Why Not

Here is a short story for you…

Most of you already know my story of moving to San Francisco so I will skip that part and jump to year 2002 - a year after I moved to SF.  Given that I had a very interesting start to my career in September of 2001, my search for a gym was a little delayed.  Once my work stabilized, then I searched for gyms around the area.  That was when I came across the Embarcadero YMCA.  It was only a block away from my work, the facility was beautiful and my monthly fees were benefiting the “second chance high school” that was in the basement.  It was a perfect match for me.  I wasn’t too into group fitness classes but the Boot Camp class was different…. It was hard core and focused on strength training as opposed to cardio.  I became a regular in the Boot Camp class.  A little less than a year into taking the classes, one of the group fitness coordinators approached to me to see if I would be interested in becoming a volunteer teacher.   I had liked the idea but I was scared because I didn’t know the science behind teaching how to train!  I had been in sports all my life but I was my only guinea pig when it came to training.  I couldn’t imagine leading others in a field that I didn’t go to school for.  Well, after one night of thinking, I said “why not”.  The moment I said that I was willing to try, the Boot Camp instructor started to give me the sections of his class - started with “core” (the last 10 minutes). Meanwhile, I worked on all the YMCA required certifications to ensure that I would at least know some science behind the workouts.

In October of 2003, in the middle of a 40-people Boot Camp class, the coordinator and the instructor surprised me with my “certification” as a boot camp instructor and they gave me a whistle (that I have never used).  I was supposed to be the substitute instructor for the class but the week after I received my whistle, the Boot Camp instructor decided to take off and I was left with the whole class.  Shortly after that I took on a seasonal Outdoor Boot Camp class with a fellow instructor.  And few months after that, I started a Friday morning BOSU Boot Camp class.  All of a sudden, I was teaching (as a volunteer instructor) 3 classes a week.  Those who doubted me due to my size, respected my teaching after taking one class.

I met my husband in the Boot Camp class.  I continued to teach all 3 of the classes during my first pregnancy.  I came back to teaching after 8 weeks of a break due to giving birth.  And during my second pregnancy, I taught my Boot Camp class with a toddler on my back.  And I, again, took only 8 weeks off (doctor dictated).  And until the pandemic, March 9th 2020, I was attached to the YMCA at the hips.  With the pandemic, I started my zoom class to keep my community sane, health and happy…. And that class is still going with some of the same faces from October of 2003!

It is amazing to celebrate 20 years of teaching.  To this day, I am grateful to Ray for recognizing the passion in me and encouraging me to teach.  One “why not” brought me all the way to here right now…. So imagine what you might be missing if you contemplate on a random opportunity.

This month, I won’t share a workout.  Feel free to reach out to me if you would like to workout together so that I can show you some of my old school moves from 20 years ago. ;)

Don’t forget to say “why not” from time to time!

High five to all of you for taking chances…

and she said “why not i can’t have short hair”… and there she is… my mini me…