Have you thought about a career in fitness? For Rosemary having recently retired it was the last thing on her mind. However, it’s turned out to be a perfect choice.
How are you going to fill your time? I asked myself this question in January 2012 on taking early retirement. Lunches with friends are enough to keep you going for a while. Then I signed up for short courses and classes on fitness, sugarcraft and dancing amongst many other things.
My fitness class teacher, Pat Holden, suggested I consider training as an FLexercise teacher. By 2013 I felt ready to consider a change of career from previous finance and management roles. I researched what training with FLexercise involved and was impressed.
I was enjoying retirement but realised I had started losing my confidence. Taking on responsibility for a class might help me regain this. With support from Heather Jordan, my tutor, Pat and the other girls on the course I successfully passed the L3 course to teach Movement and Dance to Adults in March 2014.
My practice class became my permanent class and like other new teachers, I was nervous and anxious about delivering good quality FLexercise sessions. However, I soon built up my confidence and started to – dare I say – ‘enjoy teaching’. Attending CPD regional and national courses were vital to increase my knowledge as well as providing ideas on what and how to teach our exercise discipline.
Two years later I was wondering what new challenge I could take on. In 2016 Jane Duff suggested I consider training as an Assessor and I started a Level 3 course, through Active IQ with a bursary from EMD. I found this a more difficult course because everything was on-line rather than face to face. I did meet all the course requirements and I have undertaken two Assessment sessions for new teachers in Edinburgh and Farnborough in 2017. The next progression was to pass a Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Award in 2018, again an online course but much more enjoyable. I am about to embark on my first IQA role and put my new knowledge and skills to the test.
This year, 2019, I have completed the L3 Education and Training Course with a super bunch of lovely FLexercise ladies and I am hoping my certificate is in the post.
In just over 5 years I have had the opportunity to take on a variety of roles within FLexercise but more importantly, I have built up my self-confidence and sense of purpose again. I feel that I have something to offer to the organisation as well as learning about some of the very many things that allow FLexercise to continue and hopefully grow.
If someone suggests you consider doing more training or taking on a role within FLexercise please do consider it. Yes, you will be helping our organisation, but you will also be challenging and developing yourself!
If you’re teaching lots of fitness classes and this is your main income stream it may be difficult to consider finding YOU time but you owe it to yourself.
Remember THIS GIRL CAN?
YOU CAN TOO!
If you’re looking for a career that keeps you active and healthy have a look at our training opportunities on our website.