superstar

i've been to enough bodypump classes to vaguely know which song goes for which muscle move, the rythm counts and what a deadrow, triple counts, wide grip etc mean. i pride myself on the fact that i can follow the class move for move because its routine is locked somewhere in my brain, so even when i dont knw wat i'm doing, the song beats tells me when to go fast or slow.

but of course, just because i know the moves doesnt mean i'm able to do all of them back to back. i find i'm usually screaming (internally) during the lower half lunges, not going as low as i should during push-ups, cheating counts on tricep moves and lasting half the time during planks.

today was slightly a different story because i was forced into the limelight. specifically, i had to do the class on stage with lyza (the trainer) because there wasnt enough floor space for the sudden increase of members doing bodypump. i'd love to say i was chosen to be on stage because i was the handal-est.. but i was chosen because i was one of the youngest around and the aunties made me go up. oh, and also because i'm friends with lyza so i assume she feels more comfortable having a friend on stage than some nameless albeit familiar face.

my friends know i have no problem being in the limelight. i fact, i would usually bask in the glory unashamedly. but my point of contention on being pushed on stage, however, is not that i felt uncomfortable have 20 or so pairs of eyes on me while i was sweating bullets. i wasnt even awkward being next to lyza who kept screaming counts and moves every other interval. no, what i didnt like abt being on stage was the lack of a mirror.

the mirror tells me if i'm in right position; if my knees arent going the wrong way while doing squats. it tells me if my legs are 90degrees angle during lunges and that my elbows are tucked in during bicep curls. lyza checks on us from time to time throughout the class, but i depend on the mirror because its there the whole time and not flitting off to another person.

up on stage, not only do i have to do these moves blindly, but i have ppl looking at me to check if their positions are correct. it doesnt help that whenever lyza gets off stage to check on ppl, she screams 'okay look to rabz' and silently mouths to me the next move when she's at the back of the room and cant come back on time to show people.

theres a mirror situated diagonally behind me which i can use to check my positions, but i am self conscious about pushing my bum out in front of ppl during squats at such an elevated height. so i take my position besides lyza, look to the back of the class where the back wall is a mirror, although all i can see is the top of my head and dozens of expectant faces looking at me.

complaints aside, it was a good experience. it made me rethink abt my not-so-deeply buried wish about being a gym trainer (haha) unless its just for friends, like what i did in uk with vivi and ijat. i had to supress my need to cheat on counts and surprised myself at staying for as long as needed during a plank pose. i guess a little push was all i needed.

that said, i wouldn't want to be on stage again, unless the gym puts up a mirror to my side =p

much love,
be'ah xoxo