First Hurst Pilates class

Tonight was WONDERFUL, I was really chuffed to have 16 people at my first Hurst Pilates class. I enjoyed teaching the class and got lovely feedback.

Thanks to everyone who attended and to those who offered advice, support and encouragement. I can’t wait to do it all again next week!

I’m FAMOUS!

Last week I started some new sessions for Tameside Sports Development – Older Adult classes for 50+, Deconditoned, New Exercisers etc. Imagine my delight when I turned up at the sports hall to be greeted with ‘Hey, its Julieanne, from The Village!’ Quite a few people knew me and were pleased to see me, it made for a great start. I really enjoy teaching these types of classes, I find them very rewarding both in the way that people come and tell you how much they enjoyed the class and also the knowledge that I am ‘doing good stuff’ that will make a difference to their health and well-being.

Later that day I went to GT Grafix to chat to them about sign-writing my Mini, promoting Hurst Pilates Once again, my ‘fame’ went before me, Leanne who works at GT also knew me from my Step class at the Village. Leanne suggested that I should have my name on the back of my Mini and I knew straight away that she was right. I’ve taught a LOT of people in Tameside since I qualified in 1995, perhaps some of them will see my Mini in Sainsbury’s carpark and remember me!

I went to have my sign applied today, the boys at GT had it done in no time and I am very pleased with the result. Look out for me in my Mini and give me a wave or a toot!

a little Gift…..

I wanted to make a little thank-you gift for my participants at Hurst Pilates.

As I don’t bake, I thought a video CD showing answers to common Pilates questions and some exercises to do at home might be a good idea.

I used a video from the Pilates on 5th youtube collection. The original video is 25 mins long so I edited it to make it more relevant to my participants and then made a CD that I will hand out with my Welcome letters.

(this is a cut down version of the Video I made)

I highly recommend Pilates on 5th as a great resource for instructors and participants alike. One day when I am in New York I hope to visit their studio 🙂

I wonder how many CD’s I will give out at my first session next Tuesday?

It’s easy!

I’ve spent the last 5 days furiously setting up my new Community centre class and to be honest I have to say its all very easy!

Well, compared to when I last did this in 1996. I have memories of designing and printing flyers with a word processor, photocopier and copious quantities of Tipex. This time with my mouse, Photoshop and ebay I have created what I hope will be a professional looking flyer and have 5000 of them on their way to me soon.

For my Flyers I used a printer called Fairprint on ebay, sent the design that I made with Photoshop to them by email, paid online with my Creditcard, all done in a morning – in 1996 this would not have been so easy!

I’ve also put myself on Yell.com and on Google maps, again it was so EASY (and free) with just a few mouse clicks.

I registered a domain name and built a website for my new venture, along with Facebook Group. I used Wufoo to create a professional looking contact form, there are so many great free webtools available that make all this so EASY!

In 1996 I had a computer with word processor (a PC with 386 processor if I remember correctly), I had no Internet connection, no design software, those were the days… LOL!

One thing that hasn’t changed much since I last taught in the Community is distribution of flyers, next Saturday I will be pounding the streets around Hurst, hoping not to get barked at as I put my flyers through letterboxes 😉

Facebook Event

I set up an Event for my first Hurst Pilates class on Facebook and invited everyone I know. My intention was for a ‘virtual’ invite that my friends could sign up to, not that the would actually be there on the night, just with me in spirit egging me on.

Amusingly some of my local friends have declined giving various excuses whilst friends in New York and Los Angeles have said they will be attending, if only in spirit and wishing me good luck. Thank you everyone for your kind words of support!

So, all I have to do now is to find some Real Life participants!

I have just sent of my artwork to Fairprint for 5000 flyers, next I have to find someone to distribute them for me 🙂

Hurst Poster

Here’s my first stab at a Poster to put up in the Community Centre. I can’t decide if I should have my name and phone number on it….

much EXCITEMENT!

I’m so excited! Today, Don, the Secretary at Hurst Community Centre told me that I can rent the Centre to teach a Pilates class on Tuesday nights.I have been dilly dallying over going back in to Community teaching for too long, Hurst was one of my most preferred options, so I am delighted.

I plan to start on Tuesday 3rd March, I’ve already set up domain and made a simple web hurstpilates.com along with a Facebook page but there’s so much more to do: