremony (Buwong Suwong)

The enduring beliefs of the Thai people in the unseen, the spirits which inhabit all places and have to be kept happy or, if necessary, appeased when they are angry.

There are visible signs of this redolent animism which coexists quite happily with the dominant Buddhism in the little spirit-houses which are to be found in the corners of many gardens and elsewhere.

Looking like little pagodas elevated on a “bird-table”, tiny offerings of food and drink will be presented to the occupants, who likewise are informed of any major happenings in the lives of the people in the “big house”.
 
 
Initiation as a Trainee Fighter (Kuen Kru, Yok Kru)

A much more sumptuous and elaborate version of this tradition is the Buwong Suwong ceremony which must be held prior to the Annual Homage-Paying Ceremony and Initiation as a Teacher rituals.

(In the case of the Initiation as a Trainee Fighter rites, which can be regarded as a personal contract between teacher and newly-accepted student, not involving the spirits of teachers past, it is an optional requirement.)

The ceremony is performed by Brahmin priests who in form the spirits of what is about to take place ask their permission to proceed and also invite them to attend if they are so inclined.

A special banquet is laid on for the spirits, the menu varying according to a whole range of factors, including to the favorite dishes of the particular deity to whom a special is being made.

A pig’s head, chicken, desserts and fruit are typical offerings, along with candles, incense sticks, flowers and other gifts.

The important factor is that, once it has been determined which form of Buwong Suwong the ceremony is to take, there is no room for personal choice in the offerings provided: an excate list has to be followed with no omissions or deviations.

After waiting a suitably respectful time — perhaps about an hour — to enable the spirits to eat their fill, the human participants in the rites can partake of the feast, which, having been tasted by the spirits is now full of lucky portents.

Now that the spirits have been made aware of what is to happen and their favor has been sought through the edible offerings, the main ceremony can proceed as planned.
The precise details of all the ceremonies differ according to the traditions of MuayThai training camp/teacher involved.

Invariably, however, all the ceremonies are very powerful and moving, making, as intended, a permanent impression on the participants minds and helping to stiffen their resolve.
 
In the past, before a teacher accepted a new student, he first spent a great deal of time considering the proposition, trying to ascertain whether or not the person was really worthy of becoming his student.

Some young fighters even initially had to act as servants to their prospective teachers until such time as the teachers were convinced of their suitability and good character. The process something’s took a year — or even several years — to reach a resolution.
 
 
Annual Homage-Paying Ceremony (Wai Kru Prajam Pee)

When a teacher agrees to accept a new student, the initiation ceremony is held, usually on a Thursday, which is traditionally regarded as Wan Kru (Teacher’s day).

As they make a formal request to be accepted, the students present the customary symbols of respect to their prospective teacher (Krueng sakkara buchaa kru).

Unlike the set requirements for Buwong Suwong, there is some leeway for personal choice, although candles, incense sticks and flowers are invariably included.

Another customary offering is a symbolic amount of money, like nine Baht, “nine” in Thai being “gao”, a word which, with a different Thai spelling but identical pronunciation, also means “to step forward or advance”, giving it a hidden propitious significance.

Students pledge in front of the teacher that they will be diligent and hard working, and that they will respect and obey the teacher, following his rulings to the letter.

The teacher, for his part, officially accepts the students and promises to instruct them to the utmost of his abilities.

This ceremony is held annually throughout Thailand in schools, universities or wherever else learning, or whatever sort, take place.

Where Muay Thai is concerned, it is held either on MuayThai Day (17th March) or any other traditionally propitious day, and requires the trainee fighters to show their respect for and gratitude to their teachers.

Teachers and students alike gather together to arrange the Annual Homage-Paying Ceremony, inviting as many past teachers as possible to attend.

The ceremony involves many traditional Thai emblems of honor and respect and commences with all those assembled paying respect to the souls of teachers who have passed away.

The ceremony then progresses to the students honoring all the teachers present, who mark sacred symbols on the fighters’ foreheads with power in order to bestow prosperity and success upon them — a custom know as jerm.

The ceremony involves the performance of Ritual Dance of Homage by the fighters as a mark of respect to their teachers, while both teachers and students mark sacred vows. 

From my previous blog, you now know that there is so many pre-choreograph workouts program out there in the Fitness Industry. Les Mills, Body Training Systems, Radical Fitness, Silver Sneakers for the seniors and etc…

Workouts Program like Les Mills, Body Training Systems and others require the fitness center to purchased the licence fee in order for the program to be taught in their centers and some charges a monthly franchise fee to offer their programs.

And there are also workouts program that do not require any licence fee and will train any instructor who wants the training and they are free to teach the program at any fitness center.

Pre-choreograph classes are meant to draw traffic into the Aerobic studio and so increase the rate of potential participants into the Fitness Center. The Fitness Center will also have the advantages of the pre-choreograph program’s existing marketing and brand recognition.

Why not we take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of pre-choreograph and freestyle group exercises.

Pre-choreograph Workouts Exercises v.s Free Style

(Pre-choreograph) Advantages:

• Focus on how to teach an excellent class so things like personality, coaching and entertaining are some of the main points.
• Don’t have to worry that the instructor may use contraindicated or ineffective movements, since the exercises are chosen for them.
• Do not have to think about choreography as they are ready written and designed by professionals.
• Choreography comes with music selection.
• Comes with DVD or VCD  for easy learning of the workouts program.
• Everything is prepared and ready so reduce in effort on preparation for class thus saving time.
• A great way to shorten the learning curve for new instructors and can help improve weak instructors. 

(Pre-choreograph) Disadvantages:

•  Too dependent on it. May lose interest in going back to teaching freestyle class.
• Cost of releases can be burdensome to instructors considering if you are teaching very little of that program a week.
• Some Pre-choreograph workouts program companies require a contract and a monthly fee from the Fitness Centers.
• Newbies that started with pre-choreograph programs first may not have the proper exercise knowledge e.g anatomy, physiology and counting of bits and etc.
• You may not like the Choreography and you are not allow to change it.
• The club or fitness center that you teach may need a licence for you to conduct the program.
• Have to still practice the choreography before hand as you are not allow to change to any of your own moves.
• Can’t do much about the intensity of the class if the moves given are easy or slow.
• Students may get bored on the moves or music after a while.
• Have to complete their training course before you teach even if you are a season instructor.

(Freestyle) Advantage:

•  Able to create your own style and creativity.
• Create your own branding, you will have your own unique style and choreography.
• Have the freedom to change the choreography and music anytime you want.
• Money spend for resources won’t be as much as pre-choreograph ones.
• Clubs don’t have to pay any licence for your program to be taught in their club.
• If you are a season instructor, you can even come out with a new set choreography on the spot.
• You get to set the intensity of the class.

(Freestyle) Disadvantage:

• Have to spend extra time and effort rehearsing before the classes.
• Tend to use the same choreography for a long period of time. (I have known an instructor that uses the same choreography for years)
• Not easy for new instructors to choreograph their own routine.

Now you get a better picture of Pre-choreograph and Freestyle workouts program, both have their strength and weakness. It’s really up to your own preference which program you like best. Whether Pre-choreo or Freestyle, you got to have that ‘X’ factor to yourself to the top!

Most of the gyms here are buying into Les Mills Body Pump, Les Mills Body Combat, Les Mills Body Step, Les Mills Body Balance, Les Mills Body Attack, Les Mills Body Jam, Les Mills RPM and the latest Les Mills Body Vive group workouts program classes.

Les Mills body training systems are really making very big in Asia.

I recently found out from the internet that there are more of other pre-choreographed group workouts program. There are TurboKick, (TurboJam) and even mind body program known as PiYo and dance program Hip Hop Hustle and etc.

From Body Training Systems (BTS) they have Group Power, Group Kick, Group Step, Group Centergy, Group Groove, Group Active and Group Ride.

Radical Fitness provides Fight Do, Power, Mega Danz, Ki Max, X55, Top Ride and U Bound. This is where Nathaniel and wife Gaby went to, they came out from Les Mills Body Combat and come out with their own workouts program Fight Do.

 There is also group classes for the seniors known as the Silver Sneakers. SilverSneakers group focus on exercise classes that are appropriate for older adults who are fit and active as well as those who are sedentary, intimidated, unfamiliar with exercise, entering post-rehabilitation programs and ALL those who enjoy a positive, upbeat social environment.

Wow there are so many of these pre-choreographed workouts exercises out there, as I’m from Singapore, I thought Les Mills body training systems was the only one.

These types of classes are all pre-choreographed which means they are all ready design, outlined and set to music, with each beat planned and written. So If you are interested to be an Instructor of the program, the companies will actually train you on how to teach the programs and you only need to follow it.

Once you have been through the course, you can purchased the releases at regular intervals. The releases will contain the exact materials you will use in class until the next new release arrive. You can mix tracks and are expected to teach the class exactly the way it is choreograph.

Let’s take alook at a few of these workouts program here and you tell me what you think about them.

 Body Training Systems

Group Kick

Group Power

Group Centergy

Group Groove

Les Mills

Body Combat

Body Pump

Body Balance

Body Jam

Charlene’s Workouts

Turbo Jam

Turbo Kick

Hip Hop Hustle

Radical Fitness

Fight Do

Power

Oxigeno

Ki Max

Mega Danz

Whoa…that was quite a hand full! What do think, which workouts program you think is good? Think about it, drop me a mail at melvyn@bodyfitnessexercise.com. Tell me your views and comments, I might just bring the program to you…

Les Mills Body Combat at Suntec City

I was once told by an Exercise Fitness Trainer that Les Mills Body Combat has very sissy moves.  He was into real martial arts then. Anyway he has not seen other kickboxing classes where the instructor do not even have any martial art base and you can tell from the way they execute the moves. It became very aerobic and dancy in nature. I shouldn’t say it’s not right, just that it doesn’t look authentic and appealing to me…

I’m a trained martial artist myself with a 2nd degree black belt in Jissen Karate. I’m also train in Muay Thai in Bankok Thailand at the 
Muay Thai Institute. And a little training in capoeira. I have also participate in various major full contact tournament.

When Body Combat was first brought into Singapore, which at that time was Body Combat 4, i saw the program and I like it right away. The moves  was very close to the real martial arts that I practice.

The creator then Nathaniel and his wife Gabby were both martial artist themselves. Even the new presenters and choreographer Dan and Rachel are train in certain form of martial art disciple.

So I went for the first batch of Les Mills Body Combat instructor course with  a few of my colleagues. Not everybody are train in any martial arts then, maybe just 5 out of 20 participants.

I pick up the moves quite easily and I have to work harder on the verbal cues and catching the music bit as this was my first group exercise course. I must admit that as a martial artist myself where I have been train for years in a particular move, say a round house kick. I actually criticised the way a round house kick is taught during the course. I was thinking that a round house kick should be execute in this manner where you can deliver the maximum power.

Then I realized that the Body Training Systems is design for a Cardiovascular Workout with music for the general population. You don’ t need to have maximum strength or speed as in real fighting. The main focus is Safety! That got me thinking and I should try to be more flexible and open in the way I think. It should be a safe workouts program for the general public with martial art moves to be as close as the real thing.

I use my Body Combat class to prepare myself for my competitions. I use it to build up my stamina and my endurance level. I will put in alittle  more power and keeping my moves sharp during my classes. I will keep my guards up at all times. As I motivate my class to work harder, the class also pushes  me to give it all out as I can’t be showing any less effort than them.

Stamina plays a huge part in any full contact tournament. Let me tell you, if you put enough power and execute the moves properly for an hour, you can really get a strong workout. I am lucky to take advantage of Body Combat as my training tool.

I remember I have a student, her name Jayne, frequents my Body Combat classes. She was on a business trip one day in Holland and was walking up a flight of stairs carrying her laptop bag slinging on her shoulder. Half way up the stairs, a man dash up from behind and tried to snatch the bag from her.

While he was still tugging on the bag, Jayne first instinct was to give him a back kick she pick up from Body Combat. The kick lands on his face and he tumble down the stairs. He then quickly pick himself up and ran away.

So you still think Body Combat is for sissy? Think again! I don’t know about other Les Mills Body Combat instructor but if somebody comes to my Body Combat class and start mocking at the moves. I’m gonna give him a face reconstruction with my round house kick!! Ah ha ha I’m just kidding!

The morale of the story:

Never mess around with anybody that attend Les Mills Body Combat classes. :p

Follow the Money

The next lesson is to go where the money is at. Check every Fitness Centers and studio in your area, find the one where you will bring home the highest rates per class and start teaching there. Take note on this one. If you live further away from a particular gym, it may not be worth the transport money and time.

Or you may lose out teaching 2 classes located near each other if you prefer to teach the further one. Do the comparison for yourself to make sure it is worth the commute.

Increase your Hourly Rate

The next best way is to get paid the highest amount for your class rate per hour. Ask for a raise! Be prepared to show the Fitness Director or the CEO exactly why you deserve more money. If you are certain that you add value to their Fitness Center then go for it. Ask yourself these questions before you take this step:

• Have I been a loyal team player of this club for a long enough time to prove that I am committed?

• Do I help arrange for covers in advance and take all necessary steps to get coverage in emergency situations?

• Am I well like by all the employees in the club from the General managers, receptionist to the cleaners and etc?

• Do I go above and beyond the call of duty in matters of customer service?

• Do I perform tasks that help out the club or the members, even if they are not listed in my job duties?

• Do I consistently have high attendance in my classes? (Very Important!)

• Do I have a strong reputation as an excellent instructor? (Very Important!)

• Do students beg for more of me?

• Do I receive any awards like “Best Service or Best Instructor of the month”

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then all you have to do is ASK! Only if you ask, then you have a chance of getting a raise. You will have a very high chance if you regularly exceeded expectations and were a proven asset to the club.

If you have not meet those criteria, don’t be disappointed. Take a few months to improve your performance in any or all of these areas and approach management with your request.

These are the most basic lessons to improve our salaries as Exercise Fitness Trainer in Group Exercise. Tune in for more information about how to earn a 5 Figure Monthly Income As A Personal Exercise Fitness Trainer And a Group Body Fitness Exercise Instructor and some very creative ideas on how to Make $120 Or More In Workouts Exercises Per Class.

You can really command a great living as an Exercise Fitness Trainer in Group Fitness, If you don’t really find yourself in that prospective, there are 101 ways you can turn the tables in your favor and generate more money for yourself in Exercises Business. There are many ways you can follow so you literally make the most out of teaching. 

We’re going to discuss some very basic approaches here that really come down to how to find the best gyms. Then, we’ll look at some very creative ways to command more money for your time.

Simple Math

Let’s start with basic calculations. You are currently paid $X per hour per class and you teach around 10 classes per week at this XYZ Fitness Club. The easiest thing to do would be to take on more classes and covers as frequently as you can, thus increasing your salary. 

The limits to how much you can make depends on yourself, and the number of classes you can teach in a week depends on how hard you want to work. I work really hard, I use to teach around 38 classes a week. Crazy right? You will be the only person to answer that question.

Maximize your time

First fill up the peak hours of your day, they are the mornings, the afternoons (lunch time) and the evenings. These are mostly office crowds. Then find classes to fill the other timings say in the morning from 830am to 1130am, there are people that can work late, with flexible work timings and housewives.

It will then follow by the afternoon classes which is most of the time you can after finishing the late morning classes you will carry on with the afternoon classes. Then it comes to a time between 2pm to 6pm where it’s a little harder to get classes as not many people are able to or like to attend classes in the late afternoons. It is left with people with either very flexible work timings and the housewives.

Schools offer this kind of off peak hours as students or teachers end their classes during this timings.

In the evenings where classes usually starts at 630pm, 730pm and follow by an 830pm. Which again you will try to fill up this hours. Sometimes if you are lucky, you may be able to get a 5pm class mainly from corporate companies which allows their employees do their exercises workouts during office hours as incentives.

Again it is up to you how many hours of work you want to put in. Some Exercise Fitness Trainers teach only in the mornings and afternoons, some during the 3 peak periods, some the whole day (like me, Crazy!), some only 2 hours a day.

 Read on on How to Make Money as an Exercise Fitness Trainer in Group Fitness Part 2!

• The main most important factor in any of the Body Fitness Exercise programs be it free style or pre-choreograph programs, is to know how to teach. I’ve seen many highly qualified instructors that do not know how to relate instructions to their students and so their classes remain poor or average attendance.

• No matter how qualified you are and if you are not able to relate your teachings to your students, sorry to say you are no difference from a new comer.

• There are many institutes or courses of the programs that ‘teach how to teach’. They teach you how to plan and teach a fitness class as an Exercise Fitness Trainer in  aerobics. You can practice giving cues or verbal instructions there.

• In the beginning this is how I started, I try to practice being a Body Fitness Exercise aerobic instructor with 2 colleagues of mine and they are the cleaners of the fitness club. They were my best students. Practice with your family or friends, and if they can follow what you are teaching, you are quite ready for commercial classes.

• The music that you select for your class as an Exercise Fitness Trainer is important as more higher intensity classes, the music must be upbit and sets the mood and gradually transits to higher levels.

• For mind and body classes, choose those that relaxes the mind like the sounds of the nature, streams, the waves, the rain and some light musical instruments.

• (Tips!) Selection of music is important as it sets in the mood and many times if you have a great music, the students will often come up to you and tell you they love your music selections.

• Before you teach in those big commercial mega gyms, you may want to teach for a while in community centers, smaller health clubs, corporate companies and hospitals to get your experience.

• You will be are paid on per class basis and it depends on your fitness education background, experience and feedback received from the students.

For more informative articles on the benefits of becoming an Exercise Fitness Trainer please read Benefits To Become a Fitness Instructor Part 1 and Part 2. And if you have any questions at all feel free to drop me an email, melvyn@bodyfitnessexercise.com

Having Interest to become a Body Fitness Exercise Instructor in group fitness? Teaching workouts exercises to others and keeping fit at the same time seems like a great job. Whether doing it part-time or full time, there is a lot of earning potential in this line. Club fitness is a booming industry and are sprouting like mushrooms everywhere.

The question lies on how to begin, where to go for courses and what kind of courses to take? If you are thinking seriously of becoming a Exercise Fitness Trainer in group exercises, simply follow these easy steps given below:

• First thing first, determine what kind of group classes you like and you can see yourself teaching it. If you have no idea of what kind of group exercise you want to teach, go for all the various group classes in a club and experience it. Narrow down a few of your favourite group exercises.

• It range from free style classes like step aerobics, kickboxing, aquarobics, sculpts, spinning classes to pre choreograph les mills programs like Les Mills Body Combat, Les Mills Body Pump, Les Mills Body Balance, Les Mills Body Step, Body Attack, Les Mills Body Vive and Les Mills Rpm and mind body classes like Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi and etc.

• I suggest teaching programs that you enjoy so it will be easier for you to master and teach the program. You will naturally be able to bring out the essence of the program with your own unique style.

• 2nd, find out where and how you can attend the course of that particular program which are recognized nationally. For free style classes like aerobics, steps and etc, there are certificates from organizations like the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) or the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

• Or you can also enrol for a local certification under the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) known as the Aerobic Instructor Course (AIC), berforethat you have to attend the BEC (Basic Exercise Course) as a pre-requisite.

• As for pre- choreograph calsses like the Les Mills. You can enrol right away when the course is here, its about a 3 days course. After that, it is best you shadow an experienced instructor of that program to improve your teaching and cuing skills till you are very comfortable standing in front of a class and with your teaching.

• (Tips!) Try attach yourself to an aerobic instructor who is more experienced and take small groups in his class and gradually gain experience.

• It goes the same for Yoga and Pilates, although these courses can last 3 months to a year and it is a little more expensive.

• Knowledge of first aid and CPR are required in most certifications. In these courses you will cover topics like understanding all the aspects of fitness related topics, anatomy, exercise physiology, Kinesiology, and various other motivational techniques.

There are still more things to cover on How to Become a Fitness Instructor in Group Exercise. Please read on in the 2nd series. How to Become a Fitness Instructor in Group Exercise Part 2.