Automation

Wow!!!!  How long has it been! I haven't posted for over a month! In the next week or two Choreographytogo.com is moving over to a brand new platform and will have a whole new look which will include my blog  so I wont have to post separately on my blogger blog it will be all included which should make life a bit easier. 

The new site has taken 7 months to build! Its been such a laborious job transferring all of the videos over to a new server and automating all of the event bookings and qualifications but we are nearly there. My graphic designer Andy has created a really different look and feel for the banners and headings etc so hopefully this week will be spent testing and testing and testing as we move the whole of the database over to infusionsoft.

 The new move SHOULD free me up time wise as the site becomes a whole lot more automated so I don't have to manually update everything on a daily basis which is what I have to do now.

I'm of to St Helens now with Jo Parry to teach our Fitness Fusion Tour and Ill blog about the day when I get back later.

Have a great Sunday 

Lover Rachel

  

Back on the road

This week sees Lucy and I in Manchester for our second Slammin Social Media and again we have a full day ahead and even more interesting developments in Social Media that we are going to be adding. SM is moving SO fast and there are SO many ways  to promote your fitness business and network with potential customers and clients using Social Media. If you have been reading my Blogs and newsletter etc then I'm sure you are all exploiting Facebook and Twitter but LinkedIn is the way forward if you want to get yourself in front of local businesses. We are going to look in depth with how you can work LinkedIn and get maximum exposure for you and your business.
Also Miss Parry and I hit the road at the weekend with Freestyle Fusion Tour. We filmed the DVDs last week and had a run through of the day and its going to be so much fun! Jo and I have been great friends for many many years but this is the first time touring together. I'm super excited as well to showcase our music and to teach the 80's Perfect class and my raunchy Burlesque Bar,after being on the road recently doing loads of Fitness Pilates and Functional training this tour is going to be a massive breath of fresh air and a nice change.
Therefore I'm going to enjoy my bank holiday and do very little apart from chill out with my friends, as I'm going to be on the road pretty much the whole of June and July.
Hope you are having a fantastic bank holiday xx

Pay as you go OR Paid up front -

It's been hot, hot, hot this week and as the UK basked in the beautiful sunshine what is it doing to our class numbers? Judging by Facebook many Instructors classes on Monday looked like their numbers were halved, my numbers were definitely down during my morning classes and of course we are now faced with the WORLD CUP and its impact on fitness classes, so is it really time to look at limiting the amount of pay as you go classes and look seriously at paid up front courses or even operating a monthly subscription to your community sessions. Whenever this issue comes up I always get a huge in box from instructors who run very successful businesses as pay as you go,. so possibly, changing a pay as you go class to a paid up front class is not the way to go. Byouut any new classes that you start then I seriously think you should consider running them as courses or monthly subscriptions. 

Here are all of the pros and cons I could think of to help you make a strategic business decision when setting up new community classes or Bootcamps. But first let's look at Football. If you want to see when England plays or any other team check out http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html Last world cup I remember having 3 and 4 people turning up instead of the usual 30, my classes were pay as you go so a nightmare, what with the snow at the beginning of the year, hot days and Football is it time for a rethink?......

I have run pay as you go community classes for the last 23 years and the income has always been up and down. You take the good with the bad and that's how it's always been. For years I didn't have holidays, I never had a week off or a break and, of course, suffered badly during the summer and bad weather. I was a slave to my pay as you go community classes and they controlled me. Recently, there has been a mind shift  and many trainers now are realising that it's smart to get clients to commit up front to a course of classes. You run your business rather than your business running you. 

So, I know many of you who run successful businesses may not agree and as I have said I don't think you can change a pay as you go into a course but if you are planning new ventures this summer at least way up the pros and cons. All of my new community classes including Fitness Pilates Bootcamp, will be run in 4 week courses no exception. I would love to get your views and opinions so please do post on the forum or my Blog http://Rachelinfitness@blogspot.com

Running classes in courses/pay up front

1.You get all of your money up front in one go enabling you to pay your room hire fee and know exactly what your profit margins are.

2.Commitment - Customers paying up front are committed and will think twice about not coming or cancelling as they have already paid in advance.

3.Time management - You can schedule your courses however it suits YOU. e.g. you could run courses during term time and have the holidays, or run 4 weeks on with a week of in-between courses. Running on going classes every week can be very very draining.

4.Goals Orientated - Great for your marketing...In 4 weeks you will...... Drop a dress Size..... or Lose Inches or....Strengthen your Spine or whatever it is your class goals are they can easily be measured in a shorter time frame.

5.If it 's 100 degrees or snows or football is on. You have already been paid and it's up to the customer to ensure they turn up regardless.

6.You can budget more effectively for tax, bills and business planning.

7.Makes you IN CHARGE of your business. Customers are more accountable to you as they have paid up front, you have a clear set of terms and conditions stating your policies and procedures.

8. You can guarantee results if you know someone is coming every week for a set amount of time.

Running classes as pay as you go

1.Some customers work shifts or cannot commit to attending a class every week.

2.Many people don't like to commit but will still come most weeks - therefore this can be a selling point.

3.Weather/What's on TV/Cinema all have a bearing if customers turn up or not so income is up and down.

4.Cover - It's difficult to have time or weeks off.

5.Lack of cash - These days people don't have so much cash rattling around in their purse , every thing is paid for by card.

If you don't want to keep running courses then you could always do monthly standing orders so if you run several classes in one area then offer a monthly package for a set amount and advertise the customer can cancel at any time.

Ideas for Summer Courses

So if you are sold on the idea of kicking of some courses how about these for ideas:

1.Outdoor Bootcamp - Everyone is doing it! Find a park and get stuck in. I've written tons about this over the last few years so what on earth are you waiting for?

2.Bootcamp for softies - There is a huge market who don't fancy a hard core, kick ass Bootcamp so what about Bootcamp Lite or Bootcamp for Softies or Beginners Bootcamp? Great selling point and USP.

3. 1 week intensives - A class every morning/morning or evening for 5 days on the run - Bikini Bootcamp together with a weeks detox diet plan.

4.Fitness Pilates Package - 1/2/3 or 4 week Intense Pilates course with a diet plan

Let me know what you think

Love RAchel xxx

Swimming in Soup

Sometimes days and weeks go by and you make massive amount of progress in business and in your personal life. I'm listening to the Secret in my car reading all the right books and doing all the right things to get where I want to be, last week so many new oppertunites came along - Presenting in the US has always been a dream and Lucy and I sorted it with our first US event, I was buzzing after Bio Sig and loads of others bits that all came together than this weeks been like swimming in soup....One of those weeks where nothing seems to move forward and problems pop up every step of the way but its all part of being in business and life would be so boring otherwise dont you think! I should have my new VLOG up later on here so would love you to stop by and have a look!
Hope you arnt swimming in soup today and your day is as productive as mine is going to be ;-)
and I hope Lucy Lou's back is feeling better today xxxx

FAT LOSS for Cougars part 2

Hey, I hope you are all well and happy and at last enjoying some better weather. How good does it make you feel when the sun is out, classes have been booming this week and everyone seems energetic with positive minds, which I am sure is down to the weather.  I've been holed up for the last 6 days in the Comfort Inn, Heathrow doing Charles Poliquins Biosignature Level 1 course  and was it worth covering all my classes, missing a girls' holiday, having to work on the websites and study every night in the hotel. YES, YES and YES! Charles was/is phenomenal.  I've been to Charles's lectures at Fitpro several times and have always fancied the Bio Sig course. A trainer friend of mine, James, did this last year and loved it and he has been Bio Sigging me for the last few months. Since which I've been following the paleo diet and  I have lost 4%Body Fat ready before the course, so I kind of knew what to expect, but the 5 days were absolutely outstanding, the nutritional information is relentless. Charles totally knows his stuff and you can't write down the information fast enough, I've also been taking Fish Oil, HCL, Magnesium. Zinc and Estrogens Clear and Charles explains all the supplements and what works for what in which combination. For example, if you are storing fat around the sub scapular area this shows a low tolerance to carbs so a low carb diet and supplementation would be beneficial, fat round the middle could mean lack of sleep, stress and Estrogen, fat around the calves could show lack of growth hormone. There is so much more information and I am still pouring over my books and making sure I understand all of the protocols and of course practising the BioSignature 12 site measurements with my lovely new shiny skin fold callipers. Bio Sig 2 is in October in Sweden and I'll be booking on for sure. I'm now working on my Fat Loss and Fitness Package for Cougars (over 40's) and a Nutritional Package for Menopause, both subjects I'm really interested in, so if you would like any more information on these packages when they come out then you can sign up on http://RachelHolmes.Biz  For more information on Charles Poliquin and Bio Signature go to www.CharlesPoliquin.com

After nearly a week away it's been great this week to spend most of time working on and finishing new projects. I have been writing and filming a new Fitness Pilates Business Package, which includes audio lectures, business plans, class plans, downloads, music for Fitness Pilates, and  also as a free bonus a 30minute Fitness Pilates Coaching Call with me, where we can talk about your business set up, promotion, ideas, PR and Fitness Pilates content. I have 20 packages that I will release first so if you would like to get on the early bird list then make sure you add your email to http://FitnessPilates.biz

Outdoors Bootcamp -  I have written so much over the past few years about doing an Outdoors Bootcamp that I decided to film some outdoor Bootcamp ideas. They are all non equipment and you don't need music, so why not take your class outdoors and go for it!

 

A Blog/VLOG

So a Blog/Vlog mix would seem to work. Ok Ill do a VLog post for tomorrow and you will have to tell me what you think.
Rachel xx

to VLOG or BLOG??

Morning All - So, its where to start this morning my assistant Grace and I are working on my Fitness Pilates business package today plus putting the my new Cougar Fat Loss Plan together. I need to make headway with these 2 products and finally get them in the can.
I trained like a lunatic on Monday doing loads of old skool muscle beach leg training - I haven't trained like that for ages and ages and I squatted with 2x 20kg plates, followed by dead lifting 60kg and Kettlebell swings with 28kg and I proper enjoyed it! But OMG I couldnt do anything in Fitness Pilates last night and I can barely move this morning...serves me right.
As I'm sitting at my desks looking out into the garden it looks like being a sunny day! YEAH so I'll hit the gym and train upper body, teach Aerobics and Aqua then back to the office.
Steve Watson, Jo and I have been working on Steves new release on Infitnessmusic.com and I've been having it on non stop, Id forgot about loads of the tracks on the mix and when I used in class for step yesterday everyone was going mad. I do have a very eclectic mix of people attend my step in Nottingham religiously and they were all shouting and screaming and giving me the thumbs up as every track came on...Just like the old days.

Anyway just before I go - Do you prefer to watch a little video clip on a BLOG (VLOG) or prefer to read a Blog???? Let me know

Hope you all have a perfect day
Love Rach xxx

If you an audiobook junkie like me and like to listen to stuff in your car try:
Michael Port - Book yourself Solid!

Fat Loss for Cougars

2 Blog posts in 2 days!! Radical dude, you can tell Im holed up in a Premier In for 4 days!

I have not seen many of you this week as I've been away studying on a nutritional course by one of the worlds leaders in Nutrition, Supplementation and Training Charles Poliquin - you can check out Charles website www.CharlesPoliquin.com  

 

I have learnt so many new methods and up dated information that I cant wait to get back and create fat loss and workout packages for you guys. I am particular interested in providing fat loss information for 40+ women and will be putting together nutrition packages especially for this age group.

 

I will be teaching all my classes as usual this week and have got loads of new choreography, workouts and ideas that I cant wait to share with you.

Its exciting times in the world of fitness, training and nutrition and I'm looking forward to sharing this information with you, ensuring 2010 is your best year yet!

If you would like any further information then drop me an email or I will see you in class next week.

Much Love and Happy Staurday

Rachel xxx

Its been a MONTH OMG

OMG Its been a month since I blogged! How rubbish is that I promote myself as a social media expert and here I am slipping up on the blogging front!
WELL, it been a hectic one in the last 4 weeks Jo Parry and I launched a brand spanking new digital download music site for which is going great guns. The mixes are AWESOME and I will say with my hand on my heart our mixes are the best. Every choon is inspiring, uplifting and CURRENT no fillers, no rubbish just the best so make sure you check us out http;//infitnessmusic.com.


Lucy and I launched Slammin Social Media for Fitness which is a new service for Fitness Instructors wanting to use social media to its best. We can guarantee you can find over 1000 new leads in your area who are interested in YOUR services, coming to you Bootcamps, becoming PT clients and attending your group X classes. We look at niche marketing, business plans, strategies, social proof, testimonials Its 2010 people and the dawning of a new era in fitness marketing.


As i write this Blog I'm just of to Day 3 of Bio Signature with Charles Poliquin and he has blown me away the nutritional and supplement information is second to none. Mr Poliquin is a walking. talking, No Bullshit oracle of information...so I better get of ready for Day 3 and Ill bring you a complete run down  in the week.


Have a fab and productive Friday


Love always Rachel xx

Something New

I’m just about to hire some additional help to assist me with running the website; so I am going through all of my business and I’m putting everything into the systems, so every aspect of the business, every action, every job that I do on a day to day, I'm documenting each procedure so I can easily pass this on to an assistant who can follow my instructions and work without me at everyday tasks. This will help me free up my time enabling me to concentrate on creating projects and not get boged down into day-to-day running of the website.

i'll keep you posted with how I get on xxx

Fitpro round up

Rachel's News and Updates



Fitpro Spring Convention


Well, if you missed the FitPro Spring Convention this year, you missed one of the best educational conferences I have ever been to!!! Yep It was THAT good.... This year’s Convention was by far one of the best educational conferences in the UK, No, The world!. The line of the presenters was second to none. There were amazing lectures, fantastic practical sessions, and the best workshops that I have ever seen. One of the stars of the FitPro Convention was by far Michol Dalcourt. His exclusive preconvention workshop Evolution 2010 - new future for functional training was educational and thought provoking. His ViPR program and ViPR exercise equipment (which stands for vitality, performance, and reconditioning) sessions were a breath of fresh air and I predict ViPR will be HUGE for PTs and small group Personal Training. Michol is one of the leading educators, authors, trainers, and inventors in the world Fitness Industry. He leads in all areas of human movement and performance  and to hear him lecture and teach was something not to be missed


I absolutely loved the lectures and personal development section of the conference. All were inspiring and motivating lectures by some of the world’s leading authorities on Fitness Marketing, Social Media, Business Development, and Business strategies and Implementation. Bob Esquerre is a leading business strategists in fitness; his lectures on setting up and marketing your own fitness studio, looking after staff, and using social media to promote yourself and your business really made you think about how to place and manoeuvre your own business forward into 2011 and beyond. Nic Jarvis’ sessions as well are very good and very inspiring and Robert Cappuccio. Again, these are the world’s leaders on business subjects and listening to them lecture  and speak is worth its weight in gold. They hold you captive from beginning to end. PLUS their strategies are useful and ready to implement into your own business super quickly.


On the practical side - great presentations and choreography from American Rob Glick, his choreography is flawless; very smooth; loads of different ideas, different directional changes, very inspiring. I also love Magnus Ringberg.....WOW! you just can't take your eyes off him. He is an instructor from a different planet. He is so smooth, creative, and so very unique in his style, mesmerizing. He has very useable choreography and combinations. A former ballroom dancer,Magnus has to be one of the best Freestyle Teachers out there today, and if you get the chance to ever take a class with Magnus Ringberg then make sure you do; because he is an exceptional trainer. Flying the UK flag, were myself, Jayne Nicholls, Jo Parry, Helen Carpenter Waters, Cherry Baker, Katie Bulmer, Denise Page, and Marvin Burton, who taught for the first time the ViPR group program. The LMI (Les Mill International Team) of course were huge at the Convention, their presentations are flawless and watching the teams on stage makes you want to get involved. The energy from the Body Attack, Body Combat, Body Step is infectious. Fabulous to watch


 Pilates sessions at the Convention were huge. They were probably bigger than any of the choreography sessions in the whole Convention. Stott Pilates, Modern Pilates, and lots of fusion Pilates and Yoga sessions. At a Convention you can see how diverse the Pilates market has become. You have Fitness Pilates, which is more functional. Modern plates, more remedial and Stott Pilates, which is very classic and traditional - This is all great, there are lots of different Pilates styles and different organizations taking Pilates forward in different ways, which can only be a winner for the client and Instructor who can find a Pilates style to suit their teaching style and clientele. It is great to see presenters bringing Pilates forward in lots of different directions.


I celebrated my 40th birthday whilst at the Convention, so on that Saturday the legendary FitPro dinner and party went on the swing and was brilliant fun. The pinot grigio was flowing, great conversations, good fun, all in all. Do not miss the Convention next year. It was inspiring, motivating, and I am still buzzing from all the ideas. The Fitness industry is growing, the opportunities are endless. It's now up to us to move forward. Thanks to everyone that attended my sessions, you can find all of the choreography notes on my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/RachelLHolmes so please add me

Love Rachel xxx

Bob Esquerre mentioned me!

Yesterday it was the start of the PT conference at The Fitpro spring Convention, and the awesome Bob Esquerre, who is one of the worlds leading authorities on fitness marketing, business planning in the PT world mentioned ME in his lecture - OMG!! I started getting facebooks messages and a few texts to say Bob had said:

"hey, was at the PT conference at Loughborough Uni today and one of the world class speakers (from the US) used you as an example of an exercise pro with the outstanding ability to engage each and every person in your class....making every single person feel totally cohesive and capable! Just thought id share that with you. :)"


How flattering is that! I'm of to Fitpro now to will be blogging all weekend about sessions, social media, presenters and choreography.

See you there!
Love Rachel xxx

Gearing up for Fitpro

All the preparation is ready and the routines are rehearsed as I gear up for the Fitpro Spring Convention at Loughborough. Loughborough is only 15minutes away from me so I love being able to nip home after sessions:-)

I've got loads of meetings and people to see this weekend as Jo and I are about to launch a big new project which we have been working on.

Im teaching Choreographytogo tomorrow and Bootcamp with Jayne Nicholls and of course I'll be blogging and filming bits all weekend so you will be able to see whats going on if you can't make it.

I had a fantastic Birthday yesterday, it was such a special day, although I have really been dreading being 40, today I've decided to embrace it (I've not got any choice really!) theres so much more I want to acheive with my business and with my life so today Im going to take as many steps forward as I can to realise my goals...Its a goal setting day today... I can feel it xxx

If you are at Loughborough please come and say Hi!

Love Rachel xxx

Slammin social Media comes to town

Hi Everyone!


Happy Easter - Hope you are all having a fantastic bank holiday!

The fitness industry is changing

The way you market your classes is changing; testimonials, video blogs, facebook , twitter, you tube, blogger.com are all changing the face of fitness marketing.... You dont have to work in clubs for crummy wages.....Set you own agenda....be the centre of your own stage....

You dont have to work a million hours to make an average wage.....All the information is at YOUR fingertips, Yes, there is PLENTY of business for everyone, with 66million people in the UK and only 10% exercising, YOU can get your message across in a new, online way in 2010...Don't get left behind, come with us and move forward.

Lucy Johnson and I are bringing the ultimate 1 day fitness business event to Guildford in May.

Slammin Social Media is HERE

To get all the latest info on how you can use Slammin Social Media to crank up your business, leverage your time, work less and earn more, be the local "goto" instructor or PT in your area then look out for our new Super Sonic event coming in May.

For all the event information ensure you are following us on the following social media::

http://www.facebook.com/RachelLHolmes

http://www.facebook.com/itslucyjohnson

http://twitter.com/RachelHolmes

http://twitter.com/ItsLucyJohnson

Rockstars in Blackpool by Lucy Johnson

Never have I been surer of the Fitness Rockstar mission than last Saturday.

As I visited the mighty International Fitness Showcase for the umpteenth year there was a real sense of intensity in the air. There’s always hype and excitement at Fitness Conventions of course but something this year was different. Things had been cranked up a notch. There was a real sense of anticipation before sessions and a buzz outside of the rooms that would put premier league football match pre-kickoff hype to shame.

The vibe was ELECTRIC, classes were jam-packed and everyone was there for the same reason. To have a good time.

Massive seas of bodies were moving in unison lead from the phenomenally talented Fitness Presenters on stage. T-shirts, hoodies, DVDs, music and other merchandise were flying from the stands. Delegates were asking for photos with their favourite presenters.

And the level of emotion was unmatched. People crying at the end of sessions because they were so overwhelmed with the feeling of togetherness and elation a well-executed group fitness session brings. Fitness presenters crying on stage and off because of the insane levels of gratitude and adoration they were being shown for doing something they truly truly love.

What does this sound like to you? The hysteria, the fans, the merchandise, the atmosphere? It sounds like a ROCK CONCERT. And so it should because for ages now I’ve been banging on about the enormous impact fitness is having on peoples lives and how we are not just people who turn up and teach a class or train a client and then go home again. We are FITNESS ROCKSTARS.

Or at least we have the potential to be.

Society is changing and there has never been as easier time to come to the forefront of your community, region, country or even the world as a lifestyle role model. A fitness leader to be followed. Someone with a message that could change the health and well being of millions of people.

Governments are desperately pumping money into fitness and activity schemes to cope with the obesity epidemic upon us. McDonalds are serving salads. Big business and faceless corporations are falling by the wayside because we now crave friendship and transparency NOT establishment and security.

Can you see what’s happening? We as a society are becoming more and more health conscious and at the same time we are trusting big business less and engaging with individuals more and more via social networking platforms.

Has there ever been a better opportunity therefore to step away from big gyms, fitness companies and set up your own company as a Fitness Rockstar?

Has there ever been a better time to leverage your existing fitness business and take it to National Rockstar status?

No. There hasn’t ever been a better time and there won’t be a window of opportunity like this for long either. Things move in cycles so if you want to stand out in your industry, make a real difference to society and create a following you can lead to a better lifestyle then you have to take action now.

Recognise the potential you have to change lives whether its within your home, locally, nationally or internationally take responsibility and step up to the plate. Commit to doing only what you love and create a Fitness Rockstar lifestyle and Fitness Rockstar following.

Write a book, go on local radio, speak at an event – get out there and watch the opportunities roll in.

Now’s the time Rockstars.

Love Rachel and Lucy xxxx

IFS Fitness Business Award of 2010

On Saturday evening at the IFS Blackpool. Chrysalis promotions presented me with the award. It was amazing weekend and I'll be updating Facebook/Twitter and Choreographytogo.com with all the videos, footage and pictures from the weekend.
Fantastic few days and thanks to everyone for all the love, support and friendship x

IFs this weekend

The rehearsing is complete. It's a Lady GaGa tribute for Chair Dance complete with catsuits and leotards and I'm packing today ready to spend the next 4 days at the IFS. Jo Parry and I will be "VLOGGING" all weekend from the event bringing you all the latest gossip, news, sessions and interviews which I am immensley looking forward to.

We will be looking at the latest class trends and choreography plus loads of video clips from Instructors attending the event and what their take on the fitness industry in 2010.

If you see us, please come over and say "Hi"

See you in Blackpool
Love Rachel x

Leotards and Catsuits for IFS Blackpool

Hey guys - I've not had chance to blog much over the last couple of weeks as I've had a lot on my plate....I got burgled,such a bummer and a flippin nightmare as I lost all of my electrical goods/Video cameras/Pc/laps tops plus they ransacked the house so getting new patio doors and alarms has taken up loads of time...ANYWAY


My training and dieting is still going strong. James Sutton who did the Bio Signature on my and is my nutrition coach has got me taking loads of new supplements and this week when he did my measurements I have dropped 5 kg and lost inches every where, so you can imagine, I am over the M O O N! I carry fat around my middle (dont we all) so have been taking the following:


Fish oil - Its foul, disgusting, slimy medicine but I take 5ml 3 x per day



HCL - To help digest the nutrients from my food



Multi Vitamins 6 3 x per day



Dim avail



Ubermag - to aid sleep



Uber sulforaphane ( not sure about this - I think for hormones)


These vitamin are all from POLOQUIN and James gets them all for me direct from Coach Poloquin.

The training is going well, Im having more rest days then before and my gym workouts are much faster. I'm in and out in 40 minutes max which is ideal. The first few weeks of this diet were hard, up until wednesday I have had such low energy and was struggling to teach my classes but since Thursday I am now speedy gonzalos and feel a million times better.

Icing on the cake came yesterday, I went shopping and got a couple of size 10's and 12's which usually I am a good14, and I think I dare rock a lace catsuit for IFS Blackpool next week....I think!!! What do you reckon?


i'll post some pictures over the weekend of the aerobics clothes haul I did yesterday as I got loads more retro aerobics gear. I am so inspired by Jane Fonda and Jamie Lee Curtis in Perfect.


Have a fab Saturday whatever you are up to xx
Please comment I'd love to know what you think

Sunday Fitness

Yesterday  Marvin and I made the trip up to Edinburgh to spread the Fitness Pilates message and the day was perfect.

Firstly, my face has heeled...yipeeeee!!! So, I presented with confidence as I don't look like an alien any longer. The drive up was super smooth, no traffic holds ups or jams, no snow just a straight forward drive where we planned our next series of workshop and educational ideas for the next 1/4.

My aim was to get up to Bannatynes early so we could train as Saturday was upper body day.

We did:

Heavy Bench press x 6 reps - I did 14kg
Power Press ups to failure - about 10
Repeated x 3 changing the plane of the exercises every round, so sagittal plane bench press ups then Frontal and Transverse

Heavy Shoulder press x 6 reps - 12kg
Alternate shoulder press x 16 faster/ lighter weight 6kg
Repeated x 3 tweaking the planes

Lat Pull downs x 6 - 45kg
Pull ups to failure - which for me was about 1!!

Chest press x 3

This morning i'm pretty sore!

The workshop was a dream, we had nearly 40 Instructors who had travelled from all over Scotland and we had great debate, great conversation regarding Pilates/Fitness Pilates/Functional training and how we can bring the best, most up to date training methods to our Fitness Pilates sessions.

Its been an interesting week this week as I've been wrangling with REPS and Skill Active about Fitness Pilates and my Fitness Pilates certification course. So its always great to get feedback from Instructors who are out teaching and especially  wide variety of views from Instructors who have trained with different Pilates training providers.

After a good night in the Premier Inn, watching the motivating and inspiring Simon Cowell on Piers Morgan (Which I loved)  and a good hour or two online shopping on ebay.

  I've been after this Japanese Hair treatment for ages click to see and finally found it it last night on ebay plus ended up online shopping at ASOS  and Dorothy Perkins.

 We are set to do it all over again in Newcastle with leg training first and then tonights its ..... THE OSCARS which I'll be racing back to watch tonight.

Toodle pip!

Love Rachel xxx

New Training Programme

This week Im doing a split routine which consists of

Day 1. Sprint Day - 45sec maximum sprint followed by 2 minute low intensity jogging/walking x6

Day 2. Lower Body - superset
Heavy Barbell Squats x 6
Functional lunges x15

Kettlebell Swings x 12

Burpees x 45secs
15sec rest between each one Repeat x 3 with 2 min rest between sets


Deadlifts x 6

Dumb bell lunges (clock) x 15
Burpees - tweak plane x 45secs
15 secs rest between each one. Repeat x 3 with 2 min rest between sets

Day 3. Upper Body - superset

Heavy Bench Press x 6

Pull Ups x 15

Dumbbell Press matrix x 6

Single Arm Rows x 6
Clap Press ups x 15
15 secs rest between exercise. Repeat x 3 with 2 minute rest between sets

My Face has peeled of

I have been writing about my face peel so I will carry on! I'm now on Day 5 and its looking, like a million times better, its still very scaly but most of the scabs have dropped of - I know horrendous - but the quest for beauty is not easy my friends, especially when you are a sweaty aerobics teacher with acne scars and sun damaged skin.

Monday was still pretty bad and I had to face my local classes in David Lloyd Derby. So, I ran through the gym with my LA Lakers cap pulled down low and bounced into the studio. Of course everyone is like WTF? So, I came clean there - its been a talking point this week. I cant tell you how many people have said " I'd really like to have one"

I am getting mega excited now though, as the pink skin underneath is just so smooth without any wrinkles, or holes, or open pores or blackheads its so fresh. I feel really positive about it all although it has been a massive ordeal.

I taught my usual Step, Body Con and Aqua this morning with scabby face when Jo McElderry of X Factor and the dancers popped up in my Body Con class. They are touring and are in Nottingham tonight.

Jo stood right at the front and was the sweetest, cutesy boy ever and he trained so hard he did all the skipping, power squats, multi planer lunges and functional dumbbell work and at the end asked me to come on tour with him to keep him in shape...ahhh bless......All my ladies rushed up at the end to get pictures and autographs it was a great day but god knows what he thought of my bloomin face!

Everyone is messaging me to get all the peel photos up as Ive taken a picture every day. I want to wait until I'm all healed so you can see everything, should be in a couple more days - fingers crossed.

As I'm on the Blackpool count down now for IFS I really needed a shake up with my diet and my own training. I train myself most day but treadmill cardio bores me to tears BUT I LOVE weight training so I went to see my friend PT James Sutton, a fantastic PT who work out of LA Fitness in Derby. James did the Charles Poloquin Bio Signature measurements on me and I came out at 15.5 % Body fat with fat stores round my middle and legs, Ive got high stress levels and eating far to much sugar giving me insulin spikes then major crashes.

Up shot is - back to steak for breakfast, chicken and veg for lunch and fish and salad for tea plus no coffee and whey protein powder after training. I'm on Day 2 today and feel great. I need to try and get8 hours sleep though and James thinks I'm over training massivley so hes devised a wicked new split training program that I'll write up tomorrow if anyone is interested.

Bye for now Rachel xxx

Its sunday!!!

I was teaching yesterday with Marv on the Fitness Pilates Tour in Oxford which I was looking forward to, we always get a great crowd there but the venue had messed us around a bit so we were in a squash court for a few hours, which actually turned out to be OK - very cosy and intimate.
In my quest to look my best whilst presenting and teaching I had earlier this week had a TCA Face Peel to even out my skin tone and get rid of the acne scars and open pores, thinking I would be a be a bit red this weekend ( Understatement of the century!)..well.... no way my face currently looks like I'm a burns victim, with my face covered in scabs and swollen.

You can see the soft, beautiful skin underneath but blimey I look terrible.

What a nightmare! I had to present yesterday with my face all scabby, god it took some confidence I'll tell you......Most people know me and loads of people said "oh you have had a face peel" but one lady who hadn't met before thought all my pictures and DVDs were airbrushed, whcih was funny!

If I dare, I'll post some pictures so you can see the before and hopefully in a few days the after.
Today I'm presenting in London to over 50 people so again I look awful but the skin seems to be tightening up so I can barely talk so far this morning

Today will be hard as I explain why I look look like a monster but at least the guys have the beautiful Marvin Burton to look at and listen to as well LOL. Wish me luck and I'll let you know how it goes tonight.

Leave a comment if you want to see the before pictures but you will have to wait for another week for the after pictures...

Link Blog to Twitter

Im linking my Blog up to Twitter and Facebook otherwise Ill be posting for hours everyday on everything!

Rockin the Retro

Hey everyone !!

I'm going to ignore the fact that it took me 2 hours to dig my car out of the snow and eventually get off my drive and focus on funky fashion for group x classes. Jo Parry and I recently did a photo shoot and I did a clothes haul in American Apparel. My favourite piece is this mesh leotard but I did it Tight Fit style with a head band and black tights, not sure if I dare wear it to class Id love to wear it for Chair Dance in Blackpool but I want to shift 1 stone before then.

Here is the AA catelogue version then you can see me below LOL ! This shoot was the most fun we've ever had I just hope it doesnt look too fancy dress !

Anyways here's my version

Hey!!!! Its Blog time

Hey Guys I've set up this Blog so I can chat about whats happening in the Fitness Industry plus update you with news, views and comment about everything and anything. I'm also going to do giveaways and competition's and make it really fun. I'm also addicted to Blogs and I love reading about what other people are up to, it really inspires me. Please feel free to comment as I love reading your views and getting feedback.

This weekend I'm not out on the road presenting which feels so odd not getting up and driving somewhere so I'm devoting today to finishing about 17 projects I've got on the go, training and shopping.

Many of you know me from my courses and workshops but I'm also into magazines, shopping, E entertainment TV channel, MTV, Youtube and all social media.

I really hope you enjoy this Blog

Lots of Love Rachel xxx

Hi everyone and welcome to my new RachelinFitness Blog!