Instructor

June is Pride Month and the perfect time to start exploring LGBTQ-owned businesses! Pride started in the United States and is now celebrated worldwide, and the celebration occur partly to create a greater awareness of the LGBTQIA+ movement and community.

Our instructor team has grown in the last year and for this month of June, we are featuring and shedding light on LGBTQ instructors and their experiences with fitness and what it means to them. This week, we spoke with Matt Cárdenas, the founder of Fuego Fitness, which also amplifies LatinX voices in the Fitness & Health industry. 

When it comes to mental health, so many of us may be suffering silently because we don’t want to be considered a “nuisance”, or perhaps we don’t think our feelings are a big enough deal. Labels can create a stigma around certain things like mental health, and we at Recess believe that the more we talk about it the less alone we will feel. Struggling with a mental illness is extremely common.

Maria Leguizamon is the founder of Colombian Mafia Fit after starting her health and fitness journey nine years ago. Fitness changed her life and made her feel stronger, both mentally and physically. Discovering her love for movement gave her the opportunity to change the lives of women around the world.

When I was growing up, there weren’t a lot of Asian role models to look up to. I can remember thinking Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan were cool, but they were martial arts stars, not the dashing, handsome, leading men I was used to seeing in movies. They weren’t secret agents or men who fell in love! Instead, they were usually the funny sidekick or the friend who knew karate!

Noel Davis is known as the archaeologist turned personal trainer, and that is a great story! After experiencing a traumatic life event her life was changed forever, and after receiving medical advice to rebuild her strength (more on that below) she discovered a passion for fitness which helped her launch her career as a personal trainer and staring her business Paris Fit.

Learn more about Noel and her continued journey below.

Sweat Lab was founded by Olga Dolynina, a formerly trained dancer. She discovered movement outside of dance when she experienced a personal injury, and fell in love with yoga and started teaching group classes. This gave her the opportunity to feel alive and connected to her body again. Read more to learn more about how Olga is motivating her community and changing lives daily.

Fitness has always had a presence in Jenna Willis’s life, she feels it’s always been a part of her.

Pooja Uberoi is the founder and Artistic Director of IKIGAI USA. She is globally recognized for Bollywood dance and has been responsible for some of the biggest Bollywood musicals in India as well as in the US. Pooja is currently expanding and setting up her yoga and dance school in Florida. In addition to that, she is working on creating and training instructors for her new style BollyJazz.

Christie Horan danced for the University of Kentucky on the nationally recognized dance team for the entire four years of college. While dancing for the University she earned the Dancer of the Year, Coaches Award, and MVP Awards. From there she auditioned for 3 NBA dance teams in 2014 and earned a spot on the Washington Wizards as an NBA dancer.

Emiko Oye is a woman of many talents! Known by many as a colorful jewelry designer (utilizing repurposed LEGO® pieces), she is also a certified yoga instructor helping others find and maintain their sanity.

Being a fitness professional is hard work especially if you are doing it alone. If you are looking for a community that fosters not only your current goals but also your future aspirations, then Recess is the one! Within the Recess community you can discover tools and resources that support boutique trainers as well as fitness entrepreneurs. Feeling less alone and more supported will ultimately help you help others.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

This month, we checked in with some of our instructors to explore their relationship to Black History Month—and celebrate the deep culture that has shaped them.

Whether you are an athlete or overcome the demands of day-to-day life, finding new ways to holistically release stress and relax can be extremely beneficial for your overall health. Infrared Saunas have become a popular option for rejuvenating your muscles while getting a deep sweat. In comparison to traditional saunas, infrared saunas provide therapeutic heat that helps to promote relaxation and improve sleep. A study that highlighted the clinical benefits of infrared sauna treatments, showed that the health and wellness in populations that have a hard time exercising benefited greatly from these treatments.

Who is Colleen Conlon? She is a New York Post-Guinness World Record Holder and teaches women to overcome limiting beliefs by mastering kettlebells with her Kettlebell Intensive. Embodying her own fierce mindset didn’t happen overnight for Conlon. The ups and downs of her past are part of what propelled her to where she is today.  Narrowing down her purpose to help women build strength, confidence all while mastering kettlebells has been more rewarding than she ever thought.

There is a trend that everyone is loving especially during this very cold winter! Hygge is the trend that supports feelings of wellness, coziness, and comfortability. The concept behind this movement is to encourage the commitment to creating joy and contentment in your life daily. It’s about making a positive impact on your life. Colleen Kavanagh, the founder of Soul Being says the overall sense of wellbeing instilled through the hygge trend goes deeper than a temporary feeling of being comforted.  “It is the comfort of knowing that we are able to create this sense of well-being for ourselves despite whatever unknowns may lurk beyond our doorsteps,” Colleen explains.

Mental health needs a voice, it needs someone brave enough to speak about the truths of it and the stigma that surrounds it as well. Being able to speak about the importance of mental health for those in your community is not only honorable it’s empowering.  Discussing this openly as a leader is important and it can help increase confidence and perspective on your current situation as well as the world around you.

Studies have shown that the way we move today can affect our health and how we move in the future. Biomechanics studies the mechanical movements of our bodies and helps us understand what makes us stronger mentally and physically, mobile, and flexible as we mature. There is a clear connection between our daily movement and our mental health.

The holiday season is truly what you make it. Although it can be a joyous time of year it can also be a season of stress and depression. “The holidays can be a stressful time for many, whether it be seeing family members you don't get along with, end of year work stress, or feeling like you didn't reach your 2021 goals,” says Michelle Wax, founder of the American Happiness Project.

This fall, we've been working on a new initiative at Recess.tv—Move For Mental Health, a six-week series celebrating the power of mind-body connection and organizations pushing the fitness industry forward for good.

As we move through the series, we're chatting with different experts to explore the intersections between mental and physical health and the way movement plays a special role in our lives.

What is one main thing that keeps you coming back to a fitness class? Many may say it’s the music! With Halloween around the corner, you might be toying with the idea of creating a spooky playlist. Creating a themed class can be a fun way to create an escape for clients while making the workout fun.

October is depression and mental health awareness month. It is estimated that 5% of the global population suffers from depression and considered a common mental health disorder according to the World Health Organization.

Functional Fitness does exactly that, it helps you function in your day-to-day life with power and strength.  In essence, it is a form of physical training often paired with interval training and lifting weights.  Emily Kennedy, Women’s Wellness and Fitness Specialist explains that for her the purpose of functional fitness is to make everyday life comfortable and easy.

Loving the skin you are in is not always the easiest thing to do, it actually might be one of the hardest things you will ever do. However, if you have reached a point in your life where loving yourself the way you deserve has become a priority (good for you!) then you might be confused whether you are more aligned with Body Acceptance or Body Positivity.

Today being an instructor doesn’t stop with teaching classes.  The truth of the matter is most instructors today are doing a lot more than teaching classes. They are coaching, writing, working with brands, and much more. Whether you are a veteran or new to the fitness industry getting clear on your niche and how to brand yourself is vital and trust me it’s never too late to figure this out. Jordanna Cheifetz, CEO and founder of JAC Digital Inc. says,

Back to school season for instructors might also mean an influx of students that are returning back to their regular fitness routine. The summer is used for traveling, social commitments, and just simple relaxation. As classes both in-person and online start to fill up again below are three tips to help you and your clients transition back to their routine this fall.

The global average life expectancy is higher today than it was in any country back in 1950. So what does that mean? Well simply put, people are living longer. There could be a number of reasons for this from advancements in technology to people taking better care of themselves. Whatever the case may be, living longer is now more common than ever.

You have an amazing wellness program, a passion to help people, and the drive to do what it takes but you have no idea where to start when it comes to marketing your business? Sure, word of mouth goes a long way, your clients are the best at vouching for you but what if you want to reach a wider audience? Perhaps this is your first time as a solopreneur?  

These workout trends hit the fitness scene at the beginning of 2021 and are still going strong straight into the summer. Like many trends, some of these options may work for you and the same may not. Keep in mind just because it’s trending doesn’t mean it's ideal for your lifestyle nor do you have to do it.

Take a look at the trends listed below including the pros and cons for each one to help you decide what's worth exploring.

The fitness space is always changing but now more than ever it has taken a dramatic pivot. Going from strictly at-home workouts last year to now a hybrid model, it’s an adjustment for all of us. Although gym memberships are almost at the same level it was before the pandemic, people are still opting to work out at home and in the studio.

Taking the first step towards better health is not that easy; finding an inclusive environment can sometimes make this process even harder. Creating a safe space literally means cultivating an environment where a person can feel confident that they will not be subjected to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other form of emotional or physical harm.

I am sure you have heard it all before, “Get beach ready”, “Summer bod season”, “Tank top arms” or “Washboard abs”. In some scenarios, this is well-intentioned to motivate clients to work towards a goal during the warmer months of the year. However this can actually cause more harm than good, really think about it.

Mental Health Awareness Month should remind you of why it’s important to put your mental health at the top of your list and also give yourself room to discover new ways to do just that. Why is this important? As instructors, it’s natural for you to absorb the energy of your clients both good and bad. This can lead to your own turmoil, so finding ways to strengthen your mind is essential.

As an instructor, you can only hope you are making a significant impact on the lives of your students and clients. When they show up for themselves time and time again you can feel proud. But when you get a shoutout, now that’s gold!

So you are passionate about sustainability (Sustainability meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations. The three pillars include economic, environmental and social.) and you want to do more to get the word out about the cause but you don’t know where to begin?

Before COVID became a part of your everyday vocabulary it was hard to know that it would change your life forever in so many ways including your health. How you may interact with clients and how you handle your own health has surely been affected in some way or another. “Only time will tell how COVID has affected the meaning of health. We are still only scratching the surface of what we actually know about COVID and its long term effects.” explains Dr. Ari S. Hoschander, MD, FACS

Recess is continuing the celebration of Women’s History Month by highlighting two fitness professionals who balance inspiring others to reach their goals and motherhood at the same time. Lizet and Melissa share their stories, what keeps them going, and advice for other professional mamas out here.

International Women’s Day is March 8th! This year we’re celebrating by highlighting a few of our own women fitness professionals who strive to empower others by providing opportunities for health and wellness in the Recess community. This day is celebrated around the world as a chance to lift up women’s voices, focus on women’s rights, and take action towards ensuring equity in gender. You can learn more about International Women’s Day and find more ways to celebrate here. 

This week, as Recess continues to celebrate Black history month, we talked to Nadia Kashouh to uncover her experience of being a black woman in fitness. Read on to learn more about her journey of empowering others through holistic wellness and movement.

In honor of black history month, Recess is highlighting the black voices of fitness professionals on our platform. Inspired by a Self article, which you can see here, we spoke with our own De Bolton and Jamaal Sanderson who were eager to share their own experiences and insights on what it means to be black in fitness.

2020 was a year to remember and turned the fitness world upside down! With the closing of gyms, limited in-person classes, and the expansion of the online fitness world, people can access workouts at the tip of their fingertips. Recess.tv opened its virtual doors in 2020, offering clients and instructors an innovative way to live stream workouts for people across the country to get up and move while maintaining a group-fitness-like atmosphere. 

Are your clients struggling to show up to and make it through your hour long workout? Offering different class lengths to your clients may be something you need to think about to help your clients fit in a workout that meets their scheduling needs while still supporting them to reach their fitness goals.

The year is wrapping up which means work is ramping up for trainers and instructors. Soon the New Year messaging will start to infiltrate our feeds and you’ll likely notice a bump in attendance at your classes. We checked in with two Recess trainers, Amy and Caleb, to get their take on how fitness professionals can navigate this season successfully for both their business and their wellbeing.

An often overlooked component of teaching in-person becomes front and center when you’re on screen - wardrobe! In such a highly visual medium, all the little details of your presentation are part of a client’s experience of your brand during class. We chatted with Recess trainers to get the tips, tricks, and deals you need to look your best on camera.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, now is the time to check in with yourself and prepare for the upcoming season. We all know that holidays can wreak havoc in managing class schedules, participant numbers, and client motivation. 

You took the plunge and transitioned into teaching virtually. You have multiple classes on your schedule which all take up a lot of time to program, prep, and teach throughout the week. Now is the perfect time to start incorporating on-demand options for your clients, so you can be there for them — even when you can’t. We chatted with our in-house content team CRU Creative as well as Recess instructor and physical therapist, Dr. Megan-Marie Delegas, on how to best utilize VOD to reach your goals.

Making the shift from teaching at a gym or studio to using your home as a virtual studio can be a big transition, especially if you never intended to be on camera for a living.