I am sure that the majority of instructors who have been teaching for over a year have likely come across clients of all fitness levels. Many of these people will have come to you in pain—hidden pain or aware that they are in pain. As Essentrics Instructors, one of the most important techniques/tools that you have to rapidly rebalance their bodies and relieve them of pain…is relaxation.

Remember that relaxation is actually a very powerful technique, and greatly underestimated in the fitness world. USE it with out-of-shape, in pain or older, beginner clients. Relaxation throughout their workouts will prevent the myotatic or defence reflexes from kicking in. This way, the ‘in pain’ person’s muscles will not go into panic or protection mode and permit the needed circulation of blood into the injured area to do its healing magic.

Working in strength training ‘going to the end of the stretch’ mode will contract the muscles, in effect slowing down the healing of your clients.

Encourage people to remain working in relaxed mode until all of their pain has disappeared.

If you have been teaching the same Pre Choreographed routine for some time and aren’t quite ready to learn a new one.
Here are some tips to spice up your Pre-cos!

• • Get to know your clients: If you know your client’s goals and history of injuries, you will be able to communicate which objectives and techniques they should focus on.

• • Change up your intensity level: Try softer and more relaxed side-to-side lunge sequences (if you always do them strong and with a lot of power). Changing up your playlist is a great way to make this adjustment! This will draw the focus on increasing mobility, pain relief and deeper flexibility, which not only feels great, but also rapidly improves posture.

• Change up the speed: Slow down your pliés to work on techniques like “eccentric elongation” and “resistance” to increase the toning and slenderizing of your legs. Alternate sets of fast and slow heel raisers or kicks to train your slow twitch muscles for endurance, and your fast twitch muscles for increased power, agility and speed.

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  FIND THE PERFECT WARM-UP SONG…

  It’s difficult to find a perfectly-paced warm up song with the right tempo to get your class started and create good energy. Here is a variety of songs that you can use for your class or as inspiration to find one that is best suited for you!

  Erika Vipond, Master Trainer
  

  • A Night Like This by Cara Emerald

  Sahra Esmonde- White, Co-founder of Essentrics

  • Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High? by The Arctic Monkeys (Great song for a relaxed warm-up)

  Miranda Esmonde- White, Creator of Essentrics

  • Wake Up Me Avicii by Aloe Blacc

  Gail Garceau, Level 2 Certified Instructor

  • Baby I’m Yours by Irfane Breakbot

  Annabel Tory, Level 1 Instructor

  • Sleepyhead by Passion Pit

DID YOU KNOW…THAT WE CAN CHOOSE HOW WE WANT TO AGE?

• • The human body is designed to remain pain-free, energetic and healthy throughout its lifespan.

• • With Aging Backwards — gone are the days when we had to accept the negative consequences of aging as inevitable and a “normal” part of getting older. In reality, we should never have to surrender helplessly to chronic pain, hip and knee replacements, loss of energy and mobility, poor posture, weight gain—regardless of our chronological years.

• • Most of us are unaware that the process of aging is triggered by cell death. In Aging Backwards, Miranda explains how you can slow down and reverse the speed at which your cells die—showing scientifically, how anyone can stay feeling young and vibrant their entire life!

• Everyone, no matter their age — can benefit from the breakthrough knowledge and advice provided in Aging Backwards. It’s never too late to take control of your body and never let aging get in your way!

Our Instructor of the Month is the perfect example of how to “Age Backwards.”

Marti Harris from Colorado, is aging gracefully through her 70s and has recently obtained her Level 2 Certification. Marti is an extremely qualified instructor who has worked in the fitness industry for over 50 years, with numerous certifications, including; Tai Chi, Pilates, Yoga, and Piloxing.

After being introduced to Essentrics by Level 4 Certified Instructor, Janice Lippard, she fell in love with the technique as she felt ‘it made sense’ and soon began studying and training to become certified. Marti teaches two Essentrics classes for the city of Boulder and hopes to encourage her clients to improve their quality of life with this unique full body workout. She is an excellent trainer who moves gracefully and we are so happy she is sharing this technique with others!

You are such an inspiration to all of us Marti!