More GFIT (the warm-up)

Even though it hasn't even been a week yet, I'm writing about group fitness again because it's my biggest learning curve right now. After my Friday meeting I started freaking out about being able to know / hear the start and end of all the 32 count phrases in the music. And being able to start my moves at the right place. But when practicing my warm-up today at home, I didn't let that be my biggest concern. I listened for the downbeat, of course, and sometimes I think I anticipated when a new phrase started. But I think that's the only way to do it. You have to be able to pick it up wherever. And I'm sure the 32-count will be more important when I design combinations, but luckily the warm-up can be a little looser as far as the number of side touches or marches I do.

That was another thing. Figuring out how many of those moves equaled a certain count (which was determined by how many beats ONE of them took and then multiplying). But it's hard when you're also counting the beat of the music in your head at the same time and you have to keep track of how many moves you've done. You know, every step of your foot is a beat, and if a move is more than one step, then you haven't completed a move. So to count the moves? But sometimes feeling with your body is easier than intellectualizing it. Right now I have to focus on transitioning between things, remembering everything I'm gonna do (they said we could put notes on the mirror if we want, but I might be able to remember the warm-up, we'll see), and talking through the stuff. Next week will be actual combinations and then after that, figuring out different exercises to do for different muscles and stuff. We've started familiarizing ourselves with that, but I'm sure I'll be writing down a lot more (along with steps) to make a notebook of things to pick out.

As for music, I downloaded the same mix my step instructor is using. I checked out some CDs from the campus rec music library too, but haven't listened to them yet. But I guess I have some choices now. And I know where to go to download stuff. But we can use the same CD for multiple classes and start it in different places (but if it's only an hour and the class is an hour, I guess there is some limitation). And some mixes are only one continuous track so I won't be able to jump around with those. And I can't plug my phone into the sound system because it's too old a version to be compatible. So I guess I'll have to find mixes that are actually separate tracks after this. Man, I feel like the pace of this group fitness instruction class is soo fast. But at least I haven't fallen behind yet. And hey, if something takes time to get, it's okay. As long as I'm applying myself and gaining knowledge. That, I am definitely doing.

More goings-on

GFIT

Fourth class of 12 tonight. I'm kinda back and forth between feeling confident and scared. Learning to count beats, when and how to cue...the importance of starting on a specific foot because it does matter. Trying not to look too far ahead because what IS ahead still seems over my head. But maybe once the bridge is reached, it will be crossable? I had my first shadow / team teaching day yesterday. It's a 'step n more' class. I did the class intro which wasn't too hard, and then took the class as a participant. Didn't quite get everything, but did my best to soak up everything I could. Next week I have to instruct the class in the warm-up, so this Friday she and I will get together to practice it. I guess there is a lot of time that goes into this class even outside the twice weekly regular meeting. But that's cool. I have to figure out the music situation too. And some other things that I think are bubbling beneath the surface of my consciousness that I have questions about, but like I said, I can't think about too much at once. It's a lot. But I feel like writing about it a little might help me stay organized. Maybe. Hmm, I'm gonna have to choreograph stuff? Holy crap. But jumping ahead, Marianne, jumping ahead.

Tutoring

First day was Monday. It was mostly observation as I sat at a table in the corner of the classroom. There were four class periods that took place during my time there, and different things happened in each. For some, the kids worked on assignments on their own (vocab), in one the teacher did a quiz game on states and capitals...and each period was a different grade level. But during each one, the teacher introduced one or two kids to me and told them to tell me what they were having trouble with. I also introduced myself and said I'd be there every week to help them. So they're supposed to bring materials from whatever classes they need help with and hopefully I'll be able to help them during that class period. I hope I can do whatever it is they bring!

Because I changed places of employment (from the bookstore to tutoring), unemployment forced me into claiming another 'job termination' so I'll probably go back into permanent limbo with them again. Oh well. I've got a lot of other things to focus my energy on – like homework for my other classes and family stuff (they're here this week so I'm really multi-tasking at the moment). I might mention more family stuff in another post, but this is good for now, I think.

Goings-on

Today is my first day of GFIT – I got in! So relieved. There were actually only five other people besides me who auditioned, so that was cool. And they all seemed really nice, so I'm excited to take this class with them. It still scares me a little to think about actually teaching others, but that's when you know you're really living, right? When you stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, try new things.

Speaking of new things, I'll be tutoring a week from today. I've never done it before and don't really know what to expect, but the idea of making a difference for kids in school appeals to me. I have an orientation for it tomorrow (a more detailed one than the one I had last week which was more of an overview and doing paperwork for HR).

Other things I did last week – went to the special computer lab in the education building to do my stats assignment because I don't have the software program, SAS, that they have in the lab. (I tried accessing it through the university apps on my computer at home, but it didn't work). A nice benefit was getting to ask the GA who worked there a question when I had one. Of course he had statistics and of course he answered it : )

I guess some of my time has also been devoted to keeping up my job search records for unemployment (because they still want proof of that even if you are working part-time and still receiving compensation). Not sure how long I'll keep getting it, but we'll see.

And I did other administrative tasks like emailing professors. Well, specifically the one who oversees internships for my program. When I asked about how / when to apply, she said grad students can only do them in the fall now. I'm not really too upset about that fact itself, but just the way she responded so matter-of-factly after she'd known about my intent for so long now. I'm NOT going to postpone my internship til next fall because I wouldn't get financial aid and I've prepared to do it this summer. So if I can't do it for academic credit, I'll do it on my own and just use my last 3 credit hours for the online sports psychology class. I should be able to handle one online class at the same time, right? My professor didn't even respond when I responded back. So helpful. But it's okay. Things seem to be going well overall, and that's what's more important.