Milestone dates are always a time for self-reflection. (This is not applicable to me aged 10, 13, 18, 20 or 21, as I was self-centred and completely unreflective.) When I was 30, my first husband split up with me, in a restaurant, on my actual birthday. I have forgiven him this, as in the weeks, months and years that passed, I came to understand that I was as much to blame for the relationship breakdown. He reflected on his future, and decided that it was not going to be with me in it – he was the braver one for recognising it first. We are now friends, and both happier as a result.
Ten years on, I had remarried to a fabulously supportive man, and we became parents to a beautiful little boy. Aged 39 though, I reflected. I was giving everything to my work as an architect and to my little family, but I was doing nothing for myself. I was a member of a gym in Ealing Broadway, London, and always in the front row at the BodyJam classes there. My then instructor, Ulla, said to me one day, “you should be an instructor. You pick up the moves so quickly, and I always need cover when I’m away.” And I thought, why not? My other then-instructor, Laura, gave me so much encouragement and forced me to believe in myself. So, aged 40, I treated myself to Exercise to Music Level 2 qualification and enrolled on the module training for Les Mills Body Jam. I got my first permanent class at Virgin Active Mill Hill in January 2014, and I’m still teaching there.
In the ten intervening years, BodyJam has changed my life. I have met and connected with people from all walks of life both in the UK and abroad through it. I achieved Elite status (when that was A Thing) and became an Instructor Coach. In 2019, I auditioned for a potential position on Les Mills’ UK Trainer, Assessor and Presenter (TAP) Team – I didn’t get through, but it was a huge honour to be acknowledged. Also that year, I was asked, along with another instructor Hannah, to shadow one of the Trainers, Robyn, on stage at the Les Mills Tribal Gathering held in London. It was SUPER fun (although I was a nervous wreck beforehand)!
But regardless of these accolades, the one thing that I know I love about teaching BodyJam is the connection with people, whether participants or other instructors – it’s truly special, and truly global.
I’m now 50. And in my 49th year, I reflected again. What else can I do? How can I spread my love and passion for this programme to others, not just in London? And two things sprung to mind:
- I love team teaching with other instructors. It is the most fun thing an instructor (whatever the programme) can do. You learn so much from each other, and there is a shared bond as well as beautiful shared memories.
- Community is important to me. Pre-pandemic, I was a regular volunteer for one of The Trussell Trust’s Foodbank branch in Ealing. Sadly, and for various reasons, I have had to discontinue volunteering there but I still want to give back to society. I know I have lived a relatively privileged life, and so it’s time to Do A Good Thing again.
And with that, GATECRASHER JAM was born. It’s gestated for practically 9 months; now it’s time to put the plans into place, and launch the ship. I hope you come on board on this journey with me.
Gatecrasher Jam 