Gatecrasher Jam 2: with Patrick Mougin

09 Dec 2022 || Nuffield Health Ealing Broadway

The second session was always going to be at Nuffield Health Ealing, my ‘hood, where I discovered Les Mills Bodyjam around 15 years ago as a participant, and where I cut my teeth as an instructor. And the site of The TEMPLE of JAM.

Anyway. Let me tell you about Patrick. I met him about 5 or 6 years ago, when I needed someone to cover a class for me. He was a cover instructor (of many many Les Mills programmes; a multi-talented guy) and he was covering my friend’s Sh’bam class in Ealing. So I asked him to cover for me, but before that, to team teach with me. And that was it. BOOM, the chemistry was incredible, and we had the longest chat afterwards. I discovered that we share the same values – and he has the kindest, most lovely soul. That day, I made a new friend and he’s a keeper.

Patrick is Australian-French, gay and autistic. His autism was diagnosed late, and he’s had to deal with the most challenging scenarios throughout his life. But it’s these challenges that I think has made him the most incredible instructor – he gets the crowd going, he teaches brilliantly, he accepts everyone for who they are without any judgement.

So I was so incredibly happy to do a gatecrasher at one of Patrick’s Ealing classes, and we went Hawaii Five-0 again (check those costumes out – EXTRA or what?) We had a pretty full class, the picture at the top were just the participants who were happy with their faces being shown on this blog.

We chose to team teach Bodyjam release 50: Cardiofunk in its entirety. A no brainer because duh I’m 50 but also because it is a fantastic release. Oh my goodness, what a party that was. We had people whooping and singing along (especially to the remix of CeCe Peniston’s Finally, in full voice. I have video evidence).

Thank you Patrick, for 60 mins of pure joy.