A Look Into My Zumba Kids Class

One of the perks of teaching a kid's class is that, well, this kids LOVE you. They see me in the halls and run up and hug my legs. They talk my ear off if I give them a chance. They ALL insist on hugging me when we play Red Light, Green Light (Zumba style of course)….even if they are the 20th kid to reach me. **And to be clear, touching me in any way is not a requirement of the game.**

And this week, they drew me pictures and brought them to class—"I'm sorry" pictures to be exact. 

I mainly teach the 4-7 year olds, so these kids are young. Sometimes they are hard to handle. Sometimes they won't listen. Sometimes they won't dance. Sometimes they hid from you in the corners of the room. Sometimes they do exactly what you ask them not to do…time and time again. Sometimes half the class acts this way. (Little kids can be quite strategic in splitting your attention.)

The Zumba Kids program is taking off at the Provo Recreation Center, so we've recently brought on some more instructors to help manage the chaos fun. The instructor who was helping me this week is also the mother of two girls who are new to the class and weren't exactly the best behaved children that day. :P But the next class I got their "I'm sorry" pictures, and they behaved much better.

I was actually very impressed with the very detailed and accurate drawing of one of our classes. Especially since they had only come to class once and had only BEEN in that room once. They definitely remembered a lot.

** Speaking of kids remembering a lot, I think it's awesome when I have music playing before class and they all start doing the choreography to a dance we've learned.

Do you agree with what other's think about you?

I've been thinking more about my Motivation Monday quote this week: "Stop defining who you aren't. Start being who you are." And I had some new thoughts about recent events in my life.

A couple weeks ago I met with the supervisor over the fitness classes and talked about our strengths, weaknesses, goals, and general thoughts about how things are going. 

Guess what she listed as one of my strengths? 

My fun, bubbly personality that creates an enjoyable class and allows me to connect with the people.

To give this topic some context, I have to first tell you that maybe 3 years ago I had an ongoing debate with a friend about which was the most bubbly. I insisted she was. And we may have polled everyone we both knew. In the end, I solicited enough votes for HER bubbly personality, and the issue was settled.

Since then I've proceeded to insist that I am NOT a bubbly person. And I continue to embrace my natural (comfortable) introvert personality.

A couple weeks ago I found this little quote on Instagram. It screams "Karianne,"although I'd probably change it to the following:

"Strangers think I'm quiet. Acquaintances think I'm outgoing (bubbly). Friends understand I'm completely insane." 

(My reasoning for these changes is that people think I'm bubbly way before I'd consider them friends. And far more than the couple best friends I've had in my life know I'm kinda crazy. Yes, I'm a word person, and those words make a difference.)

The point is that if other people SEE this quality in me, why do I refuse to accept it? Why don't I embrace this quality (it's a good one) and work towards developing it more? Can I stop defining who I THINK I'm NOT? Or can I just start being ME? 

It's something to think about. Take a minute and think what others see in you that you might not *initially* agree with. And what qualities do you see in others? 

What Special Day is Today?

You might notice that almost every single day of the year has a special "holiday" associated with it. In fact, I've already recently posted about the 2013 National Dance Day and Left-Handers' Day.

I'm intrigued about the whole concept. Actually, I kinda think it's silly. But I do appreciate the writer's prompt such days inspire.

I turned to the all-knowing power that is Google to find some interesting days coming up in the future.

Seriously folks, this stuff is crazy. Not only does each day have about 8 "holidays" associated with it, but there are like 30 themes for each MONTH, and a couple other options for each WEEK.

Did you know, for example, that today is More Herbs, Less Salt day? Or that August is Admit You're Happy month? (Other options are National Picnic Month, Romance Awareness Month, or Peach Month.)

OR that this week (the fourth week) is Be Kind to Humankind week?

As silly as it seems, there are some themes coming up that I'll be excited to share with you—perhaps only because of the idea it inspires for a post. Stay tuned.

Food is Important. And Delicious. But More Importantly...Important.

We all love food. Food is great. It's delicious. It's often the center of many a social interaction. Again, we all love food.

I just have to take a minute to stress how important it is to make sure your body is getting all the right foods—or fuel—that it needs. I'm the key example of someone who can get lazy and just not want to think about food...or think about eating healthy. So maybe I skip a meal. Maybe I don't eat enough. Maybe I make a poor food decision and eat something that does not make me feel well.

The problem with doing this is that it is only the beginning of a cycle. When I make a poor food choice ONCE, I'm far more likely to make a second, third, fourth, even fifth poor food choice. My body starts craving foods that don't support my active lifestyle and this whole cycle leaves me drained and tired.

THIS IS NOT GOOD! Especially when I can feel energized, motivated, and HEALTHY with the same schedule with a well-fueled body. Sigh, I can't speak on the topic enough. And I hate it when I get sucked into that darn cycle.

I love this article "How to Fuel Your Body for Energy" from active.com. It speaks on the following topics:

• Timing: Keep fueling your body throughout the day. This is essential for keeping steady energy. You don't have to have those extreme highs and lows. Strive to eat three meals a day with snacks in between. This process will also lead to better food choices and less overeating. 
• Type: YOU are a high-quality individual and should want to live a high-quality life. So make sure to give your body high-quality food. Stick to whole grains, fruit, starchy vegetables and beans. Forget the over-processed options that have little to NO value for your body. 
• Combination: To maintain stable energy, pair your high-quality carb with a lean protein. Why? Our bodies break protein down more slowly, so protein+carbs allow us have energy AND stay full longer. 
• Consistency: Sometimes our bodies have to recover when we don't give fuel them properly. Follow the previous tips to maintain your energy. 

I typically do a pretty good job at this. Consistency is where I fail. Every couple months I just do horrible for a couple days. But then I get back on track. But my focus is consistency, consistency, consistency. :)

Motivation Monday: Start Being Who You Are

How often do you hear or find yourself saying or thinking something that's around the lines of you NOT being something? Hmm, that probably didn't make sense. Maybe you say you aren't smart enough, outgoing enough, spiritual enough, crafty enough....the list could go on and on. Athletic, pretty, creative, funny, techy, bubbly, and more and more.

Forget all that.

For everything you AREN'T, there are a dozen of things you ARE. So stop worrying on defining who you aren't and just start living and being who you are.

I've been thinking about this idea all week and seen multiple other ways of saying the same thing.

One said "It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not."Another said "Too many people undervalue what they are and overvalue what they aren't."

Anyways, be true to yourself. Be who you are. Even if you want to become MORE of something, remember that you ARE a responsible, smart person who can learn new things, for example.

Get Paid For Working Out: GymPact App

A fellow Zumba instructor raved enough about this app that I had to try it myself. Let me introduce you to GymPact. P.S. This is not a referral code (for me at least), but enter "gympact$5" when you sign up to start with $5 of earnings.

This app allows you to make a "pact" for how many days you commit to work out each week and how much money you are putting on stake for each day missed.

I make a pact to work out 6 days a week and have a $5 stake. ($5 is the lowest option. You could bet $50 if you like.)

If you meet your pact, you get paid. If you don't meet your pact, the app charges the credit card you have on file. Keep in mind that you get paid the same amount, regardless of your stake.

For most users, the benefit of the app is psychological. If money is on the line, you are probably more likely to follow through on your commitment to workout.

For me, the benefit is a little bit of extra cash. Don't get me wrong, the benefits are small. I get paid about $3 a week for my 6 workouts. But I'm going to the gym pretty much every day anyways. So that $12 a month might become my music fund or something.

How Does It Work?

The app uses your phone or tablet's GPS to detect your location within a gym facility. You check in and check out through the app.

If you like to run or walk outside, you can connect the GymPact app to the RunKeeper app and use GPS to verify your distance and speed (i.e. you have to be moving). Or you can track your steps all day with the app Jawbone UP and count that. If you have an iPhone, you can also track movement around the house.

The one requirement, you check in for 30 minutes.

The app keeps track of your workouts and lets you track what you did each day. (I usually choose the closest option because I'm lazy). After the week has ended, they'll email you after a couple days to tell you how much you earned.

How Do You Get Paid?

You have to have at least $10 in your account to withdraw. This is done through your Paypal account. They say you have to wait up to seven days to see those funds, but mine were successfully available within 2 hours.

Not too shabby.

Remember enter "gympact$5" when you sign up to start with $5 of earnings.

Apparently I Hate Color

I went shopping a couple weeks ago. I swear I try to branch out from my expected attire and actually wear COLOR. In fact, I tried on quite the assortment of pieces.

In the end...this is what I left with. And what I was wearing. And the matching changing room curtain. 

Some things don't change. 

Eventually though, I WILL want to wear things that aren't black. Or white. Maybe. 

Conquering Choreography

Perhaps the toughest (maybe "time-consuming" is better) aspect of teaching fitness classes (at least some formats) is mastering the choreography. Before you see a new routine or round in a class, your instructor has likely listened to the song on repeat, practiced the moves, and rehearsed the whole thing several times. 

I've often heard of instructors who are actually sick of a song before it ever becomes "public" (to their classes of course).

I also think everyone has their own process of learning choreo. Sometimes it clicks quickly. Sometimes it takes fooorrreeeevvveeer. 

What's my process for learning choreography? (Not create my own.)

First, I find a choreography I like/need to learn. I either watch a video of it or maybe I do it full out with the video. 

Then I listen to the music. My goal is to be able to picture exactly what the choreo is with each part of the song. I listen. I listen. I listen some more. If there are parts that I can not remember the choreography to, I go back to the video of choreography.

I watch the video and make sure to memorize the parts I couldn't previously remember. 

I listen to the music again. And again. And again. I do this until I am spot on about visualizing the moves with the music. 

Then I mark the choreography (do it half energy) with the song. Depending on how I do, I'll do it in class. If I need some work, I continue working with the music. 

Usually if I'm able to visualize the movements, I have a pretty easy time actually doing them. Sometimes there are elements of a song that are tricky, so I'll make sure to do those portions full out. 

Please share your tips and tricks for mastery pre-choreographed steps. Sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode! 

Wordy Wednesday: Who or Whom? Which should I use?

A friend emailed me a link to this lovely comic (or creative infographic) from theoatmeal.com called "How and Why to Use Whom in a Sentence."

 It's funny. It's educational. What more can anyone (any grammar fanatic) ask for? And everyone has questions about "who" and "whom." As the illustrations show, an easy why to check if you use "who" or "whom" is to see if "he" or "him" fit better in the sentence.

"Who" goes with "he," and "whom" goes with "him." How to remember that? "Whom" and "him" both have "m's" at the end.

I'd like to create some of my own visual illustrations of common grammar or writing questions. I'm definitely not as creative as theoatmeal.com, but give me some ideas. LET ME KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AND I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN COME UP WITH. SERIOUSLY.

AFAA DOs and DON'Ts

I officially received my AFAA membership card, so here are my final thoughts on the certification process. Prior to my certification day, I was definitely more nervous about the written test. When I got to that portion, I felt well prepared and only missed 4 questions. (You can miss 20 to pass). The practical portions seemed subjective and made me more nervous because I didn't know what to expect. That said, here are my final AFAA tips in the version of a Do's and Don'ts list.

DO

Pack a lunch and plenty of snacks. Keep your energy up by drinking lots of water. Get plenty of sleep the night before and be ready for a long day. 

DON'T

Feel pressure to purchase the additional study materials. I think there are plenty of resources online, plus it's easy to pick up if you've previously taken many group fitness classes, taught classes, or have general fitness knowledge. There are plenty of resources online, and the provided study guide provides a clear outline of what topics you need to know to prepare. 

DO

Find several AFAA flashcards or study guides resources online. My learning style clicked with some resources more than others. Plus, it was beneficial to see how multiple people presented the information. (Plus, you don't want to study the wrong material.)

Google and look up additional research for any topics you don't get or aren't familiar with. If you do purchase a textbook, look up the topic in the back and read whatever you need to to understand. 

DON'T

Underestimate either element of the workshop (written or practical tests). Plan time to prepare. Review the study guide and know that material. Understand how the day will go and what is expected of you.

DO

Find various practice tests and take them as many times as you need to feel comfortable and confident with the information. Here's my recommendation of practice tests. 

DON'T

Try to demonstrate elements or exercises that you aren't familiar with or don't like. If you don't like planks, don't show them. If you've never taught a cardio class, stick to a strength element for your individual presentation. 

DO

Prepare a couple strength exercises for each of the 10 main muscle groups. O,h and make sure you know what those muscle groups are.

DON'T

Think you are the only one not getting a concept during the workshop. Ask questions. Anytime someone asked something, others also had the same question and the instructors said those questions were common. 

DO

Read other people's experiences about the day. This was really helpful as I prepared. I've included a list of my posts about my AFAA experience at the end of this post. 

DON'T

Lose confidence in yourself and your teaching abilities. Only 1 person in our group had not taught a class, so chances are that you're already exposed to several elements in the workshop and previously worked with students. You are probably more ready for this day than you think you are. 

DO

Prepare an individual presentation for a fitness element you are comfortable with. If you teach kickboxing, pick a favorite move to use and practice teaching a level 1 version, a level 2 version, and a level 3 version. If you teach Zumba, pick a dance step you are comfortable with. If you love squats, squat away. But don't be afraid to think outside the box. 

MY AFAA POSTS

Info I've Gathered About the AFAA Certification

Study Tools for AFAA 

What to Expect at Your AFAA Certification—Part 1

What to Expect at Your AFAA Certification—Part 2

CPR Training for AFAA—Check

AFAA Do's and Don'ts

Motivation Monday: Give Yourself Permission to be Amazing

Today's Motivation Monday quote is something the trainer for U-Jam told us during our training.

"Give yourself permission to be amazing."

Oftentimes we put limits on ourselves. We tell ourselves we can't do something. We say we don't have the right skills or qualifications. We think someone else will do a better job.

Forget that. Usually YOU are the main thing holding you back. Let go. Tell yourself that you CAN do hard things and that you CAN succeed at them. Stretch yourself and, well, be amazing!

Rock at whatever you want to rock at. Do it. You'll be great. :)

U-Jam Certification—Day 2

I've finished the U-Jam training! It's been a long day, but I actually think it went by more quickly than Friday, plus I'm not nearly as exhausted. I definitely feel less overwhelmed today than I did yesterday. I think there will be a lot of work as I learn an entire class of choreography. Luckily, I'm motivated as I have a class waiting for me to teach. Throughout this workshop, I've learned 4 complete choreographies. A full class consists of about 14 songs—all of which are very specifically choreographied in this format. So uh, I have at least 10 more to learn in the next little bit. 

Today's schedule started with a quick written test. We went over the results and discussed the answers there. Then we warmed up and practiced leading and cuing one of the songs we learned on Day 1. 

Then we did our practical test and each led the song. I was fourth to go. It went well. We talked about how we each did and then took a break for lunch. When we came back, had some more lecture time, then learned the choreography for a third song, had some more lecture time, and then learned the choreography for the fourth song. Then we had some final discussions and it was graduation time! Yes, she called our names, we walked "across the stage" and then received our certificate and snapped a picture. 

My next step is to work on really knowing and owning the 3 songs I need to submit for my video assessment. I'll have to record myself teaching these in a row to at least 5 people. It seems like they are pretty hard cord on these assessments. We'll see how I feel after that process. 

Whew. 

U-Jam Certification—Day 1

I'm exhausted. It's 5 p.m., and I just finished the first day of certification for U-Jam fitness (I've been here since 8 a.m.). I have to say, I'm a little nervous about this.

Today we started with a master class, had some lectures about fitness, teaching, and U-Jam, and learned two choreographies and practiced cueing techniques.

My main hesitation about teaching this format is that I don't know if my poor little brain can handle more choreography. A big difference about U-Jam and Zumba is that in U-Jam you are only allowed to use U-Jam choreography...and it has to be done exactly as given. I feel pretty invested in Zumba (since I already teach 3 formats of that program—basic, toning, and kids), and this is just adding another thing to my plate. I think I'm a little overwhelmed by that.

This workshop is just one step to getting the certification. Potential instructors also have to 1) have valid AFAA or ACE membership (check!), 2) submit a video presentation teaching 3 choreographies to at least 5 participants, receive a pass on that, receive official U-Jam credentials, and sign agreements about abiding by the program and what not.

At this but it all seems daunting, but I really do like everything about the program. It's super fun and I can totally see it taking off in this area. (There are only 3 instructors in Utah right now). I think I'll be more confident when I'm a little further along.

For now, I need to go home, eat, rest, review the instructor training manual, and practice cueing a choreography. First thing tomorrow, we have a test and practical test where we have to lead a song with all the required cues. Then we cover more material and learn 2 additional choreographies.

Another factor that intimidates me is that I've only done two, maybe three, U-Jam classes ever. With Zumba I had three years of going to 4-5 classes a week before I got certified. The process is much easier with certifying as a Zumba instructor PLUS I was way more familiar with the format. (Oh, and did I mention I'm on the schedule to start teaching this format within the next month?? heheh...)

At the end of class, our cheer was "I can do this." I'm going to have to repeat that to myself a lot tonight.

Say Hello to Karianne's Embarrassing Video Interview

I have yet to share this video because I think it's the most embarrassing thing ever. Wait, that's not true—the most embarrassing thing ever happened to me two weeks ago and I'm not ready to share. ( :P )

But the video, filmed during Provo's Dance Day celebration, has officially been shared with the masses, so there is nothing left to do but embrace all my awkward glory. Ah, I just tried watching it again and couldn't bear to go past the 30 second mark.


You'll see me speaking a couple times with a voiceover as well. And I'm teaching a couple times too: pink top, black capris (surprise?), and pink high tops. 
Now I'm just torturing myself:

P.S. I'm certifying to teach U-Jam (mentioned in the video) this weekend, so stay tuned for some updates on that. 

My Decision to Quit My Full-Time Job—Part 2

Please read Part 1 of "My Decision to Quit My Job" series here. I left off when I was in the middle of my MBA application and realized pursuing an MBA was the safe option—for me.

I know, I know. How is getting an MBA safe? MBA programs are challenging, rigorous, expensive, require the sacrifice of time and income, and in today's market, end with no guarantee of a job after graduation.

At this point I was applying for the 2nd time to my alma mater program that I had previously been accepted to. I knew the program. I knew the culture. I was familiar with the experience. I looked into various other programs but didn't find anything that quite spoke to me.

But I know school. I feel safe there. I'm confident of my education abilities. While I know any MBA program would be difficult beyond anything I'd imagine, and I'd probably face new challenges every single day, well I felt prepared for that environment. 

I want an MBA. I really do. But by pursuing that degree right now, I'm once again putting off my desire to start my own business, to do something on my own, to pursue some career goals. (Although I must say that as the same time part of me depresses on the fact that I DON'T have a master's degree yet.) 

I don't know what the next several years of my life will hold. But I do know that whatever I don't do right now is far less likely to happen in the future. And since starting my own business is a riskier choice for me, I thoroughly felt like THAT was the option I had to pursue at this moment. 

After thinking about this decision for a couple weeks and considering how it would affect the various parts of my life, I knew it was the right decision for me. 

Don't get me wrong. I WAS TERRIFIED. But it was the good kind of fear. The kind that pushes you to the edge of your comfort zone and forces you to take a leap that fills you with adrenaline, motivation, and excitement. 

I talked with my family. I told them they needed to hold me to this decision. That they needed to remind me how confident I felt about pursuing this dream of me. And that they need to reassure me of my abilities. 

This was early to mid-January.

My decision was to make the leap in April. Part of me thought this was too long to wait. Part of me wasn't sure it was long enough. But I wanted some time to prepare, to save extra money, to build my Zumba income, to fine-tune what I wanted to do.

Stay tuned for Part 3. 

Happy Left-Handers' Day!

While checking my e-mails early this morning, I saw this notice at the bottom of Hungry Girl's daily newsletter.

It reads: "Chew on this: Did you know that today, August 13th, is Left-Handers' Day? CHALLENGE: If you're a righty, eat everything using your left hand all day long. DO IT!"

Well, turns out Hungry Girl is actually a lefty herself. Actually you can almost ALWAYS tell when someone is left-handed because 1) they notice when other people are left-handed and 2) they care about things like Left-Handers' Day. 

If you haven't guessed already (and didn't already know), I am a proud lefty myself. Part of my pride undoubtedly comes from my never-ending desire to do my own thing (see my anti-conforming post). Even though I had no choice in the matter, I take pride in the fact that only 10-12 percent of people are lefties. And I'm one of them. 

After learning of Left-Handers Day, I headed to the Left Handers' Day website and ended up taking the survey there about what hand I use for various tasks. The image here shows my results. The interesting thing about lefties is that we don't always use our left hand for basic activities. In kindergarten my art teacher would ask anyone who is left-handed to raise their hand. Being a proud lefty, I'd raise mine. But then she'd give me lefty scissors. But I don't cut with my left hand. I also usually play sports prominently with my right hand, i.e. throwing a ball, swinging a bat, etc. Sometimes, however, I have to switch things up to figure out where I'm more comfortable. For example, the first time I played tennis (last year), I had to switch my racket from the left hand to the right hand until one felt more comfortable. 

It's interesting because studies show that lefties are more able to adapt to using the right hand for activities than the other way around. (See facts below.) And that's probably because we lefties are always exposed to and have to adapt to the right-handed way in the world. Think scissors, three-ring binds, spiral notebooks, computer mice, classroom desks, measuring cups, can openers, credit card machine pens (these are the worst!). Check out Buzzfeed's "The 18 Worst Things for Left-handed People."

Here are some additionally interesting facts about left-handedness (from RandomFacts).

• Studies have shown that if a left-hander injures his dominant hand, he has an easier time learning to use the other hand than his right-handed counterparts.

• Both the Jewish and Christian traditions are strongly right-handed in their nature and practices. For Catholics, Anglicans, Episcopalians, and other denominations, the priest must present the communion wafer with the right hand, and the communicant accepts it with the right hand. All benedictions must be made with the right hand, and a priest symbolizes the “strong right hand of God.”

• Although approximately 90% of all humans are right-handed,cats, rats, and mice that show handedness seem to be equally split between right- and left-pawedness.

• Connections between the right and left sides of the brain are faster in left-handed people. This means information is transferred faster, making left-handers more efficient in dealing with multiple stimuli and using both sides of the brain more easily.

Motivation Monday: Organization Is About Improving Your Overall Quality of Life

Happy Monday! Over the weekend, I had the chance to get caught up on some households chores and get my place spic and span.

I hope I'm not the only one who can just sit and look around a newly clean room and love it. Or to wake up in the morning and walk into a clean room and get a smile on your face. Because yea, I do that.

I'm not the most organized person in the word. Go ahead, scoff. I'm actually not a naturally organized person at all. But I'm working on it.

I'm working on it this week, in fact. Hence my Motivation Monday quote:

"Organization isn't about perfection. It's about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your overall quality of life."

This quote is from Christina Scalise, a professional organizer and author of the book "Organize Your Life and More: Save Time and Money, Reduce Stress, Remove Clutter."

I haven't read the book but have added it to my "To Read" list. But this week I'm planning to focus on organizing my life. My finances have completely changed recently, and I definitely need to organize how I manage my income flow. I need to better organize my calendar. I'd like to create a schedule for my household chores and regular errands. Sounds exciting, right? I love this kind of stuff but find that I usually procrastinate it and just wing things as I get by.

So this week's focus: organization. Why? To live a more efficient life. To embrace simplicity. To rid my life of clutter (physical, emotional, time-wasting activities). And to live an awesome, quality-full life!

Let me know how YOU organize your life. I'm definitely open to suggestions.

CPR Training for AFAA—Check!

Today I completed the last step required for my AFAA certification—passing the CPR training. If I had had the opportunity to do this BEFORE my AFAA workshop, I would have. I just didn't have the time and couldn't find one with a date that worked for my schedule. But AFAA allows you to send in a copy of your CPR card after the fact. (You just have to provide this before anything is finalized.) Remember that AFAA does not accept ANY online CPR programs.

Do you notice the change?

I had a great experience and would definitely recommend the route of attending a small training, if the option is available.

Here in Utah, we have a Facebook group for all the Zumba instructors in the state. One instructor has a sister who hosts CPR trainings and has just started offering the class every month with a special discount for fitness professionals.

Only two of us attended today, so we received a lot of individual attention, a relaxed atmosphere, ability to ask any questions we want, and were able to finish up in about an hour.

Typical classes are 3-4 hours, so I love the time-saving option. AFAA provides a list of classes through large organizations, but I'd definitely check with your facility or local organizations to find classes.

You'll cover a set of material and at the end you do a test demonstration to show that you understand the information.

During this test, we needed to make sure the scene is safe, check to see if you can wake them (i.e. that they actually do need CPR), assign someone to call 9-1-1, preform 30 chest compressions while counting aloud (in the right spot, with enough force, at a quick speed), adjust victim's airway and indicate 2 breaths (by counting), and preform 5 more chest compressions.

<-- Oh, hey that's me! Just kidding. But it could be. The practice mannequins we used would make a clicking sound when we pressed deep enough (about 2 inches for an average-sized person) and click after the recoil to indicate the expansion.

I had to press fairly hard and can actually feel a little soreness in my hand. I can only image how exhausting CPR is when you have to do it for an extended period of time. I hope to never find myself in that situation.

Click for article about AEDs.

In the course, we learned how to place our hands, where to place them, how quickly to go (sing along to Stayin' Alive), the cycle CAB (compression, airway, breath, repeat), how to have two people and/or three people preforming CPR, the adjustments need for CPR on an infant, how to take charge and be the leader in an emergency situation, and how to use an AED machine.

Since only two of us were at this training, we made great time and got great feedback as we were learning and going through the information. After we both successfully preformed our demonstration (or test), we summed up everything again and got our cards! The process was simple, and I came away with great information I'm glad to now have. Again, I just hope I never have to use it.

Challenge: Talk to Your Fitness Instructor

I've always been a fan of fitness classes at the gym. When I joined a gym during college, I felt right at home in those classes after spending years in dance studios and dance classes. However, my introverted self typically wants to go in, keep to myself, have a great workout, and leave. I don't want to be "noticed," make gym friends, or draw any particular attention to myself.

This image is from RateYourBurn.com from the article listed below.

My perspective has changed a little bit since becoming an instructor myself. Yes, I see those people who come in obviously ready to just do their thing. And that's fine. (My favorites are the people who make sure to keep a straight face no matter what's going on.)

I didn't teach any classes today so after working on some projects this morning, I attended a Zumba Sentao (Zumba flavor + chair) class and then a yoga class. I know both of these instructors, and it's fun taking a class from someone you know and chatting with the instructors before and after class.

The nice thing is that I know these instructors outside of the fitness class. Then when I go to class, the atmosphere is even more comfortable. It's fun. It's exercise. It's socializing in disguise. And heaven knows I need to disguise my socializing.

I'm not saying that I will always go out of my way to become buddy buddy with instructors when I go to a new facility (one I don't teach at). But I can even more relate to this excerpt from the article "31 Ways to Win at Group Fitness." And, yes, this is listed as No. 1.

1. Acknowledge the person up there.
...because she is a human, not a fitness robot. Say hello (and mean it!) and if you're a newbie, definitely introduce yourself. When you leave, "bye" and "thank you" are a nice touch too.

Anyways, just a thought. Try it and see how it feels. :)

My Decision to Quit My Full-Time Job—Part 1

Recap: I left my full-time job at the end of June 2013 to pursue my dream and goal to start my own business. Check out my post introducing Annesali here. 

Although I officially made the decision to quit my full-time job in June, the shift going towards that decision started months beforehand. I've already spoken to several people about how and why I made and prepared for this lovely adventure of mine, and I want to share all that information here.

I probably started thinking about moving on in October or November of 2012. I loved my job and the people I worked with but am the type of person who wants to continue to challenge myself and pursue new experiences. As I thought about what I'm passionate about or some of the jobs and opportunities I want to pursue at some point in my life, I realized I was holding myself back from those things.

What are "those things?" Teach journalism. Teach publication design. Teach business communication. Become the next Grammar Girl. Start my own business (HS2College and Annesali). Work with high school students. Speak at a conference. Become a subject expert. Build a name for myself. Earn an MBA. To name a few...

Oh yes. "Earn an MBA."

This option has come up periodically during the last few years. I really do want to have another degree, but it's also something that requires a huge investment of two years and a bit of money as well. I have actually already applied to BYU's program when I desperately needed to leave my last job in 2010ish. I applied VERY LATE in the application process (it's a rolling admissions program) and only was invited in for an interview because I had such a strong application and—this I'm proud of—what my interviewer called the best personal statement essay he'd ever read. Unfortunately at the time, they had already filled all of the openings for the upcoming school year, but I did receive automatic admission for the following year.

Shortly after hearing that news, I still went ahead and worked up the courage to leave my job at a publishing company. At this point, I had been applying for a variety of jobs and pursuing different opportunities. The company culture at that company was not a good fit for me, and staying there was proving to be very toxic for my life. (Think tears of stress and distress every. single. day.) However, I didn't have a clear picture of what to do.

But I quit my job.

Not knowing what I was going to do.

This was my first time actually quitting a job. And it terrified me.

I was still actively applying for positions but decided I could pursue my entrepreneurial dreams if nothing worked out.

The day I put in my notice (two weeks) was actually the same day I applied for the next position I'd accept. I had two weeks of "unemployment"while I interviewed for several positions and ended up with two appealing offers.

Three years later, I again decided to go for my MBA. I started my applications. I asked for recommendations. I started studying for the GMAT again. (I wanted to improve my math to better qualify for some awesome scholarships.)

And that's when I realized pursuing the MBA was the "safe" option for me.

Stay tuned for Part 2. 

Tutorial: How to Share a Doc on Google Drive

Today I'm doing a quick tutorial on sharing a document in Google Drive. Google Drive is an online (or cloud-based) program connected to your Google account that allows you to store, access, share, and collaborate on a variety of files. And you can access these files anywhere, at any time.

The main thing to note in this tutorial is that Google Drive can both STORE (upload) files and CREATE files. You might store files in Google Drive to access them anywhere, from any computer. Just as you go to "My Documents" to find files, you would go to Google Drive to find the files you saved there.

When you store a file on Google Drive, you can also choose to share that file with others. Sharing a stored file is like e-mailing an attachment with others. You are essentially duplicating the file.

The main part of this tutorial focuses on how to convert an existing document to a collaborative Google Doc.

How to Convert a File to a Collaborative Doc

First of all, a collaborative document is one that multiple people have the capability to edit and save.

Step One. Upload the document to Google Drive. Click the underlined arrow on the left side of your window. Select the file from your computer files that you wish to upload.

Step Two. Once you upload the document, you will see it show up in your list of documents in "My Drive." Please note the different icons that show up by your files. If you uploaded a Word document, you'll see the "W" icon shown to the right. (The blue square means the file is a Google Document.)

Step Three. Click the box next to the file you uploaded. Click "More," scroll over "Open with"and select "Google Docs."

Step Four. Go back to "My Drive" and now find the new document with the Google Doc icon next to it. Click on the name to open the new file. (It will still have the same name as the original file.) If you are concerned with organizing your files, you might delete the original file that you uploaded since it is backed up on your computer. 

Step Five. Find the blue "Share" button on the top right of the page.

Step Six: Type in the e-mail address of anyone you'd like to share the document with. If you have Google Contacts, type names. You can also make the doc accessible to anyone by changing the privacy status.

Exercise Gives You Endorphins

New plan for today. I'm postponing the post I originally planned and just sharing some thoughts.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are my long days, i.e. I teach 3 or 4 classes on those days. But they are the days that leave me the most motivated and ecstatic about life. I guess the idea that endorphins make you happy is truly accurate.

One of the things I love about my decision to leave my full-time job is that, in doing so, I opened up my schedule for opportunities to teach (and attend) fitness classes in the mornings and afternoons. So my schedule on a Thursday, for example, is to wake up, get some things done, (9:30am) teach a class, change clothes, work on business stuff, (12 pm) teach a class, eat lunch, take a personal break, work on business stuff, (6 pm) teach a class, eat a quick dinner, (8 pm) teach a class, come home and bask in the wonderfulness that was my day and rest my tired body.

Today I attended a new class (Piyo) after I was personally done teaching for the day, and I loved it. As a fitness instructor, it's so nice to take a break from teaching and take a class as a student! I've been attending multiple yoga classes the last couple weeks and am trying to work some strength classes into the mix. Attending classes as a student is a great break from the preparing for a class, being the first and last one there, being "on" the entire time, being concerned about remember what comes next, and focusing on how the participants are doing.

Taking a break and attending classes is so refreshing. It's amazing. I could seriously hang out at the gym all day, just hanging with my gym friends and enjoying the amazing talent of each of the instructors.

And now I really want this shirt.

Motivation Monday: Give Me Love, Hope, Light, Strength, & Faith

Today's Motivation Monday is inspired by two factors.

1. I've been in country music mood lately. 
2. I kinda had a bad day Saturday. Sure it could have been a lot worse, but it started with the pop-out-of-bed, "Oh crap, I'm REALLY late; this can't actually be happening" feeling, and I never recovered. 

Give me love when I ain't got nobody,

A little hope when I ain't got none at all

Give me light up ahead on a journey

Give me strength when I'm standing

And faith when I fall

—Kip Moore, Faith When I Fall 

If you don't recognize these words, they make up the chorus to Kip Moore's song "Faith When I Fall." I've owned the album for a while but Saturday was the first time I actually listened (or remember listening) to this song. 

These words helped me remember that sometimes I'm going to make mistakes. That's guaranteed. Sometimes I'm going to feel low (HOPE), sometimes I'm going to feel alone (LOVE), sometimes I'm not going to know what's right ahead of me (LIGHT), sometimes I'm going fall (FAITH), and something the only thing I can do is keep going (STRENGTH). All of these things are guaranteed.

When I was driving around Saturday wanting to find some mellow listening music (my favorite), this song came on. As much as I wanted to wallow in my self-disappointment (obviously I don't handle making mistakes well...), I had to remember that life is made up of little moments that require us to be vulnerable. If things never went wrong, if we never fell, or if we never needed a little extra strength, we'd never improve. We'd never learn from our past and prepare better for the future. And sometimes things are just a little out of our control. We can try to do everything right, but sometimes things just happen. We can't punish ourselves when things go wrong. All we can do is ask for strength and move on.

So, this all doesn't sound to motivating does it? Well, for me, the motivating factor is to REMEMBER that I have all of these things and I can pray or ask friends and family for whatever I need when I'm in need. And we can always seek to have more love, hope, faith, strength, and faith in our lives. Those are the things that help us push through and not quit when times seem tough. (stolen from lyrics :P) 

My Life in Instagrams—July Edition

It's August. I know most people are mourning the near end of summer, but it just makes me think about fall. And thinking about fall makes me smile. Sweaters, boots, scarfs, blankets, brisk air...I love it all. But let's not jump too far ahead. For now, let's take a look at my July life, as told through Instagrams.

July 3, 2013

I finally posted my review of this book (The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl) that I first read back in 2009. I even mentioned that I would post that review when I did my challenge to post every day for a month in September 2009. But it is done. And that book is amazing. I love, love, love it. 

I'm blown away by the GEMS I'm finding as I review and type my notes from #workinggirlLove it! #blogging #careers #inspiration by @kariannesali

 July 4, 2013

I celebrated the Fourth of July by attending Provo's Stadium of Fire featuring Kelly Clarkson, Carly Rae Jepsen, and all kinds of other fun. 

Stadium of Fire 2013 #july4th #usa#theplacesmyfeethavebeen #callmemaybe

 July 7, 2013

Utah has actually had a pretty rainy and cloudy month. I, of course, have loved it. I even broke out my favorite sweater one night. And took pictures of my feet by rain puddles.

Sunday rainy puddles. Love it! #iloverain#puddles #rain

 July 13, 2013

I attended the AFAA certification workshop I've been studying for. I was assigned this number for my practical test (individual and group demonstrations). Check out the first of my AFAA preparation posts here. And update...I passed! 

Done and done. #nowiwait 4 weeks for my results #whew #gladthatsover #afaa#fitnessinstructor

 July 17, 2013
This is a few small item, but I'm seriously still bummed that I broke my favorite sunglasses. And yes, the frame is broken as well and the lens popping out. There is no way to fix these. I've tried.

Still sad about my favorite sunglasses breaking.#cantletthemgo

July 19, 2013
My brother and I get together every so often to catch up. This occasion featured a shared snow cone.

Siblings and #snowcones! #siblinghour#letsgettheupdates

July 20, 2013
My hair is long. It's about time for me to chop it off. So I'll just go through my normal routine and think about doing something to it for a few months. And then share the updates. Examples: "hair dilemma," "back to blonde," or "Hair DYE night."

Just when I'm ready to chop it off, I change my mind. Ack! It will be gone eventually so I'll just document the long hair for now.#whatshouldidowithmyhair #chopitoff#hairhairhair #hairdecisions

July 22, 2013
I had a meeting that I had to dress up for. Then I had some problems with that I planned to wear and had to throw something together last minute. My heels are worn through, and I could not wear them for long distances. So I had to walk barefoot over HOT blacktop. Ow, ow, ow.

Blacktop is HOT! But I can only walk so far in worn out heels. #owowow #neverstandstill#movefast #theplacesmyfeethavebeen#byucampus #noparking

July 22, 2013
I finished teaching at the Lindon Community Center. It was time for me to move on, but I've loved that location. So crazy.

Packing up my fans from the Lindon Community Center. Tonight was my #lastclass there. My trunk is officially a #zumba storage space.#zumbatoning #zumbainstructor

July 30, 2013
I officially announced my business, Annesali Communications and introduced the website (annesali.com). I'm excited to move forward on it and have lots of ideas for posts and such.

Tonight I updated my business site and reviewed post topics I brainstormed last week.#annesali #mybusinessrocks #letsdothis