My two faces

Monday was a busy day for me, as I went from teaching my Zumba class in the morning - home through the shower, and straight down to the port to pick up a tour bus of excited cruise passengers to take them on a city tour.

My two faces:

Hybholts here, Day 8

On the Wednesday (Day 7) the Hybholts took off to Dubai on their own, while the rest of us caught up with stuff like work, washing, ironing, grocery shopping, errands, school and after-school activities. Hence no photos from that day.

On Day 8 on the other hand, there was Zumba (and Haddins) again in the morning, with a nice catch-up at Costas afterwards for Pia to say goodbye, as that was her last session for this time.

In the evening Lucas had rugby as per usual, and they also did this years team photos.
Here are this years U14 Harlequins team, Lucas is the forth boy from the left in the bottom row:

Zumba time!

I started my Zumba journey in Brunei. That's where I first tried the classes and where I started to teach after becoming an instructor 6 years ago. Back then I had a few regulars in my classes who came to each and every class, without fail. Among them my main fan Peggy, a Chinese lady who is a true Zumba lover. She was with me from the very, very beginning and until I left.
So while back in Brunei I decided to surprise her. I tracked down where she does Zumba now and turned up at the studio Monday evening just in time for their daily Zumba class! She got really happy to see me!

I participated in the class, with their ZIN Wewe, and also with Peggy (who has also taken the instructor training) on stage for one track:

After a long rather inactive summer it was a sweaty, sweaty hour! Hello red face!

I also got invited to do a couple of tracks. For old times sake I chose a real oldie - the salsa 'Rebola Bom Bom' which was one of the very first routines I did. It made Peggy smile!

Thank you ladies, it was great seeing you again! Keep up the Zumba love!

Some Zumba boosts of late

I have recently picked up a new Zumba class, which has been a lot of fun. Instead of a "normal" gym class, it is a corporate class. I really love when big companies sees the benefits of organizing fitness/group classes IN-HOUSE for their employees.
I teach at the end of their workday twice a week, which means they can come straight from their desk to do their workout in the same building, be done within an hour and go home and have the rest of the day to themselves. Great initiative! It has been quite a boost to have got this solid little group going, they are super excited each time and the atmosphere is great.

I also ordered some new Zumba wear the other day, and whereas it can be a bit hit and miss if it fits once it arrives, this fit perfectly! I do adore all the soft, loose-fitting, pyjama-feel Zumba apparel, just my style. New Zumba clothes always make you feel really good!

Another thing that made me feel good was discovering myself on the gym wall the other day! I have been teaching at the same gym chain for nearly two years already, and I was asked to write this bio of myself many months ago. I hadn't seen it posted anywhere on the walls before! So I got ridiculously happy about that, and very proud of course!

A social morning

On Thursday I had an early date just after drop off with a few of the other Swedish ladies at the Fairmont, to enjoy a lush breakfast together before Christmas. Fairmont is always a success.

Straight after the breakfast I continued into the city, to meet up with part of my Zumba family for a coffee. We had a lovely few hours together before it was time for me to go pick up the kids. So nice to catch up, we rarely get to see each other as everybody is busy teaching classes on different times and in different locations. I really miss hanging out with these girls, so I was glad it worked out for me this time!

What a week

I'm glad that it's the weekend because this week has been a bit testing to say the least.
As you know it started with the Hybholts sad departure, and the day after Nathan got a text with a speeding fine.  My speeding from a couple of weeks ago... aarrgghh. Well, at least this time I know where and why (I was driving in an unfamiliar area and didn't notice the speed changing from 100 to 80), but still, not good.

I also had a bit of an issue in my Zumba class Wednesday morning. For the first time since I started teaching over 5 years ago did I experience that I couldn't play my music. I got a new phone and had forgot that I needed a little adapter to plug the speakers into the phone... Total panic 10 minutes before class with about 20 students waiting for a good workout!
Well, we found a solution by using one of the phone of one of the participants, and playing music off YouTube... So my well planned playlist went out the window and we just had to work with what we could find of songs and choreo that I knew, rather improvised!
So not me messing up, but there you go, there's a first for everything and I'm going to work the girls twice as hard on Monday to make up for it!

On the bright side, it's November and my favourite part of the year is starting. The temperatures usually stay below or around 30 degrees now even in the middle of the day, and the evenings are getting cooler which is so nice. Bring on UAE winter!

Jammin'

Yesterday I took part in my very first ZIN Jam™ here in Abu Dhabi.
A ZIN Jam is a three hour Zumba® session only for instructors, designed by a Zumba® Jammer. You can apply to become a Zumba® Jammer, as every region have their own, and we have Rellu - who is from Sweden!

These Zumba® Jammers create fresh choreography that they share with instructors during the ZIN Jam™sessions. Yesterday Rellu taught us four new routines, complete with queuing, that we can now instantly incorporate into our playlists.

It was a good way of learning some new tracks, but above all it was great to catch up with my Zumba® friends. There was about 20 of us, so a big group, and many I hadn't seen for quite a while. Lots of fun!

Crazy, happy Zumba

Today marks a special anniversary for me - it's been five years since I became a Zumba instructor!

I took my very first B1 training in Göteborg, Sweden; with Steve Boedt, and just a few weeks later I found myself in Adelaide, Australia to do the Zumbatomic training. When back in Brunei I then started teaching Zumba that year as an ASA at school:

And here's a less charming look, a photo taken after my very first full Zumba class that I gave, in September 2011. 

 

Little did I know then, that Zumba was going to be the only form of exercise I would still find fun, several years later. Zumba still gives me so much energy and joy and I'm so lucky to be teaching Zumba here in AD as well. I still love it!

Las Zumberas!

This morning I did my last Zumba session before my summer break. I was so lucky to pick up this regular Zumba cover this whole month of June. Most of the big gyms where I normally teach, reduced their schedules during Ramdan, and moved any group classes to evening time, but I just can't teach at 10 or 11pm!

This cover I got, was for three morning classes a week - perfect!
The class was made up of a good group of girls who all have come to know each other well, so the atmosphere has been amazing. The girls also all turned out to be really good Zumba students, who followed queuing and direction super well. (Kudos to Mariana, their normal Zumba instructor!)
It certainly put some extra pressure on me that it was mostly the same students three times a week. I have had to vary my playlists and constantly bring out new choreographies, different rhythms and I have worked hard to keep making it fun, each class.

I have truly enjoyed teaching this way, with regular students, and I have made a few new friends too. These two Spanish chicas have been to nearly every class, and they are the closest thing you get to Zumba superfans!

And also this lovely Lebanese lady (who actually speaks Swedish!), who has been to all but one of all the classes I have covered, that's dedication to your fitness!

Always in happy Zumba gear, always in their special spots in the front row and always with the biggest smiles on their faces..! Thank you girls for making this boring month of June that much more fun and colourful for me! I will miss you!

Shake it! Groove it!

It took me a while to find somewhere to teach Zumba here when I first arrived. In January I did start up a class, but unfortunately it didn't work out as I couldn't stay at the venue where we were.
A friend and fellow instructor backed up my application to the chain Fitness First (they only hire on recommendation from their current instructors) back in June - and finally two weeks ago... I got my Fitness First ID and could start teaching in their many clubs around Abu Dhabi!

Fitness First is is a global brand that originated in the UK 17 years ago; one of the world’s leading health and fitness chains, with over 380 clubs in more than 15 countries. We have four clubs here in Abu Dhabi, and there are 61 Fitness First clubs in the Middle East.

I haven't got my own slot, I currently operate as a cover instructor; but man, have I been busy since I started! Basically, I could teach every day if I wanted to, but with my otherwise busy schedule (or should I say, the KIDS' otherwise busy schedule...), it has only been about 2-3 times a week so far.
It's so much fun, and I'm so lucky to still have Zumba in my life. It's making me happy and I'm making a lot of new friends, plus it keep me fit and strong too!

The BETO Masterclass in Abu Dhabi 2015

So Friday night was the day of the Masterclass we all had been waiting for. Beto was actually here in Abu Dhabi last year as well, but I missed him then, because it was the same week we went to Rome. So I was so happy I got a second chance! Apparently there was a LOT less people this year, but there was certainly nothing wrong with the atmosphere..! It was buzzing!
I came ready in pink for our track, with pink hair and everything!

Before the concert, you could get "prettyfied" in the glam station outside, for free:

... snack on some lovely, healthy food in the snack bar - and buy Zumba wear of course. A whole shop was set up, with changing rooms and everything!

Some people did their own "glamming" and last minute cutting up of our pink t-shirts:

 

All the Abu Dhabi ZINs had got spots in the two first rows, so we were really up, close and personal with the main man and his crew!

It was a fab, fab class! The presenters are all incredibly talented and have such presence and charisma, all of them; and again, I felt very lucky to be part of a Zumba family so filled with joy and respect for each other, and to get to share this experience with all of them!

And Pia was there too!

Here's a short snippet of when Beto decided to go down and join the crowd - spot me!

One of my favourite moments, Beto dancing to a traditional Colombian cumbia, together with some of the local ladies:

Then he decided to share his hat with Tammy, our Zumba Mama, I love these photos of her!!

As cool down, it was time for "our" performance. We did a choreo to the 'Fight Song' by Rachel Platten, at the same time as a video played by one of our fellow ZINs, Cecilia, who is battling cancer right now. It was rather emotional, as the fight against cancer is a cause very close to my own heart, with several cases in the family; and a very beautiful moment.

I'm all the way to the right in these photos:

What a great, great night!

Special practise session - with BETO

The reason I couldn't stay longer for Lucas' tournament on Friday was that I had a Zumba practise session at the Du Forum, for a special track a few of us instructors were going to perform later that night in the Masterclass, with Beto.

So Beto and his team turned up, and we got to dance with them again. Quite special!

Another day, another fan photo with Beto! Ha ha, take every opportunity!

Another small, personal moment with our Big Boss. It was just our small group there.