01 September 2020

Why is freestyle step aerobics popularity decreasing?

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Why is freestyle step aerobics popularity decreasing?

The decrease in popularity of freestyle step aerobics and the possible reasons for this decrease

Introduction

Freestyle step aerobics has been around as one of the best cardio workouts since the '80s in Australia. The high-intensity activity is choreographed in groups to increase social harmony and motivation with excellent benefits such as physical strength building, fat burning, etc. and as a result it pays back with improved cardiovascular health, improved body balance and overall coordination. It is a fun social work-out where the instructor with a good set of “bopping” music keeps people motivated

Why then the decrease in its popularity?

We know that freestyle step aerobics started as part of the “gym” curriculum in Australia since the 80s. Back then it was difficult getting a spot in one of these sessions. During this beginning period, people flocked to their more choreographed routines, and their “star” instructors, as they were the “hot cake” of the gym world at the time. But now freestyle step aerobics has experienced slow-down that seems that it might not recover from. But why? Since it was so popular, what happened to its popularity? Why is it so hard to find a gymnasium that offers freestyle step aerobics?

No, freestyle step aerobics is still a part of activities in various Australian gyms. However some reasons, which I have elaborated below, has contributed to its downfall.

Same old, same old

The lack of interest in freestyle step aerobics classes is caused from all three sides that I can see, the instructors, the participants and the Gyms. But we will concentrate on the instructor and participants in this section.

Back at the beginning, instructors used to execute their classes with a bit of self-taught routines, which some were less than perfect, however the attending members would still attend in masses as the whole package, instructor friendliness, music and routine was worth it. But….. times are changing. Things are quite different now. Participants have become more advanced, that they seek more and more challenging routines with a perfect delivery by the instructor.

Although the advancement of the members in this art is a great thing to have, it comes as a double-edged sword. If instructors cater for these group of members, and these members get a great complex workout, the new members to the freestyle step aerobics will find themselves so lost and confused that 99% of the time they just never return. The member base growth does then become…. negative.

Constant planning of new routines

As the members keep asking for a greater variety in the routines provided by the different instructors, means that instructors have to come up with choreography as fast as they deliver it. Members do catch up on new routines quickly and find that the same routine by the 3rd or 4th time is just way too repetitive. You will find that many times, many instructors find it difficult to cope with this demand. When this happens, many instructors do give up the freestyle step world and move to a pre-choreographed program such as BODY/Step by Les Mills, where the routine and music are given to them to deliver to the class. No more thinking, no more creating, no more originality. However, it is an option for those instructors that still want to teach a workout session with a step platform under their feet but still get a strong athletic workout without much preparation.

Personalisation of a Step Aerobics class

Another item that has assisted in its decline is the “personalisation” of step classes. At the beginning there was “basic”, “intermediate” and “advanced” classes. This set-up assisted in the member growth to a more complex or “intermediate” class, when the member felt that he or she had somewhat dominated the “basic” style session. Then again, when confident that the “intermediate” session was starting to feel easy, there was the logical progression to “advanced” class.

Then it came “Moves”. People flocked to this class style for its fun choreography and mind-blowing complexity. Then there was the “Step and Butts” where slowly replaced the “basic” class in many gyms. People not interested in the “butts” portion of the workout, would stop attending these classes. As the numbers decreased, so was its appearance of “basic” freestyle step in gymnasiums scheduled timetables.

Having to create a challenging routine for the members and do this without the assistance of a programmed team, meant that every time there were less and less instructors interested in following the freestyle step style. Thus the number of instructors able to cover these classes were less and less every time.

Then there was the difficulty in finding step instructors that would be able to deliver “advanced” and/or “Moves” sessions, thus gyms started to replace all “intermediate”, “advanced” and “Move” sessions to just “Step”. “Advanced” and “Move” members were not impressed by this approach, as most instructors were catering for the “intermediate” levels. So, members started following specific instructors that would deliver their “poison” style. The style they enjoyed.

Instructors, as well as members, come and go. At this point in time in the history of Freestyle step aerobics, many members also gave up when their “Step Master” gave up their art or moved to another country. Thus again, reducing the overall growth of freestyle step aerobics to even larger negative number. Decline was now obvious.

New participants and complex sessions

Another reason for the noticeable decrease in freestyle step sessions can be attributed to members fears. New members, and some newly introduced “intermediate” members found themselves suddenly in turbulent waters. Their fears of not being fit for this type of routine was not unjustified.

Sessions might be delivered by a complex routine instructor. Many members, no matter how physically fit they might be, might find these sessions over-confusing and over-coordinated. I understand what these comments. They would find it difficult to understand the moves, or that the cues are too complex to learn and understand, and without prior training of that level, their bodies are still uncoordinated for that session. The fact that they had no progression to go from the level they are, to this new level might be seen as a very large gap to be able to cover themselves. These members tend to leave, and typically shelf the style under “just too difficult”.

Members need to see this as a challenge, and not as a failure. One of the things that needs to be repeated, time after time, is that everything takes time to learn.

The fear that everyone is watching, and if they fail then, everyone will make fun of them. Remember, everyone was once a beginner.

Research material or marketing material?

Step workouts became less famous when some researchers started to push the need for weight training and other body workouts. Some researchers also started false claims that freestyle step aerobics had no benefits, or that it caused harmful effects on the body.

Step aerobics was created by Gin Miller back in the late ‘80s who was told by her doctor to step up and down on a milk crate to rehabilitate a knee injury. Like all things, in moderation and with care. All Step sessions, when executed as they should be, there should be no or negligible damage to knee joints.

This is the same as weightlifting, same as BODY/Step, same as any other workout. Do it correctly, as it was designed, or by ensuring all your joints are safe and you will be stepping as long as I have been…. Now it has been since 1989… and going. Not once I had an injury.

So please when you read a single report, do cross reference it with trustworthy sources. Do not just believe a “Company” marketing group or a marketing company contracted by other fitness businesses to state in their advertising to induce fear on the freestyle step participants, so they move to their newly $$ paid $$ workout $$ routine $$!

The researchers can only find what is out there in the cyber world. And as programmed styles such as BODY/Step are backed up by a business, there is a budget that helps them in the promotion of their product. On the other hand, we have freestyle step aerobics that are not supported by a company, thus there is less and less good material out there. Thus the lack of material is making freestyle step a less talked about item, thus it gives the impression that it is less wanted. Further from the truth!

Step aerobics… “wherefore are thou”?

Classes were calling for more complex routines. Instructors were taking the easy way out by moving to other programmes, some instructors would just retire, new programmes were appearing in the gym schedules fighting for space to execute their sessions, etc. Due to all the above, we now find gyms finding it difficult to find instructor’s covers for their tabled freestyle step classes. The appearance of “not so good” instructors started to appear in some gyms in their attempt to cover a class, either as a once off, or as a permanent cover. The permanent covers by more basic instructors would then start to deplete of members, until the gyms find no other option than to replace the class in the timetable.

The permanent classes were not always covered by “basic” instructors, some very qualified instructors would also take some of these permanent classes. But then the member’s pride or personal style would get in the way. Members might find that the new instructor style, more athletic, more dance styled, more choreographed, etc. would not be what they have been doing for years under the good management of their previous instructor, or might find that this is not the style for them. This would most likely result in further depletion of the class.

Routines are a big aspect of the mental freestyle step aerobics, not just the physical workout

Since members expectations were growing, sometimes exponentially, the instructors faced the difficulty of creating routines that would cater for their attending members. Not really catering for the newly attending ones. As the name implies, freestyle step routines do not have a program that tells the instructor what to do, or how to teach the different moves. Instructors have to create and come up with routines and then be able to break them down for the members to achieve the intended result in a safe manner. With members asking for complex routines and finding this to be a hard task, thus sometimes the same routine might be on the timetable for 3, 4 and sometimes 5 weeks at a time, causing members to perceive the routine no longer a challenge by week 4 or 5, thus stopping their attendance, as well as some participants also moving to the programmed Les Mills BODY/Step or other programmes making the freestyle step class depletion even more noticeable.

The jump from beginners’ level to advanced is way too big of a gap for newbies.

Gimme more! Gimme more! Gimme More! by memebers

This subject has been discussed before. Seasoned members want to enjoy the class as much as any other member. However, the needs from this group, substantially defers from the needs of the “intermediate” and “basic” members. For this reason, stop going to classes when a session is ran by an instructor addressing more towards the needs of the “basic” or “intermediate” attendees. This reduces the class numbers even further.

The result is clearing the path for gyms to change the low attending freestyle step classes for other more popular classes.

Age is just a number, or is it?

I find that “natural” selection is another factor that reduces the numbers of members in a class, or the number of freestyle step classes in a gym timetable. Age. The big “A” word!. We all have our own opinion about this word, but one thing that is clear is that age does impact the availability of members in the attendance of a class, as well as the number of freestyle instructors available to take a class.

There is no question that when you reach certain age, you tend to diminish your physical training. This includes freestyle step aerobics. Once you reach that age, and you decide to step (“pun” intended), then if you are a member of a freestyle step class, your class numbers will go down, and if you are a freestyle step instructor, then your class might be considered for removal from the timetable.

Other programs address the step version they have to the younger generation to ensure that there is a constant flow of members into their session, making them see all these happy instructors and all these great pre-fab “cues” to entice them to believe that doing a “copy-cat” of what they see on stage is the way to go. Aged members see through this. Although you will find aged members in other programmed classes, these are normally the instructors, or the instructor’s personal fan-based group.

Done that, I got the t-shirt! Now what?

Mmmm…. Lack of challenges. Members do get bored when there is a lot of repetition in a freestyle step class. They find that there is not enough challenges. If this is an issue that they find often enough, they might stop going to the class all together. This has been said before, and many other times. We are all, and I include myself into this category, whores for more challenging routines.

I do get bored sometimes if I do not get a difficult class, or a highly choreographed class. However, I personally cannot live without freestyle step classes (I know it sounds dramatic but believe me!!) So I do attend as many classes as I can, regardless of their level. Currently I have two different memberships for two different gyms as I needed more than what one gym could give me. Specially now with COVID-19 issues, where the physical classes have been reduced to a minimum, and many of the freestyle step classes have been removed from the timetable.

Conclusion

Freestyle step aerobics came into Australia in the 80s, and it hit all gyms in a big way. You could find 5+ classes of step a week per gymnasium, thanks to its great high-intensity workout as well as its mental workout. Its results talked for themselves.

Although step aerobics is still in some gyms timetables, it is clearly considered an “specialty” class, reserved for those of a certain age bracket as it is considered a “retro” workout style.

However, not having step classes on the timetable of many gyms is a result by members, instructors, gyms and specially programmed fitness sessions providers.

Seasoned members seek more challenging sessions, new members find these sessions way too confusing to start with. Thus, season members would not attend instructor lead classes addressing the basic members, and newbies will stand clear from advanced instructors.

Instructors have a hard time to plan a session where both seasoned and newbies can enjoy a class, since there has been no breakdown of “basic”, “intermediate” and “advanced” session classes for a long time put in by the gyms. Many instructors choose to be a “Basic/intermediate” level instructor, or a “advanced” instructor. Making their classes specific to a type of members, or simply they choose to give up teaching freestyle and let enterprises to tell them the routine to use by moving towards a pre-programmed routine provider.

Gyms are merging the three sessions into a single “step” class since they find difficult to find an instructor to cover a class when someone is sick, or moves to a different location, or simply retire. Gyms also will see that when an advanced instructor is running a session, only certain number of members would attend, and when a “basic/intermediate” instructor is assigned, also only certain number of members would attend. These numbers tend to be low to medium in density. Gym’s are businesses, and as such they look for giving sessions that would attract a larger number of members to their classes, making them choose a different class type to replace the low attendance ones.

3rd party providers, or pre-programmed enterprises fill in this gap by providing sessions that can be covered by many instructors, providing gyms with certainty that their time-tabled session will not be left “empty” or covered by a different class style due to lack of step instructor covers. Also using their business knowledge to flood the market with marketing material that would attest for the benefits of their classes versus the freestyle (non-business lead) sessions. The freestyle community will not contradict or confront these marketing comments since freestyle sessions are not managed by a business that can market their product to the public. Then the silence, or lack of action against these comments makes this market a free for all.

Harder routines address a subsection of the freestyle step community. Basic routines address a different subsection of the freestyle step community. Less attendees to basic classes and/or less attendees to advanced classes means gyms need to find other sessions to cover them with. Gyms are businesses, they are to ensure their sessions have a minimum number of attendees, thus low attendee classes are replaced on the timetable. Difficult sessions to cover by instructors when sickness or permanent replacements come about gives gyms another reason to remove these sessions form their timetable. This gap is quickly covered by businesses that claim their sessions are all basically the same level across all instructors, and that they can find instructors to cover session at any time. Gyms take the advantage and book them.

"The information provided herein is strictly for educational purposes. Always consult your qualified Group Fitness Instructor before implementing any suggestions above."

Disclaimer

You must get your physician's approval before beginning any exercise suggested in this blog or any of its articles. Any recommendations found within these articles are not medical guidelines but are for educational purposes only. You must consult your physician prior to starting any suggestions in this blog, or if you have any medical condition or injury that contraindicates physical activity. The suggestions in this blog article are designed for individuals 18 years and older that have been approved by their physician to take any of the suggestions above.

The information in this blog article is meant to supplement, not replace, proper exercise training. All forms of exercise pose some inherent risks. As such we advise readers to take full responsibility for their safety and know their limits. Before practicing the exercises in this blog article, be sure that your equipment is well-maintained, and do not take risks beyond your level of experience, aptitude, training and fitness. The exercises and dietary programs in this article are not intended as a substitute for any exercise routine or treatment or dietary regime that may have been prescribed by your physician.

Do not lift heavy weights if you are alone, inexperienced, injured, or fatigued. Do not perform any exercises unless you have been shown the proper technique by a certified personal trainer or certified strength and conditioning specialist. Always ask for instruction and assistance when lifting. Do not perform any exercise without proper instruction. Always do a warm-up prior to resistance training and interval training.

See your physician before starting any exercise or nutrition program. If you are taking any medications, you must talk to your physician before starting any exercise program, including Freestyle Step Aerobics. If you experience any light-headedness, dizziness, or shortness of breath while exercising, stop the movement and consult a physician.

You must have a complete physical examination if you are sedentary, if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, if you are overweight, or if you are over 30 years old. Please discuss all nutritional changes with your physician or a registered dietician. If your physician recommends that you do not do Freestyle Step Aerobics, please follow your Doctor's orders.

That was our September 2020. Remember to feel free to comment, or contact me via email to FreestyleStepXTRVGNZ@gmail.com, and comment on what you think of this article, or any article you have read, or just any improvements you may want to see happening.

Bruno Jimenez
September 2020

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23 August 2020

Freestyle Step, best thing to do during the quarantine

Why choosing Freestyle Step during the Coronavirus quarentine is best.

"Do something today that your future self will thank you for"- words of Sean Patrick Flanery (American author and martial artist). Every time I read them, they hit me hard. They always motivate me to use my time doing something productive. Tell you the truth, not always successful in doing something productive, but it does motivate me. 😊

We’re all familiar with the present situation around the world with the “Rona”, and how people are asked to be confined in their own home. People have found themselves with a lot of time on their hands, and are confused on how to use it, or are just… not using it. Being between 4 walls 24 hours a day is not something that many people are comfortable with, most people have not had to experience this before. Schools, universities, public transport, shopping centres, gyms, many businesses, in other words everything is in shutdown or restricted access (. . . except pharmacies, chemists, hospitals, grocery shops and other primary level shops and institutions off course). The “Rona” has broken the backbone that supported the economy of many countries across the world. Now as we are surrounded in the claws of this very dangerous and deadly virus, people’s habits need to change rapidly to adapt. So, before you develop soreness on your backside from laying on the couch and doing the best version of “lazy” that you can come up with, it’s best to use your time in some healthy self-improvement tasks.

Now, I believe you already know the consequences you’ll face if you ignore your health needs in this “Rona” period. Not only you will be putting your life in danger, but also that of your family and those close to you. Really, right now, your inactivity is as dangerous as the Corona virus itself. If you look around you, you can see that there are tons of options available to help you to overcome the dangers of inactivity. Some will be on the outside, with a responsible social distancing separation between you and others, or some might be at home, either on your own or with an online pre-recorded exercise video, or live event. According to me the best of all of the available options would always be to go with Freestyle Step, in a COVID-19 responsible gym, or at home with a pre-recorded step session, or one of the so many a live events around in the ether of the internet.

If you know me, you will understand why I’d choose freestyle step. But if we have not had the pleasure to meet each other, and you are wondering why I’d choose Freestyle step, then I would just plainly put it this way… I reckon that Freestyle step has everything you and your body need.

Basics first, Freestyle step are exercises choreographed with music stepping on and off a platform somewhat lifted from the ground. With the basics covered, I will also add that you do not need any additional workout machines for it. All you need is an elevated step; thus it makes it a very easy type of workout to be carried out at home. Freestyle step is great way to burn out fat and improve lower body strength. Then add to this the great music that is used for these workouts, and how much fun an exercise routine can be if appropriate for your level of experience on the step. Simply put these are very fun and entertaining exercises with added health benefits.

I hope I have convinced you, and you have made up your mind to add freestyle step to your stay home routine. Next, you will have to choose what kind of “road” you are going to follow to carry out your Freestyle step aerobics workout. The first “road” or “kind” that comes to mind is online streaming (live or pre-recorded), while another one is physical group sessions in a COVID-19 responsible gym. Believe me, it can sometimes be complicated to choose either one as both have their own “good” and “not so good” things about them. So, lets bring some of these up and see where this discussion takes us.

If you are a “happy chappy” at home, doing your own thing, not needing to be surrounded by other peeps, etc… what some people would call an introvert, then online sessions would be the best option for you. If you are COVID-19 responsible and concerned by this global pandemic (. . . we are all a bit concerned about this… some more than others) then online freestyle stepping can sort this problem for you. In addition, in an online class you can get the company of a friend or a relative who is far away to be there with you. Would you not love to step with a friend from another city here in Australia? Or from another country? I just had the pleasure of doing the “LIVE OZ Step Coast 2 Coast” where I was stepping with my friends from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Western Australia for about 3 hours. It was a very much fun event, full of laughter, workout, sweating and choreography from our great pool of instructors (my friend Peta Clarke from Melbourne, my buddy Celeste Frost from Adelaide, and my newest freestyle step buddy Bettina Fiebig from Perth) and in addition, a great bunch of stepping friends. All in the privacy of my own home, and without displacing myself around. It was a great event, and a great way to catch up with friends.

Due to the “Rona” global pandemic, online classes are on fire. You can find a large selection of step classes without leaving comfort of your house. I believe the greatest advantage we have in an online class is that no one is looking at you if you choose not to share your video cam. Many peeps avoid group exercises sessions as they fear that might turn themselves into laughingstock by getting the moves wrong. With online sessions there is no need to get nervous about this, as no one else can see you thus, who cares if you get it wrong? Making a mistake would not be embarrassing, but instead you can identify this error and see how to sort it out, without letting the world know that you made a blunder (. . . “Big Brother” is not watching). In addition, practising from a video has the added benefit of allowing you to pause and replay portions of the video that might need review. If you feel that you are not quite getting the routine, then you can pause the video, rewind it and re-watch that more intricate part so you can break it down and understand it better.

I guess that are enough reasons going in favour for choosing online sessions. But don’t forget that choosing online sessions also has its own number of reasons to go against it. I will discuss them side-by-side with the comparable face-to-face group sessions.

Most important of all, that I hope you would agree with, is that having an instructor present in physical form right in front of you and the other step session participants is very helpful and safe. If you are doing something in the wrong way, the instructor is always there to see it and correct you if necessary. Another aspect to consider is that the instructor might see something being done wrong by someone, but does not want to call on this person in front of others to do the correction, or several members are not quite getting a specific move, then he can give “hints” and suggestions to the general class to avoid any embarrassment. Of course, the instructor also gives advice about safety during the session, as well as how to perform some moves safely. Needless to say that if you have a specific problem with a move, and the instructor has not picked up on that, you can always follow someone else in the class that has got the intricacy of the move that is near you. Failing all that, you can always approach the instructor during the times he/she say “does anyone got any questions about any of the moves” or you can always approach them after the class. Most of these you cannot do online class, don’t you reckon? For these types of situations, it’s just simply better on a face-to-face, of course always observe the COVID-19 and social distancing rules while at the Gym.

Well, I think this is enough comparison for now. So, it is really up to you to decide which is it going to be, an online class or real group sessions. But you must choose one…. Or both! But you cannot simply decide to do none. Your health is something you cannot ignore and should not ignore. Ignoring it will do you no good (I am starting to sound like my mother!). So just go for it. You won’t find better time than now to enjoy the options offered out there. Always remember that taking care of yourself and your health, you are indirectly also protecting your family’s health as a unit.

Keep safe! and keep stepping!

"The information provided herein is strictly for educational purposes. Always consult your qualified Group Fitness Instructor before implementing any suggestions above."

Disclaimer

That was our August 2020. Remember to feel free to comment, or contact me via email to FreestyleStepXTRVGNZ@gmail.com, and comment on what you think of this article, or any article you have read, or just any improvements you may want to see happening.

Bruno Jimenez
August 2020

05 July 2020

Is Freestyle Step only for older generation?

Or is it something that people say when they cannot do it?

So, is it or isn't it?

Step Aerobics is a workout for old people…. or so say many of today’s younger generation, or those that have two left feet.

I will not kid myself. I understand and agree that watching a 1980s step aerobics VHS Video, (… if you do not know what that is, ask your parents), sure, it is old fashioned and even quite corny.

Comparing 2020 Step Aerobics to that of the 1980s is like comparing weightlifting at the Moscow’s Olympics in the 1980s to CrossFit in the 2020. They are now two different things, although sharing a common root.

Gone are the days of 16 in a row high knees, or star-jumps on the step, as it is doing a grapevine around the step (adopted from floor aerobics).

Freestyle Step has progressed with the times. It has not been kept in a time capsule. The fact that Step Aerobics is being labelled for older generation, is simply the fear to fail by those stating it.

I understand that there is a group of people that do not want to think when doing “step aerobics” and instead they just want to be shout at with same-old same-old routines. I see this need, and I respect them to choose such a, in my opinion, mindless and boring workout. These people have “Pre-programmed” classes offered by big corporations. They even can just play an old Step video routine over and over and over for months on end.

But people need to understand that, like me, there are people that need to feed their minds as much as they do feed their body needs during one of these freestyle sessions. I want to be offered options, I want to be challenged, I want to learn new moves, I want my mind to join my body in the workout, I want it to be fun. But what I want the most is people recognising my choices for what they are, my choices, not theirs, and that they stop calling Freestyle Step aerobics a workout for old people, and just acknowledge that the new freestyle step aerobics is not for them.

I understand that there are different people with different needs or capabilities. I will always respect our differences with other freestyle step brothers or sisters. I just hope one day these people stop saying that the classes are way too hard and that it should be toned down so they can do it.

To these people I say, “get on with the times”. If you claim that Step is for old people, but you still want to have the old “classic” step with constant repetition, then I wonder who is the one that wants the older generation routines.

I know many people, specially Les Mills BODYSTEP™ instructors, keep criticising Freestyle Step Aerobics, by claiming that it is way too complex, and without structure. That the routines do get in the way of the workout.

To these people I say, what is a workout? Like in weightlifting, it depends on what your goal is. If you want fit, but not bulk, you will do smaller weights and more repetitions, but if bulk is what you want, you will do more weight and less repetitions. The same is with Step Aerobics. If what you seek is a serious mindless workout, where all it matters is growing those legs muscles, then I understand you would look for more simple routines with many repetitions. But, if you look for a balance on mind and body, where getting your mind and your body engaged on a routine that requires synchronisation, then you would opt for a more modern approach to step and add the “moves” in your routine.

To these people that their opinion is that Freestyle Step should be more “tamed” I say that it is only too complex to them, because they cannot follow it. That they are not capable to do what it is called an “older generation” workout. What does this say about them? That they are only able to “perform” someone else’s routine given to them to repeat to the members?

To these people I say that just because the Freestyle instructor providing the group exercise session analyses the members attending the class, and melding the session to be as inclusive as possible, does not mean it does not have an structure. What it means is that Freestyle Step is built to take into consideration the members attending the class. Freestyle Step is not a “pre-programmed” class given to the instructor to “copy” and “perform” in-front of the members in a “look at me, look at what I can do”, but a session where the instructor will pre-prepare a set of routines, with different level options, and will offer the options to the members in the class to ensure that they get a workout regardless of their knowledge level. This approach is to ensure that all members, regardless of their age, are included in the workout. This proving it is not an old peeps workout.

Today I was in a Freestyle Step session in Chatswood (Sydney, Australia), and the instructor gave the routines at several levels so most of the attendees will be able to follow through. Advanced options were given for those who wanted that little bit more, and more basic ones for those whom are not yet that comfortable on the step. In this class, there was one member that totally ignored the routines, and spent the entire class doing her own very basic moves. These moves had no resemblance to the routine offered by the instructor.

Now let’s flip this the other way. Picture a Les Mills BODYSTEP™ session where the instructor is offering the pre-choreographed routine. Same routine done over several weeks. Imagine a single member in the class where he/she decides to do his/her own freestyle Step moves. What would this member be told by the instructor? Do not say that nothing would have been said, as I have been in a class where the Freestyle Step instructor could not attend and was covered by a Les Mills BODYSTEP™ instructor. The instructor “warned us” at the very beginning to leave the class if we are not going to do the moves he was going to provide us with, or if we were going to add our own “flare” to his moves. That we will be told to leave the class if we did so.

What are they scared of? Should the Freestyle Step instructor have done the same with the other “non-conforming” step member too?

You will hear from many Freestyle Step instructors that they find Les Mills BODYSTEP™ boring, that they want to feed their body as well as their mind, thus being the reason for which they choose not to attend Les Mills BODYSTEP™ classes. And this has nothing to do with their age, or their generation.

The idea that freestyle step aerobics is a workout for old people is quickly eliminated when you watch a full step aerobics session, or video online. As you go through various routines in every session, you look forward to add your own stepping variations to keep things exciting. But I can also say it is not for people that are not looking for a workout routine that involves the engaging of their minds as they are exercising. That it is not for people that wants to be given the same routine over and over and over, week after week.

No Freestyle Step Aerobics is not just for older generations. Freestyle Step is for anyone looking for a mind and body challenge and are not scared of “not getting it”. Regardless of their age.

"The information provided herein is strictly for educational purposes. Always consult your qualified Group Fitness Instructor before implementing any suggestions above."

Disclaimer

That was our July 2020. Remember to feel free to comment, or contact me via email to FreestyleStepXTRVGNZ@gmail.com, and comment on what you think of this article, or any article you have read, or just any improvements you may want to see happening.

Bruno Jimenez
JULY 2020

05 June 2020

From The Gym Floor To The Digital Ether

Or how "The Rona" virus made as all look to the internet for freestyle options

Gymming and "The Rona" virus

We all know, and we all have been told at one time or another, “physical inactivity is among the risk factors for deadly health conditions globally”.

Regular exercise and physical activity build strong muscles, as well as bones. Our Freestyle Step workouts are a perfect physical fitness and helps and serves as a mental health cure. Doing a Step routine makes you feel fit (even if at times we thought we had 3 left feet!), more active and we know the more active the more we burn fat (… burn fat, burn to hell!!), and enthusiastic about our daily routines. Regular freestyle step exercise boosts our brainpower (….and again, even that some days feels like we have lost control of one or both of our legs while on that step!), improves self-confidence and sharpens our memory, and if you are from the same… “period” as me, then that is a good thing to happen!. Also, it strengthens our heart, thus minimising the chances of the respiratory health problems.

Online workouts popping all over the place

Now lets talk about the elephant in the room, the Coronavirus…. Known by many as “The Rona”. “The Rona” or as it also known as COVID-19, has devastatingly impacted every aspect of normal life in the world. Shops, businesses, spiritual places, gyms, etc.. most these have had to close due to regulations. But closing their physical doors does not mean they are “out of reach” for you. The bans on gyms, groups, gatherings and social distancing practices have forced every sector to shift to online. And there is where you can find me from time to time. Sometimes more often than I care to acknowledge.

The majority of the population does own a mobile phone, or two, and it is easy for them to stream step sessions, boot camp lessons or other gym workouts at the privacy of your bedroom (… lounge room, garage, local park, drive way, etc…, just don’t say rooftop please!).

The shift to go online, however, is not only a response to “The Rona” situation but also a technological shift, that the world was slowly taking, however the world had to close its eyes, hold its breath and jump right in.

Aiding this jump into the digital ether, are all the gyms and instructors we love (…and sometimes fear!!). Freestyle step sessions and other fitness programs suddenly appeared online, creating convenience. Now you have all our local and remote freestyle step brothers and sisters having access to whole bunch of Australian freestyle step talent like Bettina Fiebig from Perth, Rebecca Small and Jorge Casanova from Sydney, Celeste Frost from Adelaide, Peta Clark and Andrew Marcus from Melbourne just to mention a few of our own brew. But you know how people say that in the digital world, there are no frontiers? Well, that being the case you also can find other great talent from around the world stepping their hearts content to everybody and anybody that may show some interest. You have the likes of Keith Coleman from Ireland, Peter Borsos from Hungary, Daniel Rojas from Peru, one of my all times idols on a step Lars Schuijling from the Netherlands, Lenka Matasova from Italy, my three musketeers from Spain, Carol Lopez Cesar, Arturo Javier Vargas Castillo and Joel Lee, and I could go for days dropping names, but this will do for now. You get the picture. There was so much honey that us, the bees, were running in all (digital) directions. We had and still have honey of all shades and flavours! Most of us went mad with delirium and choice.

"The Rona" workout suggestions for home

What happens when there is so much competition…. Many would say that us, the bees, would have the latest word on who we would want to follow, and join in their sessions. However life is full of surprises, it was not like that.

You see, many of the instructors I have mentioned above, and many, many, many more, their only income was from their gym sessions. “The Rona” took all that away, and money stop flowing. So now you have all this instructors that want to offer you a magnific freestyle step session, but the pitch is, that the session is so good, you would want to pay a small amount to attend it.

The “pay-per-view/session” started. Some would just ask a small donation of your choice. Some would have a price per class, or a price per a set of classes, etc… This allowed the bees to get their workout, to sessions that are expected to be good, or exceptional. Instructors did and still do deliver. We have happy bees, and happy honey. For a small fee from many of us, our instructors can keep working and earning some money to keep pumping the sessions for us. Win Win situation.

You can debate whether to engage in one of the freestyle step sessions or not to, but as you know helping your health to stay…. Healthy, is not a choice for many of us, rather it is a necessity, some would say is a drug. It is essential that you have access to gym workouts, whether they be physical or virtual, since for us it is another principal nutrient to our health.

Streaming step and other workouts in the palm of your hand

Many of our step instructors have been offering free classes online with their virtual workouts popping up across sites we all frequent. Youtube videos and channels, Instagram accounts, Facebook pages and groups, Linkedin connections, Zoom sessions and other social sites are a great place for free fitness webinars with online instructors offering great opportunities to us the bees. For instance, our Facebook group: Freestyle Step Enthusiasts – Sydney - is one of the free platforms offering fitness exercises. These are used by many other instructors to show what they can offer us. Some do have permanent slots for Freestyle step classes. Some would give us some “teasers” and request the members from our group to come across to their sites to either join them in other sessions or pay sessions. Either way, we win, we get our step fix, either free or by a small payment, and our instructors earn some hard worked “mula” to keep on giving us some more routines.

Other such groups include Freestyle Group Fitness from Perth in Australia that not only offer freestyle step sessions at different levels, but also offer other type of group workouts. Then across the world you have CREA+ Fitness Academy in Italy, and “FAB Fitness” which my buddy Alistair McMeechan runs, with a free group and a membership group. And there are many, many more.

There is no doubt, this wave of everything in a mobile-app to which our loved millennials have jumped in and embraced, and most of us are tumbling to keep up with, is a way of life that is most likely to stay in a way or another. Currently almost every gym currently has a digital version of this encrypted in a mobile app for maximum reach out. Don’t thank me, thank “The Rona”.

Us bees are focused on accessing knowledge and understanding of our health through technology. Well, not all of us, but a great majority. This knowledge could range from weight loss, relaxing your body and mind, getting that toned figure, and the most important of all…. overall health improvement. Step Instructors have always provided us with a tailored plan to suit your condition and to help us in reaching our fitness goals. Sometimes we think they hate us, as they do makes us turn and twist that should be outlawed! But at the end of such sessions we either have a great smile on our faces, or we just think the class was hard, and we will be better next time. The beauty of running an online step session is that ensures privacy and comfort without judgment nor prejudice by anyone that normally would be there in a gym studio trying the same class workout. It builds our confidence, and self-esteem providing a relaxed schedule of our choice where you move at your own pace with the chance to rewind and fast-forward if you are running a posted video.

I guess one of the downers of online step aerobics is that of the show ponies that lives within many of us. No, do not shake your head, you have one too. It just might not be as big as my pony, … yet.

Streaming from the comfort of your lounge room

I just cannot get over how little is needed to join one of these online sessions. All you need is a piece of a room, just a little bit of space, a computer, and an internet connection of a decent bandwidth and there you have it, you are ready to take on the online step world head on!, ofcourse, at a time that is convenient to you. I have seen some peeps locked up in an office and running some online gym session (not step) on the big conference screen. Didn’t I tell you, anywhere, anytime, with very little.

Once “The Rona” thingy is more manageable (word has it will be this month!!) you will be able to choose to take the group session at the gym or train online at home or the office, or at the beach, you can focus on yoga or pilates in a local park, but I better see you with a step under your arm in the direction of that park!!. Whichever way, you will not be limited to do that class at that odd time of the morning/afternoon/night with that instructor that has it in for you. Now you will have more choices to achieve your fitness goals, just focus on them either by group fitness, online fitness, or both.

Gym floor exercises have always been the way get enthusiastic about sweating and getting you to do stuff you sometimes might think “what in the hell for??” due to the nature of togetherness among participants, which steers motivation during the step class. In the wake of technology and uncertain times of “The Rona”, there is a need to consider workout exercises from other points of view such as online fitness. There are sites that are free of charge, and whether they offer basics or advanced step sessions, they are significantly important and worth your time. Other sites have gone online for donations, where they give and take voluntarily from users of their workout sessions and exercises. Finally, some groups and companies are premium and have a more structured payment policy to access their instructors on various categories and levels of workout. Whichever choice you make, consider your goals for efficiency. Digital workouts are great; but so are the group exercises. Either way, the trick is a balanced mix of both, and a balanced number of different classes and programs to give your body the best you can. Go life, go online, and don’t be left out of the digital ether!

"The information provided herein is strictly for educational purposes. Always consult your qualified Group Fitness Instructor before implementing any suggestions above."

Disclaimer

That was our June 2020. Remember to feel free to comment, or contact me via email to FreestyleStepXTRVGNZ@gmail.com, and comment on what you think of this article, or any article you have read, or just any improvements you may want to see happening.

Bruno Jimenez
June 2020

Freestyle Fitness XTRVGNZ

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01 September 2020