Donna Lim

From my experience (and I am sure of many others) in the 1980s and early 90s, most aerobics classes were taught at such high impact during the duration of class the participants would leave with headaches, getting sick, or at the urge of getting sick. Little did these participants know their bodies were training at an anaerobic state which means the presence without oxygen when exercise intensity can no longer meet the metabolic demands of the muscles aerobically. Aerobic fitness on the other hand is where large muscle movement performed over a sustained period. The purpose of exercise is to help people become healthier and in return, live happier lives. Unfortunately, today there are still group exercise participants that believe the harder you exercise the better. They are under the impression that their bodies will not achieve results unless they endure pain or exercise to the point of fatigue. Let me be the first to tell you that you do not need to exercise at a high, continuous le...

It seems that all of my life I had so many obstacles that tried to knock me down. From being separated from my twin-sister when we were put into our first children home, having my best friend of 14 years attempt to steal a job moments after my interview ( I got the job-goodness eventually wins!), living on the streets, to now having a guy steal my company name that I owned for over 21 years. Sometimes we wonder why we have to deal with so much turmoil in our lives. After all, we are told that God gives us as much as we can handle. If it was not for my tough upbringing, I wonder if I would have the same perseverance as I do now. I wonder if my siblings would, too. We lived in filth, abuse and poverty. Unlike most others we know, we know what it feels like to have absolutely nothing and we never want to return to nothing. There is so much that we each want to accomplish; we came a long ways from Brightmoor, a poor community in Detroit. I remember the drugs, violence, gangs, etc. that we...

I just taught a Zumba class and it felt great that the students was inquiring where else I teach, how they thought the class was the best they had, etc. One beautiful woman even commented that she had five instructors since my class (being her first Zumba class a few weeks ago) and no one taught like me, etc.! I am so happy to have touched so many in an exercise class. It is a nice feeling! I have worked very hard on my teaching skills throughout the last 30 years and proud of whom I am today. Sometimes I can get off track when select people do not show me respect - which does not happen often in the fitness industry, but here in MO it questionably does. However, I guess that goes with anything you do – there are haters and not everyone will like us. My former boss once said that I could be intimidating and have a strong presence when I walk into a room. So I do try to tame myself, but that does not always work and in return, some of the women I met are not very nice to me (I think the...

A few days has past since I wrote about my experience at a local fitness club. To no surprise, I am no longing subbing at this club and happy about that decision. I feel sorry for their members though. Maybe that is why this club has such a poor reputation with their group exercise program. I was told when I moved here that all of their quality, experienced instructors left when another club opened nearby a few years ago. I have to say, those instructors that left to teach at the new club are pros and I was impressed. They teach the proper, safe way and look the part! Originally, I agreed to sub at the local club to help them with their new instructors, plan special events for their members, etc. I guess they did not appreciate my extensive background and what I had to offer. ACE, p217 – “When leading group exercise, face the class as often as possible, using mirroring techniques, such as moving to the participants’ left when directing them to the right. An instructor can only monitor ...