As promised, I took a lot of photos at the Les Mills Quarterly Workshop last December 1, 2007 at Fitness First Mall of Asia.

It wasn’t hard to do, considering that almost none of the group exercise instructors I know are camera-shy. (Check out my friends’ photos as well — Kurei, Vanessa, Bon, and Albert.) And no camera lens went unnoticed.

See what I mean?

I arrived some time before 9am at the venue, trying to beat the Christmas post-payday traffic rush. The first session (BodyAttack) had been canceled on short notice; master trainer Kylie Gates was injured, so she hadn’t flown in. We started the morning with BodyCombat release 34.

Unleash. Empower. Explode!

It’s the shortest BodyCombat release ever, clocking in at a little over 45 minutes when we blasted through it nonstop with trainer Ben Tang, after a short educational session on innovations in this latest release. I don’t teach this program, but I do enjoy any workout with friends, especially right before pigging out on pizza.

I’d been experiencing muscle soreness in my butt and inner thighs the week leading up to the quarterlies, so I backed out of BodyPump 64 (which I had pre-registered for) and sat out BodyStep 70 (which is a real leg workout!). Instead, I waited for the ultimate dance party workout BodyJam 43, where I could “shake all my stress away, yeah,” as Rihanna has sung.

BodyBalance teachers can Jam, too!

BodyJam co-program head Clark Amaba had to present by his lonesome because Kylie was absent and our homegrown talent and trainer Arnold Warren was in Vietnam training a new batch of BodyJam instructors.

Clark chillin’ before presentin’

BodyJam is my first love among Les Mills programs, although I don’t teach it (yet). Let me tell you, release 43 is quite challenging in terms of getting the feel right during the Disco block. (Need. to find. inner. disco ball!) Once the House block kicks in, though, it’s “Please don’t stop the music!”

Last program of the day was, of course, BodyBalance, where our guest presenters Jackie Wong (BodyStep trainer) and Ben Tang (he teaches BodyBalance too! haha) with Ms. Peewee our BodyBalance program head presented release 39. What can I say about it, as an instructor of the program? One word. “Ouch.” But the music is fantastic and motivating, I think, and if I keep training in the weeks up to the launch (mid-January 2008!) I think I can manage this release.

We can’t wait to teach BodyBalance 39!

The thing with work that seems like play is that we co-workers — and friends — don’t get tired of each other’s company. Luckily, Mall of Asia on that day was open until midnight, so we were able to wreak havoc at a Wendy’s and a Starbucks into the night.

I loved every moment of it. Kudos to Joseph, the group exercise manager for Fitness First North EDSA and Platinum TriNoma, for organizing the whole event. It was worth the journey all the way to Mall of Asia.

Until next time!

Tag: Fitness First Philippines, Les Mills, Work Fun