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I think it looks really crazy, teaching combat in a chinese dress, teaching step with boots and blouse, balance almost naked, Jam in a suit.

I really dont like to watch it anymore on DVD, seems more like a dress up party/mode show, then a workout. I think they should teach normal again, normal workout clothes in stead of all the crazy clothes they are wearing.

Plus the teaching is going not too well either. They are more taking care of doing other things, like dancing, singing, in stead of doing the workout correctly. The Vive teacher of release 6 for example is acting like their students are little children, she cant even cue on time. In other programms the teachers dont even say things anymore, only busy with entertainment. I think they should give the right image how to present and be a teacher, not only to entertain.

 I used to love les mills, but since last releases i start to dislike it more and more.

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Wie in Venlo Roermond of in Eindhoven is nog op zoek naar een ervaren instructrice? Ik heb de licentie van Bodypump en Bodyjam en heb zeker ook interesse in Bodystep. Mail me als je iets voor me hebt!

Well, I for one disagree with you there! I teach Combat, Balance and RPM and love to see what theme's they are using on each release (I cant speak for the other programmes DVD's as I don't see them because I don't teach them!) I also disagree about the teaching. I get loads of good ideas and coaching on the DVD's especially on the TIPS sections. LM classes are designed to be fun, safe and effective, and I for one think they are!

Who wants to be taught by someone with no flair who just keeps barking out tech tips all class!! I don't!

 

Must admit though, the topless male thing in Balance is one thing I didn't get to be honest? 

Sorry, but I totally disagree.

Remember the five key elements? Fitness magic is one of them. A little performance is part of our jobs. We signed up for this approach. If we don't like it, there are other programs that are more serious, or you can make your own free style classes as serious as you want. And - I might add - no one says you have to dress up, etc, in your own classes. But then find the fitness magic elsewhere ...

I love themes and seeing what outfits they are wearing, and what funny cues and performance opps they come up with, then taking them and making them my own, and adding to them.

So I have to ask - what is wrong with teaching Combat in a dress, Step in boots, or Flow without a shirt (hey now, I didn't know about that - better ask a Flow instructor friend if I can borrow her DVD ) So long as movement isn't comprimised (and nothing I've seen has been) who cares? It's not like she was wearing a mini skirt and couldn't kick. Everything they wear that I've seen has been cool and different, but functional. Those boots are specific dance boots - they are made to be worn like that!

I don't teach Vive so I can't comment on that, however I don't see teaching being compromised myself. And if you can add some flair while doing your job - freakin' awesome!

To each their own, and if its not for you then that's your call, but wanted to add my $0.02.

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Free the body. The mind will follow.

I guess it depends on the program AND the person, but twice a week I teach BP and then BODYJAM. I wear normal red and black workout clothes for Pump and then run to the bathroom and change for BJ because I feel like it not only puts me in the right mindset, but it also gets the class more entertained.  Anything to bring them into the workout and make them have fun.  I don't teach combat but do teach freestyle kickboxing, but all my Les Mills trainings just have made me a different instructor, so I even put on camo pants or different outfits for that.

If you're not that type of instructor, then that's ok too. You can teach a kick butt class without all the razzle dazzle, but I come from a drama and dance background, so I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Hi there i must admit our class members expect us to theme our launch classes ;our co ordinater comes up with some good ideas;let me see i have taught attack dressed as SUPERMAN'(FULL PADDED COSTUME) for xmas i was an elf ,we dressed as air stewards the class were great they had t shirts made with the our names on them and they looked really cool .for this release we are doing SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER so its pink school skirts white shirts and pink ties ;we have a great time and we still make sure we get the teaching points across like the DVDs we only dress up for the launches to make them fun ;i love to see what they are wearing on the DVDs sometimes they look great sometimes you thik what are they wearing!i iteach five programmes so just immagin the fun i have dressing for the launches ;we also have aphotographer or the launch and her photos are fab she does some great affects so i live to teach and have fun i hope you can to .

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HAPPY TEACHING

Anytime I read 'fitness magic' I laught.  It sounds like some Mickey Mouse workout routine or something.  Someone explain what is meant by fitness magic, if it's even possible (although from what I'm reading it has alot to do with dressing up).  I probably have more in common with the original poster, when I go to the gym I usually grab some clean sweats and a raggedy shirt and towel, my only focus is on the workout and if I entered a class where everyone was dressed up silly I don't think I would enjoy that.

Maybe by 'fitness magic' you are talking about the release of endorphines, in that case any very fast song does it for me, the instructor could simply yell out the moves and I would get a kick out of it if the song were really fast, needless to say I don't get any endorphines flowing from BP, I just go to feel the burn.

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What happens when DDR and Body Step combine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-WzGVIGKNM CHALLENGE FOR jvisch (download this file): http://www.yousendit.com/download/bVlCOU1ldzh0TWxMWEE9PQ

I disagree with you OP.  I enjoy watching the performances and costumes and I enjoy trying to emulate or at least come up with something different for a launch.  Members love it and have come to expect it -- why?  Because it changes the pace so to speak.

 If one is solely interested in jumping to the music, they might as well save their money, buy a DVD and pop it into the the DVD machine at home -- you will be guaranteed to get no performance, and certainly no "outrageous" costumes, LOL!

cheers,

rosa

While I do not agree---- I absolutely love to see what they are wearing for each release--- I will say that lately the DVDs are driving me crazy, mostly in Combat.  I know I am repeating myself from a different post , but they are shifting from being educational tools to being rather fancy workout videos.  The camera angles get worse each round.  The camera zooms in on whoever is doing a performance opp, and while I LOVE the perf opps, I also want to see what the other instructors are doing.  Lately the camera has also been completely missing transitions, as it is busy zooming in on participants or a presenter's face or some other nonessential happening. In the latest Combat, the camera keeps jiggling up and down, and manages to miss the majority of the transitions or even nearly entire sets.  The other BC instructor at my gym (yes, just the 2 of us!) both agree that the camera work gets worse with each round, so I know it's not just me.  Anyone else?  Is it just me?

Back on topic......Each DVD is sort of like what we would do for a launch, which is a special 4x/year class.  They aren't necessarily meant to be like EVERY class you teach.  I haven't noticed workouts or cuing being compromised due to perf opps or outfits.  The topless thing in Flow has been discussed in the Flow forums (or Balance) & while not everyone seems to have like it, it is understood that that isn't necessarily a suggestion to teach class topless. I think this round was more dramatic than usual anyway, due to it being the global summit.  I haven't seen the Jam DVD but I'd love to, as whatever their outfits were seem to have been a huge hit!  They wore suits (sort of) in Combat 29 and I thought they looked freaking awesome! 

I am surprised that you are starting to not like LM purely because of the DVDs.  What about the actual music and workouts?  Do you not love them once you learn them and are able to present them the way you prefer?