lessons in group fitness from the Book of Kells

When I was cat/housesitting in Dublin, Ireland last weekend, I had the chance to head over to Trinity College's The Long Room or their old library, home of a stunning array from floor-to-ceiling of ancient books which felt very Harry-Potter-At-Hogwarts-esque. I hope you can relate yourself or at least smile at this image; I was a bookish young child who devoured fiction and non-fiction books from the time I could phonetically-pronounce a sentence. 

As I wandered this beautiful old library in awe & I flashed-upon the memory of 11 & 12-year-old Noël, who in junior high school, absolutely despised having to play team sports as a school requirement for physical education; I was much more at home at my ballet class outside of school. The “deal” I cut with my PE teacher was in lieu of me joining-in on team sports…I would pass the class if I walked the track, instead. 

I found walking in circles, alone, tremendously boring…so I would read a book and walk. 📖🤣 

Young Noël walking the track, reading a book and avoiding her classmates, would surely be both confused & intrigued to know that 30s-40's Noël teaches group movement, builds replicable movement programs for studios & trains trainers on how to deliver movement as part of her job.

If you as an adult in your corner of the fitness industry, could speak to a version of you as a child…what would you say? 

One final thing before closing, which applies at your studio: 

Prior to stepping into the library, I viewed the Book of Kells or Ireland's treasure of the 9th century; a well-preserved book of the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John from the Bible. 

The Book of Kells was written by 4 main scribes in a formal style. 

1 was conservative in how he copied the script. 

Another enjoyed calligraphy & added color to the pages. 

There was a goldsmith in the mix, too, to add ornate flourish.

Though the ancient scribes had a script & plan to follow…because they were different people, executed the script differently to beautiful result.

When we have a tight & replicable group fitness program of any format, be it with a template to follow or otherwise, if we work to develop instructors' unique personalities, lean-into their life experiences & taste in music…we'll never have a commonplace & unoriginal class.

As always, I love to hear whatever you're working on; let me know how you are.

I hope you have a great rest of your week!