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Dance4Life

Ray

(RayJ)
Male, 51 Years Old
London, Ontario
Canada

Qualified To Teach

Woo Hoo New releases are here!!!!! Now I have to learn the music!!! Then the chorey.

Regular Class Times and Location

Body Pump Mondays at 615 am at Windermere -

Body Pump Tuesdays at 430 pm at Palasad

Body Pump Wednesdays at 615 am at Sherwood -

Body Step Wednesdays at 515 pm at Windermere -

Body Step Thursdays at 430 pm at Palasad -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Over the years I have been involved in many different sports and many different activities to get or stay in good physical condition. The only activities that I can say have truly worked are the Les Mills programs. For me, Body Step is my passion and Body Pump is my second passion. Teaching these wonderful classes has taken me to a whole new level of fitness. I also enjoy Body Flow (Balance) and RPM. Who knows, one day I may teach these programs as well. My only disappointment is that I found these programs so late in life, but thank goodness I found them, or they found me!

In January 1976 I suffered a catastrophic knee injury while skiing. I spent many weeks in hospital, then wheelchairs then crutches and physio. It was a year before I could go back to work and school. The Orthopedic surgeon who performed the surgeries (five in total) stressed that I had to keep the muscles around the leg very strong in order for me to walk somewhat normally and that I could be looking at knee replacements by the time I turn 50. He went on to say that he was pleased to see that I was able to use the leg as they were close to amputating when they opened the knee and saw the damage.

I tried many sports including long distance cycling to keep the knee strong. Countless hours were spent weightlifting to keep it strong. It was never really great and I often walked with a limp or had a great deal of pain in the knee. I became very busy and for a number of years ignored fitness and lived on Advil.

In 1996 I started to put on weight and blossomed from my usual 165 to over 200 lbs. That was when the knee problems started back with a vengeance. In 1998 I decided enough was enough and enrolled in my local gym. For three years I attended faithfully, running on the treadmill and lifting weights. With this newfound fitness I decided I should be eating more. So, on September 9, 2001 I joined GoodLife Fitness in London at the tender weight of 245 lbs.

As we got to know people at the gym they suggested we try the classes. My wife tried Flow (Balance) and dragged me out; I enjoyed the class and attended when I could. She then tried Pump and dragged me out. I immediately fell in love with Pump and was hooked. We got to know one of the step instructors and she talked my wife into trying a class. She loved it; she tried to drag me out, no way. The usual excuses, no coordination, I will look stupid yada yada yada… Finally I gave in, the rest is History.

By attending the Les Mills classes, the support of GoodLife Instructors & Staff, and with a lot of help from Weight Watchers (a portion is what????) I was able to lose and keep off 65 pounds. My wife had similar results.

Thanks to BodyStep, Pump, Flow and the many dedicated instructors and trainers my life is changed forever and will be much longer because of it. I have dropped fifteen years in my real age and if it weren’t for the scar I would say what knee injury!

Thank you Les Mills and GoodLife Fitness

Messages

Showing 1 to 11 of 555

Nicole	Hey Gorgeous! How are you these days?! What is going on with the job? Official now or soon?
	04 Jul 2008 02:43

Jeremy	Hey Ray what's up? Nice to meet you. Are you going to the super Q in Aug.?
	03 Jul 2008 06:05

Karina	Thank You Thank YOU!!! by your pics, looks like you know how to have fun up there in Canada! Cheers!! K
	03 Jul 2008 01:44

Caroline	Hey Ray, Thanks so much for the lovely B'day wish:) I think our Birthday Fairy God Mother has been at work:) We must find out when her Birthday is???? Hope life is treating you well my friend:) Love Caroline
	03 Jul 2008 11:43

Cheryl	What an inspiration story. Good for you! Glad that BodyStep and BodyPUmp found you. Also glad to see men out there teaching. That is one of the many strengths of the Les Mills programs, they encourage men to participate and there are many male instructors. We need more of that as it helps other men see that group exercise can be "manly" and strength building. Nice to meet you.
	03 Jul 2008 07:20

Arllette	Thank you what a lovely thought. :-)
	02 Jul 2008 03:40

Crazy Carol

Hey Ray,

In fact I am tired, I was video taped teaching a BodyVive class yesturday @ 2pm to submit to be officially certified in Vive, worked after that in the club for a couple of hours went home and sent out some b-day messages and then passed out by 9pm, that's pretty early for me. I guess the excitement of video taping the Vive class and that 25 people showed up for it, half were my friends & hubby and the other half were the members that normally come to the Vive. Just glad that I got that done. It's hot down here, hows the weather up there? I bet you all are getting Excited about the Canadian Fit Pro coming up in August. Wow, a 1,000 doing flow, do you have enough mats and room for everyone to move around on their mats? That is so Awesome! I hope you will have pics posted when that happens.

Hugs, Crazy Carol

30 Jun 2008 07:46

Natasja	Hey Ray, Yes,I will be at CFP, can't wait....it's going to be awesome! See you there, NATASJA
	30 Jun 2008 10:15

mandie	hi ray its great to meet you and thank you for the add,its great to see you love les mills to.i do body combat mostly,we have step but not the les mills step.ive had a go at balance and i really like it but dont get to go as much as i would like to because of other classes i go to,there are not enough hours in the day lol.
	30 Jun 2008 06:25