For those of you who don't currently attend classes, you may be thinking I've been rather quiet of late. The reason for this is that my last group fitness class will be held on Wednesday 31st May :-(
This is such a sad time for myself and my class members, and it's certainly a decision I've not taken lightly. There are multiple reasons for my decision, and whilst I won't go into too much detail about these in this post, I am happy for anyone who wants to know more to contact me.
Fitness Quest has been my life since 2005 when I started PT (which I am still doing with existing clients). I remember how nervous I was to begin teaching group fitness, I was so nervous and shy; I really didn't think I had it in me. Regardless, I took the leap of faith and started teaching Boxercise in 2008! I have so many happy memories and have made some great friends along the way.
Some classes stood the test of time (Kettlercise, Boxercise, PiYo), others we had a brief encounter with (Bokwa, Piloxing), and there were many more in between (Insanity, Zumba, Bootcamp). All of these classes, at one point or another took me out of my comfort zone, but ultimately they helped me to build my own self-esteem and confidence. Classes had the same affect for many of the members who stepped through the door. I feel honoured that you all trusted me with your fitness journeys, and for many of you, the classes were much more than fitness. They became your weekly social, your escape from day to day life and for some of you, they helped you to heal from life events.
I myself have experienced what exercise can do for managing mental health, helping me through multiple spells of grief and recovering from injury. My current situation is honestly a mixture of sadness, positive change and needing some closure. I don't need to tell you all how hard trying to run a business through Covid was, especially one in the fitness industry which came to a grinding halt. But that's just a small part of the story. Re-building classes after lockdowns was really hard, but I was simultaneously undergoing tests with cardiology and eventually my consultant advised me to stop exercising (forever). So, whilst I'm refusing to stop exercising altogether, because exercise is my life... I do need to prioritise what exercise I do, and that exercise needs to be for me.
It's time for a new challenge, and I am incredibly happy in my new job (that I started during lockdowns). It's a massive change in career but one I'm so excited to be doing, and one that guarantees to pay the bills at the end of each month!
So, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you. Whether you've been with me from the start. Or you left classes to start a new life elsewhere, to support a growing family or a new career. Whether you were a regular attendee, came and went or attended just the once. Even if you just followed my online updates with the hope of one day attending. I have so far loved hearing all your stories of your favourite class memories (Christmas Burpees anyone) and how the Fitness Quest community helped you through some of the toughest times you've faced (it did with me too). Please do let me know more of these as sometimes I forget just how powerful group fitness can be.
Without you all, I would not be where I am today. You've helped me grow into the leader, the coach, the analytical thinker, the planner and (hopefully) the supportive person now required as I head into my new career chapter.
Let me leave you with these beauties...
Keep up the burpees...
Vicki