Safety Dance :)

Since I left "the facility whose name shall not be spoken," I've been teaching at several facilities and having a blast. I've met some old familiar friends and quite a few new ones too. Sometimes, class members come in with something wrapped (knee, wrist, etc.) up or let us as instructors know of some kind of injury. That's great because it can help us provide a safer workout for them and give more options to continue to get an effective workout while that injury heals. One thing that several instructors have noticed is that many of these injuries have come from taking a Boot Camp class at the "nameless facility." As we look into how the injury was caused, most of the time it could/should have been prevented.

It still amazes me as to the unsafe/contraindicated exercises that are performed all over the place. When we as instructors teach classes, we are teaching to the general population which includes people of ALL fitness levels. Our classes should be designed to be safe and we should be able to give plenty of options during the class. This is much different from a sports-specific training. For someone doing training specific for basketball or soccer, perhaps running backward would be an excellent choice for those athletes. This is really not the case for a general group fitness class. Perhaps a slower, more controlled backward walking lunge would provide similar benefits without risking the safety of class members.

As the cold weather has arrived, some of us have heard nightmare stories about running up icy stairs outside. To risk a member's health and safety is beyond me, and this should set of some alarms as to how credible/knowledgeable an instructor really is. A certified/trained instructor should know better and the paying members rely on the instructor. As I've said before, I would suggest first and foremost, use common sense. If you're getting dizzy in class or members are getting some kind of injury, really consider the instruction and exercises going on in class. Ask other members and other instructors about exercises and certainly don't forget about the World Wide Web! (Google is your friend.)

Please keep in mind that there's always a chance of injury but with great instructors, that chance should be minimized!

Keep working out and Happy Holidays!

Point Made and Calming Down Period

I recently had a talk with my lawyer buddy and he told me not to be worried about the comments. This is because others made the comments and that I did everything I could to remove them in a timely manner. Therefore, everyone can relax and evaluate the situation in their own way. I guess those that commented got their point across (at least for now). Having said that, if you missed all the drama, topics were raised that concerned various inappropriate personal and professional behaviors.

I do want to point out that there were one or two comments saying that they couldn't believe that the person in question would be doing such things. However, in the same comment they said that if this person was doing such things that she needed to stop. So, even then there is some doubt or they would have chosen one side.

Anyway, I really had no idea of all the people reading this blog. I never expected the fitness director to be following the blog but she has. I figured that I was getting away from her and out of her work life and that she wouldn't want any part of mine. I guess I was wrong about that in a big way! Don't you think that it's "sweet" that she still wants to be a part of my life?

Obviously when I left to get away from the "bad juju" and unprofessionalism and drama, I had no idea that it would continue to escalate to where MANY people felt the way I did (or even more so as evidenced by the numerous comments). Only time and actions will tell if things change but either way, be sure that someone will keep everyone up to date :)

Just remember these sayings: "The Truth Is Out There" and "People Are Watching"

A Little Bit Crazy

Things seemed to be getting a little out of hand with posts. People have proof, they don't have proof and so on. At this point, I thought it best to disable any more comments and postings from the public until things get sorted out.

Obviously many people don't approve of certain actions and expressed it. As I said, I'm all for freedom of speech but maybe things shouldn't necessarily appear here when it concerns the personal aspect of someone's life. There are always consequences to deal with based on your actions especially when people don't approve. If evidence exists to support what was posted, those with that evidence should do what they feel is right and just.

Anyway, I want to apologize to anyone who may have been upset or offended by the posts...

I wanted to remove/disable comments until my lawyer friend goes over the information and tells me what I can post. Once that's done, be sure that this blog will get updated! :)

Others Are Finally Getting Involved!

Well, so there are rumors she's staying and some say she's leaving. Regardless, it seems that others are getting involved for various reasons. Until recently, no one has had anything to say. Now, all of a sudden, many people have things to say. I just ask that no one attack each other with conjecture and here-say. The blog was started to give my opinions and the facts of how many things were (mis)handled. It was created so I could share what happened to me personally at the business/professional level without using names or attacking anyone directly -- simply a document of events that led myself and others to leave that place of business.

I certainly encourage free speech (even though the facility did not) so long as nothing illegal goes on. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion so please don't get offended if someone likes or does not like said person. I would ask that anyone who reads this blog to use their own judgment. If this person is your friend and you've never been wronged by her, that's great! Apparently, some people have been wronged or offended in some way as they are really speaking out.

So, if you want to post a comment, the blog is here for that. Just please be careful with your opinions and facts (and definitely no names). Stand up for what you believe is right but try not to hurt anyone in the process. (I'm done preaching now... haha)

Something Evil This Way Leaves?

Well, word on the street is that the coordinator/director is actually going to be leaving town in the foreseeable future. Nothing is official but when hairdressers talk, it must be the truth! hahaha (Thanks to "you know who you are")

Anyway, if this does in fact happen, I seriously hope that the facility learns from this and makes an educated, informed decision to place a person with talent and qualifications in the position. If someone could take a step back and look at all of the instructors who quit, the members that left and all of the injuries that have come about during this coordinator's "reign," it would be obvious of what not to do!

We can all only hope that the dark cloud that has been hovering over this town will soon move on!

The Good and The Bad

I understand that the cycling classes at my former fitness/rehab establishment are going to be FREE soon. At least there's something good coming out of the mess! That might encourage different people to try out another form of exercise and class attendance may grow!

Now for the bad... I've heard that at least one instructor (who just happens to be the "leader") has members doing the cycling classes and in the middle of the class, she has them getting off their bikes to do pushups on the floor. Now, if this was toward the end of class and a cool down was provided to get everyone's heart rate back to normal, this would be fine. However, immediately stopping cycling with elevated heart rates to do pushups can be quite dangerous. Any group fitness instructor should know better whether they are certified or not. Many members aren't aware of the dangers and even those that are could feel embarrassed not to do them with the rest of the group.

Keep in mind that this also applies to any group fitness class - you should NEVER immediately drop to the floor in a stationary position when your heart rate is elevated. Any up and down method like that should involve a period of time to drop the heart rate. Here's a little more detail:

Any sudden postural change during exercise when your head is below or level with your heart is a risk for orthostatic hypotension. Venous return to the heart is dependent upon several factors including body position, total blood volume, hydration status, etc. And, any time blood is shunted to the large muscle groups during aerobic exercise, a rapid change in posture can cause dizziness/passing out and puts you at risk for injury. This can happen in conditioned as well as deconditioned individuals.

If an instructor continues to do this, I would certainly think twice about following that instructor. Getting dizzy or passing out is NOT what a group fitness class is about. So, please use common sense and do not be pressured or feel guilty about not doing certain exercises in classes. Safety is quite important and MOST instructors that care don't want you to get hurt (or worse)!

Unfair, Unprofessional and Unethical Treatment

Discrimination Anyone?

Well, the drama ensues with the Fitness Director singling out (discriminating against) yet another great fitness instructor. In order for the director to (what I believe) remove anyone she feels is a threat or in competition with her, a single instructor received an email that she was going to be removed from payroll because the director AND the Human Resources Department came to the conclusion that the instructor had not covered any aerobic or cycling classes in several months.

This has never been a policy at that facility to remove someone from payroll for this reason and if it had changed, some sort of memo would have been circulated (email, written document, etc). This was not the case. Regardless, the instructor had taught many classes and had the pay stubs to prove it. She had taught classes and/or given personal training sessions in 2007 in July, August, September, October, November, and as recently as January 2008. She also attended the aerobic staff meetings. Not only was she paid for all these classes, her name would be on each and every cycling and aerobic attendance sheet to be paid. Therefore, there is no way that the Human Resources Department could come to such a conclusion (and I do not believe that they were involved in this at all). Also, if the fitness director did in fact review the records for the entire year or even the last few months, there is no way she could have missed ALL of the classes, meetings, and sessions (well over 15 of them).

Now, keep in mind that there are other instructors who have been on the sub list for a long time and haven’t actually taught a class in well over a year – no one else received this email concerning the removal from payroll! It’s quite obvious of the still discriminatory, unfair and unprofessional treatment going on at that facility.

Once the supporting documentation was emailed to the director, she reviewed the information and agreed that there was “some kind of error.” She also conceded that she was not aware of the most recent class the instructor had taught. To further the insult, the fitness director then tried to redefine what a sub is and said that it only counts when a regularly scheduled instructor specifically asks for a class to be covered and that the director must be notified of this change for it “to count.” So, if I was an instructor already at the facility and another instructor didn’t show up to teach his/her class and I covered it, that wouldn’t count? What the hell? At the closing of the email, the director ended by saying that the “sub” status could be eliminated in the future. Brilliant! It’s hard enough to find good instructors but now, let’s just go ahead and eliminate all those who can’t teach on a regular basis. If they can provide support to the program but not regularly, apparently this fitness director doesn’t want to have any backup plan!

Obviously, this instructor wanted to talk to the CEO and did so toward the end of January 2008. She resigned because of all this drama and unfair treatment and because she believed that this would continue as long as the Fitness Director was around. Rather than trying to do something about this, the CEO agreed that she (as most of us had already experienced and resigned) would be subject to this treatment! Again, what the hell?

As I documented in a previous post concerning the letter I received from the facility to remove references/logos from my web site after my departure, this instructor asked that her name and image be removed from all marketing materials. She also indicated that she didn’t want paid for her last class in January and would consider it a volunteer contribution to the members. As of this posting, they are still using both her name and image.

It might be time to give that place a little of its own medicine… Can anyone say Law Suit?