It was absolutely the most fun, thrilling and physical as well as mentally challenging 3 days ever. Ladies and gentlemen, I have graduated from Bodypump school and am ready to instruct the most popular group exercise class in the world today.

Day 1:

I wasn't sure what to expect. Not knowing a single soul, I quietly retreated to a corner of the gym floor and non-chalantly prepared a much-needed endurance drink concoction. From stories I've heard, the physical demands will take its toil even from the best of us. We were eye-balling and sizing each other up, wondering if each has what it takes to role-model the image of a Les Mills instructor.

The master trainer steps in and we are set to go. Everyone was ready to impress. Our first class together begins. With articulate cueing complemented by authoritative commands, Frank (the trainer) sets the benchmark for what we would have to emulate not just for the next three days, but for the rest of our lives.

Day 2:

After reviewing and painstakingly correcting every technique of exercise that exists in a Bodypump course, Frank now takes a backseat and watches us as we present our first track. I had the opportunity to showcase the shoulder track to the tune of Bodyrocker's "I Love The Way You Move." Definitely an upbeat scintillating number. I started off confidently with wide-stance pushups followed by lateral raises using the weight. I was groovin' and movin' to every pulsating beat leading to the climatic chorus. In the other corner of the room was my opposing partner delivering with equal vigor and vim. Both of us collapsed to the ground after ending the sequence with crossover pushups! That got the heart rate up.

After which began the "Experience from Hell." The Bodypump Challenge comprises of several stations around the room where you would do high repetitions of resistance exercise required to be done till fatigue. Deadlifts, clean & press, bicep curls, dips, lunges, squats, raises... you name it, they got it. It was circuit training of the highest order. Seven minutes you remain with your partner at each station, performing the exercise until you feel the life essence drawn out of you. I kept telling my partner, Josh to go slow. All the lactic and muscle burn made us felt like we were training for some DELTA force team or something. Every 7-minute station felt too long.

At the end of the day our bodies felt weak and again we had to represent the track that was shown that morning. I couldn't believe that my legs could my weight any longer. It was literally shaking as I was doing shoulder exercises. Legs shaking... doing shoulder workouts. But when it was all over, we felt deeply satisfied and fulfilled that the day was completed. Though it was just the second day, we had already emerged as victors in the world of Bodypump.

Day 3:

Amazingly and rather unfortunately, I had to present the squat track first off in the morning. My legs simply had not recovered from last night and there was I, carrying role-model weights worthy of a Bodypump instructor presenting probably one of the hardest squats tracks ever. Thankfully I made it through pretty well. Here were the comments: (or something like that)

You were made for this program. You role-modeled what it means to be a Bodypump instructor. You showed leadership and authority once you stepped on stage. Good group focus and eye contact. Clear instruction and vocals. Just note not to go too low on the 4/4 squats and remember not to hyperextend your knees.

Elated. I could die then.

Through the course, I've met an awesome group of people who have incredibly encouraging right from the start. Constantly helping and giving constructive feedback to one another. In the end, we were there for each other as a team, working at being better in giving life-changing experiences to the people we will be teaching.

"I like the way you move...... Work those shoulders! Turn it up!"

Gotta love what I do.

G