By, Martina Spencer, Discovery Learning Personal Trainer

I still remember the day I was about to teach my first Aerobics class. Actually it was a dance class and to make it even worse, I was covering for my friend who is who is champion in Latin and Ballroom and even appeared on Strictly Come Dancing programme as professional dancer.

I was a newly qualified instructor, with no experience and still counting the beats in my head (you guys from ETM courses know exactly what I mean ). Anyway, there I was, standing in front of packed class trying to concentrate on my first track. I felt so nervous; I couldn’t even speak and had a big lump in my throat. The first track was a blur but got through it (ufff) only to find out that the stereo was on a loop and the song was repeatedly played over and over again! This was the last straw and I broke down. Luckily a friend who came with me for moral support stepped in and fetched little stereo from my car. From then on, class was ok(ish), but still pretty bad. Definitely not what I expected and I felt so down that I was on the verge on giving up and not teaching ever again.

My friend called later to ask how it went in the class and, almost crying, I told her that this was my first and very last class. She just laughed and told me not to be silly and get on with it as she was accepted on Strictly and she is leaving in few days week for 4 weeks.

I came back and taught all her classes and I must say, once I got to know people and they got used to me, it was actually quite enjoyable and I gained the confidence I needed. After all, my friend stayed for an extra 6 weeks as she was doing surprisingly well with her celebrity dance partner and I got to teach for the whole 10 weeks. I was very sad when I had to hand her classes back but as my friend got more publicity from the programme and was getting really busy, I could keep most of her classes anyway.  Three years later, I was still teaching few of those and also got lots more and started teaching in different health clubs.

This blog  is for all newly qualified aerobics instructors: You hang in there, your fame is not going to happen overnight and there will be lots of tears and tantrums but I am sure career you chose is the best and most rewarding job, it’s fun and it keeps you fit. Seven years on, I still remember my first class and all I can do is laugh!

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