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Hey everyone!

 I'm going to be taking the BP cert in Columbus, GA at the end of March and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions or advice? I've been participating in BP for about a year, and in the past few months I've been doing the DVD's at home in addition to taking the class in the gym, hoping to get strong and learn the choreography as best I can before the cert.

Any words of wisdom before I head off to the training next month? Overall I'm pretty excited and confident, but my group fitness instruction is limited to teaching SPINNING for the past 3 years.

Thanks!

Becca :)

Be prepared ... to change, to smile, to accept criticism, to leave your inhibitions at the door, to meet some great people, to watch yourself on video (ughh!) and above all, to believe in yourself when it gets tough - especially if you completely mess up your first try like I did !

... and then there's the pump challenge ;-)

 good luck and have a great time. I hope you don't get the lunge track !

Oh no! What's the "pump challenge??" I'm scared!

Pump challenge is simply the best way to show you what you are really made of...I played sports my entire high school life...and I compared "pump challenge" to various "camps" that would be held over a summer break.  It is tough but not impossible...I loved it and at the same time I HATED it but it is excellent training and something you will never forget.  It's not just about individuals it's about teamwork and working together.  I think it brought our group fitness team closer as we were getting to launch BODYPUMP for the first time in our clubs. 

Don't be scared...be prepared!!!---oooo that rhymed...I like it!

Attitude IS Everything! 

 tamtam

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Attitude IS Everything!

The challenge is a circuit format, usually in groups of 2 (you get a buddy for the session).

It has a cardio station, which could be skipping, running, cycle etc. or combination of similar.

The other stations have two exercises super setted

 

They are:

- Clean and Press and Lunges
- Bench Press and Push Ups
- Biceps Curls and Triceps Dips

The weights are heavy! Around 40% of your maximum weight for one rep of that exercise (1RM). This is much heavier than in a pump class. Depending on the station, you do between 3 to 5 sets of 10 to 20 reps. Then your buddy does the same while you "rest" and motivate him/her through it. Then you do them again while buddy rests. You keep swapping until you change stations. You are at each station for about ten minutes. When you do all the stations, you repeat until the trainer calls time up.

Don't forget about the 15 minute run you do before you even start the challenge!

I loved the challenge, but hated the run!  I am short- less than 5'3" and don't run/jog very fast.  However, I didn't stop the entire time, which is pretty good for me....  re-read: I felt good about it.  BUT, the trainer who took us on the run made the group turn around and run back to where I was (I was, obviously last) not once, but TWICE!!!!  (So, they were running, ran to the turn-around point, kept running, I reached the turn-around point, was last, they kept running, turned around and ran back to me, turned back around, kept running, turned around and ran back to me AGAIN, and then we all ran together back to the club.  Heck, they could've walked with as fast as I jog!)

BUT, the lifting, I kicked arse at!  My partner and I were great at motivating each other!  It's amazing the strength and courage you find to motivate people you don't necessarily know!  You're yelling, screaming, lifting, pulling, sweating, cringing, and loving every mintue of it!

It's an excellent way to end your Pump training!  Enjoy it!

cbc

The more I hear about the pump challenge, the more it sounds like hazing to me. Here are a few of the reasons:

1. It's supposed to be kept secret from new BP instructors. I've been told that certified instructors are not to be telling newbies about the pump challenge.

2. So far I haven't really seen what the GOAL of the pump challenge is. I'm all for a great physical challenge, but how does the pump challenge make me a better instructor? If the goal is team-building, then why do such a physically demanding challenge?

3. It's a physically demanding challenge at the end of 3 days that have already been physically and mentally demanding. It frankly sounds like torture, not like smart training.

There's a growing part of me that has concerns about my own physical well-being after attending the cert....comments? Let the flaming begin, I guess...

Hiya Becca, 

I respectfully disagree about the hazing.  I am a BodyPump participant and have never been to a LMI camp, but I have thirty years of experience doing heavy iron and here is my take.

There is nothing like a training partner to get the last rep out of you especially when you are doing heavy weight and low reps to failure.  You need somebody to really get in your face.  Consider it a very intense form of motivation.

This may be a totally new and strange concept to prospective body pump instructors and perhaps especially to females (ie it's a guy thing).

I'm not sure how many BP instructors we have, several, and I've probably done everyone's class at least once.  Most are (IMHO) too quiet.  Only two instructors, both women, REALLY get in your face with an attitude, and they can do it laid back on the bench doing a tricep track.

Sooooo, look at the challenge as a learning environment, especially listening for the difference between what is intensely motivational and what is simply derogatory and offensive, it can be a fine line.

My quess at what the challenge is about.

Rex

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Excuse me... May I motivate you?

Hi Becca!

I'm from Columbus, GA small world! I started taking pump about 5 years ago (Release 38 to be exact) and I'm now a pump instructor. I agree will all of the other postings! Just think MOTRIN! You will also shed a few pounds after the training! :-) 

Gigi

 

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Giowana (Gigi)

Becca,

 You have to go into it with the right attitude.  Which is why I am guessing it is suppose to be kept a secret.  It prepares you mentally and physically and really does prove if to no one else what you are capable of and what your class is capable of.  I do not think for one second it is meant to be cruel.  It gives you a benchmark to work from.  If you are exhausted and can still get up there and teach your track with a smile and the energy a BODYPUMP class needs from it's instructors then you will be well on your way to becoming a great BODYPUMP instructor.  LESMILLS has high standards for the people that teach their classes as they should.  Don't look at as an obstacle...it is just 1hr 15mins not the whole weekend and not the whole point of the training weekend.  If you haven't been through it you won't understand I know that is cliche it's really is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be...the worst part was not knowing about it until the day before and I guess now that isn't a problem anymore

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Attitude IS Everything!

Advice wise, start thinking how the music works, when you woul be cueing the next move, What you should be doing, settin up the move, fine tuning tech with folow up cues and imagery.

 

I loved the challenge, it is for challenging your body to maintain good tech when tired and fatigued, keeping the heavy weights going and with good tech. Your partner will motivate you, and you will ome out the other side stronger and better able to move the weights and instruct. It is also a great thing to be able to say "I did it!"

Good luck on your training. really go in and look to enjoy every second, you only get to do it once,   (or twice, Rosy)

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GO HARD OR GO HOME

Aw you guys have ruined it now!  The challenges should be a pleasant surprise... not something you're already expecting!  

Anyhoo... just relax and enjoy yourself! BP is a wicked programme and as long as you go in with that and shedloads of enthusiasm you'll rock!  It helps if you can learn the chorry beforehand, but I think the most important thing is to listen to your trainer.  Ultimately, they will decide if you teach or not so do what you're told!

Have fun! 

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I'm feeling much better about the pump challenge. And Flower you have a good point: the master instructor gets to give me the green light (or not!) to teach, so I guess it's smart to just do my best!

 It was also helpful to hear that the challenge is just 1:15 of the entire weekend.

I think I lucked out in that BP 61 is coming out now, so I should get a week or two to learn the choreography...

Anyway, thanks again for all of your input!

Becca

I have never heard that it's supposed to be a secret. I would like to hear from Les Mills on that, just to be sure.

As for purpose, the BP instructor manual recommends doing the challenge regularly, as part of your training routine. So including it in the module training would seem to be an introduction to something we are encouraged to repeat, rather than to do as a once off in module training.