In the Studio with Regina Sweeney

02/03/2014

A worthy read!
http://blog.rateyourburn.com/blog/post/2014/01/15/9-Pieces-of-Advice-from-Seth-Godin-that-every-Fitness-Instructor-Needs-to-Take.aspx

Compiled here are some of the most insightful things Seth has written that apply uncannily to the world of group fitness.

01/15/2014

"If I can not do great things, I can do small things in a great way"~Dr. Martin Luther King

This quote was in my Twitter feed this morning and it really hit home with me.
When I was starting out my "dance fitness" career all I could see was BIG. Big classes, Big tours, Big money, Big events, BIG recognition. And I did chase that "greatness" for a while until I realized that my clients at home were suffering and as a result I was too. The people who stood by me when I was starting out, who stuck by my and cheered my "great" accomplishments were not getting my "great".
So, I started to do my "small" classes in a a "great way" or what I hope is a great way.
It's so rewarding for me to see my clients happy with a smaller scale class and so much more of my attention.

just something to think about.

01/07/2014

Continuing with thoughts about warm-ups:

Instead of thinking of your warm-ups consisting of "steps" and the thought that repeating the same sames is boring ,think of the moves you do in your warm-up as "Skills and Drills" that will enhance your clients dance & fitness levels.

"Step touch" can be thought of as a dull, routine step but when you realize that so many other complicated steps have it's roots in a "step touch" and that by practicing this movement you are building your clients movement vocabulary it isn't so boring anymore.

The same goes for the "Touch step" and the "Grapevine". "Grapevines" are so important for lateral agility that most athletes can be found doing them each time they practice.

Practice what most dance students know that repetition of basics is the way to build strength, agility, endurance and your movement vocabulary.

01/05/2014

Something for Fitness Instructors to ponder:
Don't over think your warm-up.
It is, after all, just a warm-up NOT the main event.
How many clients come to your class FOR the warm-up?
Maybe approach it as the "overture" to your class. It warms up the body and the spirit but it's not the body of the class.
Instead maybe start to give more thought to the final songs as those are what is mostly likely to stay with the client after class is over.
As the great showman P.T. Barnum said, "Always leave them wanting more!"

Just thought to start the year off!

12/29/2013

What was the best dance/fitness/movement advice you received this year?

12/28/2013

What are your GOALS as an instructor for this coming year?
For me, it's about improvement not just education. Remember knowledge is great ONLY when you apply it!!
So I want to improve in my skills, teaching and personal fitness skills for myself AND I'd like to really improve my marketing skills.

What about you?

12/27/2013

So you want to become a better student of dance/movement?
(Remembering that the BEST teachers are always students first.)
Become a student of MUSIC.
Learn the basic fundamentals of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, structure and form.
Learn the differences between 4/4 & 3/4 & 6/8 ect. time signatures.
Learn how to count music, no it's not necessary for all genres of movement but if nearly the entire dance world counts it can't hurt to learn how to do it too!

Gain some basic knowledge of music then apply it to your movement and it will open up another world!

12/16/2013

12/13/2013

There is one thing I can state, with much honestly and all my heart, after teaching dance and fitness for over 25 years and that is there are rarely absolutes when teaching someone to move. Someone's "Never" can be someone else's "Always" and a good teacher knows that SOMETIMES you break the rules.

12/03/2013

I love to dance, let's be honest we all love to dance or else we wouldn't be in this profession but sometimes our class needs us NOT to dance.
They need to "fly solo" even for one tiny little count of 8 or a repeat of a song just so that they can see the proud look on your face when they've successfully completed a step on their own.
Some times watching them move is more fun than moving with them! For all parties!

11/13/2013

Why I like the "same old steps".

First, let us all be real, every step is an old step.
Trust me, I've been in the dance world for 40 years and any step you can think of has been done by someone, someplace else at one time or another.

I like the "same old steps" because I don't have to spend my time teaching them and I can dance or correct form or work on connecting with my clients.

I like the "same old steps" because if my clients already know them they feel 100% successful from the get go. Happy clients mean loyal clients!

The "same old steps" are the same old steps for a reason, they're tried and true. They work and because someone else has done them chances are your NEWER clients will be familiar with the step and THEY'LL feel successful making them happy...

See how that works?

New is great, tricky is fun but never discount or ignore the "same old steps" because they're the "meat and potatoes" of your class.

I LOVE a good step touch, how about you?

11/12/2013

We all know that as fitness and dance professionals we need to take care of our bodies.
What do you do DURING class to protect yourself?
Are there steps you won't do or modify?

The reason I ask is because I know of an instructor whose knees are always bothering them, well I recently observed his class and I thought "yeah, that's why!"