How fit is your… Voice?
Posted by: nzglen on: January 24, 2012
I almost always avoid “plugs” for other sites simply because I get several requests a week to promote various links and if I honoured all of them then this blog would look like an infomercial; however one popped into my inbox this week that made me look twice.
It is a link to a survey for group fitness instructors regarding care for their voice being conducted by Dr. Anna Rumbach, Division of Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland. Now not too long ago I would’ve shrugged this off with the response “huh?” but something happened to me a few months ago that made me sit up and take notice. Late last year I got a pretty nasty chest infection, mucus, phlegm, all that nasty stuff that I really don’t want to go into. As a result I took a few days off teaching, then when it “cleared” I jumped back into my usual routine full force. But for one significant difference; my voice had noticeably changed. It is now raspier, deeper and permanently ‘hoarse’. I figured it was a side-effect of the illness and it would clear. However here I am, probably six months later and it’s still the same. It’s almost as if at the age of 36 my voice “broke” again.
It’s not that big of a deal except I used to be able to sing… now I can’t hold a note to save myself (some would say I probably never could to be fair!) – my vocal range is significantly decreased and whenever I run into someone I haven’t seen for awhile their first reaction upon hearing me is “Oh no are you sick?” – well no. In fact I’m the fittest, fastest and strongest I’ve ever been in my life thanks to group fitness – just my voice sounds like I swallowed an entire box of sandpaper!
I know we use mics but it’s inherently part of the job to raise your voice. Let’s face it, at the peak of a muay thai track or peak of track 8 in BODYCOMBAT, the music is pounding and everyone is fatiguing, you can’t just suggest to a packed class of 60 people they delicately “unleash” – you really have to sell it: “UNLEASH!!!” – now I’ve been doing this for four years I guess my voice is doing the same.
Anyway – although this survey is for Australian GFIs only, it really is food for thought. Does LMI need to start incorporating vocal training into our education sessions? My hoarsey semi-baritone new sound probably votes yes. Check it out: How fit is your Voice.
BODYPUMP 81 tracklist
Posted by: nzglen on: January 17, 2012
- In: BODYPUMP
- 25 Comments
I’m getting tonnes of messages from people saying the new BODYPUMP 81 tracklist is out but I’ve not posted it as the one circulating the net (from my memory) seems wrong. So, I’ve amended the one doing the rounds and the list below is correct. As usual songs linked are an indication only – where cover used have linked to original as best I can. Enjoy!
BODYPUMP 81 tracklist
1. You Make Me Feel… – Cobra Starship feat Sabi
2. Higher Ground – Jagged Eagle
3. Loud – Stan Walker
4. Ravers Fantasy (Manox remix) – Manian
5. Domino – Miss Daise
6. I Own You – Shinedown
7. San Francisco (Remix 11) – Fine Tune
8. Blood Is Pumping – Blade X
9. Mr Saxobeat – Alexandra Stan
10. Best Thing I Never Had – Beyoncé
Alternative tracks:
6. Dynamite (Remix IX) – Studio 88 feat Juno Mars
10 Breaking Inside – Shinedown feat. Lzzy Hale of Halestorm
2012-1 Les Mills posters
Posted by: nzglen on: January 12, 2012
- In: BODYATTACK | BODYCOMBAT | BODYPUMP
- 11 Comments
Ohh the posters are out – you know what that means? Tracklists can’t be far away! Exciting! I’m especially excited about these posters as I teach 3 programs (BODYCOMBAT, BODYPUMP and BODYATTACK) – I was on the Combat poster last quarter and I made the Attack and Pump this round! (and I think those are my legs on the CX one too haha). Enjoy!
2012-2 Les Mills filming times
Posted by: nzglen on: January 11, 2012
- In: BODYATTACK | BODYCOMBAT | BODYPUMP
- 6 Comments
Welcome to 2012! And we’re kicking it off in a big way as the next lot of filmings are only 2 weeks away today! (can you believe BODYCOMBAT 52 is being filmed already!?) I’ve posted the times below (yay for combat not starting at 11pm this quarter!). If you’re coming let me know and I’ll see ya there!
Wednesday 25th January 2012
- 3:00pm BODYBALANCE 57
- 4:30pm BODYVIVE 23
- 6:00pm BODYPUMP 82
- 8:30pm BODYATTACK 77
- 10:00pm SH’BAM 8
Saturday 28th January 2012
- 7:45pm CXWORX 7
Tuesday 31st January 2012
- 12:30pm RPM 55
- 3:30pm BODYSTEP 88
- 6:00pm BODYCOMBAT 52
- 7:30pm BODYJAM 61
Three million!
Posted by: nzglen on: December 23, 2011
- In: BODYCOMBAT | BODYPUMP
- 9 Comments
3,000,000 visitors! Thank you!
Hey guys – again quick apology for the lack of updates lately – it has seriously been a crazy couple weeks! Things are winding down for the summer holidays here in NZ so hopefully I can start writing regularly again (fingers crossed!)
Something quite staggering happened over the last few weeks however; this very blog had its THREE MILLIONTH visitor. I’m humbled so many of you have come along to read my (sometimes barely coherent!) ramblings. Thank you so much.
As such, and given it’s the end of yet another year I thought it quite an opportune time to look back at some of the posts that (judging by traffic and comments) were the most popular. Of course, the Les Mills tracklist posts and filming posts are always well read, and I do try as hard as I can to keep them as up to the second as possible. However, the posts that got the most reaction were the opinion pieces, where I (sometimes controversially) would voice my $0.02 on a variety of Les Mills or fitness related issues. I’ll link to a few of these at the end of this post so do take a look – but MUCH more interesting than the post itself are the comments that follow them. Some of these have over 100 comments and they make for fascinating reading if you’ve got a few spare minutes. Take a look at the links at the end.
And, believe it or not we’re only just over a month away from the next batch of filmings including BODYCOMBAT 52 and BODYPUMP 82. I’ll be attending and as always will try to give you the low-down (as much as I am allowed).
Finally, I’d like to wish you and your families and very Merry Christmas and truly amazing 2012. Thank you for your support, both here online, through connecting via facebook or through the many real friendships I have made meeting you in person at the various filmings and events. I appreciate you taking the time to pop by and I won’t let you down and will keep this blog as cutting edge with the latest info as I can.
Cheers to YOU and an EPIC 2012!
2012-2 Les Mills filming dates
Posted by: nzglen on: November 30, 2011
- In: BODYATTACK | BODYCOMBAT | BODYPUMP
- 11 Comments
Hi guys – just received the dates for the next filming round – these differ slightly from original dates I was given. As usual they are subject to change by Les Mills International. The round after this is GFX – that is a massive fitness extravaganza being held May 10-12 – it’s an awesome event! If you’re coming (to either) see ya there!
Wednesday 25th January 2012
- BODYBALANCE 57
- SH’BAM 8
- BODYPUMP 82
- BODYATTACK 77
- BODYVIVE 23
Saturday 28th January 2012
- CXWORX 7
Tuesday 31st January 2012
- BODYCOMBAT 52
- BODYSTEP 88
- RPM 55
- BODYJAM 61
Shortest & Longest BODYCOMBAT mixes (BC1-BC50)
Posted by: nzglen on: November 14, 2011
Well once again it seems individual tracks in BODYCOMBAT are getting longer with another addition to this list! Yes You’re the Feeling from BODYCOMBAT 50 comes in at a record breaking 8 minutes 24 seconds! No more additions to the lists this quarter – in BC50 the balance of the cardio tracks being quite ‘normal’ in length (5-6 minutes). In total BC50 comes in at 56.6 minutes. But when you start mixing – look out as you could run 15 minutes over the hour if you don’t plan your playlist properly! (or over 20 minutes UNDER!)
LONGEST BODYCOMBAT MIX
01: Dragostea Din Tei / My Life Would Suck Without You (BC41) 9:48
02: The United Vibe (BC35) 7:11
03: Poison (BC42) 7:31
04: Enter Sandman / Boom (BC41) 7:09
05: Don’t Need (BC49) 6:57
06: Russian Roulette (BC45) 6:48
07: Excalibur (BC42) 7:42
08: You’re the Feeling (BC50) 8:24
09: Somebody To Love (BC21) 6:05
10: Now We Are Free (BC20) 7:04
TOTAL: 1:14:40
SHORTEST BODYCOMBAT MIX
01: Summermelody / Does the Fish Have Chips? (BC34) 6:11
02: Thnks Fr Th Mmrs (BC34) / Energy (BC44) 3:16
03: Revolution (BC2) 4:19
04: Lord of The Rings / Hava Nagila (BC49) 4:17
05: The Anthem (BC42) 2:58
06: Leave Me Alone (BC32) 3:20
07: Run To The Hills (BC33) 3:01
08: Footloose (BC2) 3:46
09: Gonna Fly Now (BC36) 2:53
10: Black Box (BC45) 3:29
TOTAL: 37:30
2011-4 Les Mills tracklists
Posted by: nzglen on: November 12, 2011
- In: BODYATTACK | BODYCOMBAT | BODYPUMP
- 21 Comments
BODYATTACK 75
Warmup : Give Me Everything (Sunny Dee Remix – Jason Born)
Mixed Impact : Party Rock Anthem (Party Playaz feat. The Rocks)
Aerobic : Freakin’ Perfect (Flo Drive)
Plyometric : Party Over Here (Dan Winter)
Upper Body Conditioning : Sweat (Duration Plus)
Running : Night Nurse (Studio 88)
Agility : We No Speak Americano (Mario vs Global)
Interval : Fallin’ (Barley Remix – Breeze vs Barley feat. Taya)
Power : Fading Like A Flower (Sonitus & Daniel P Remix Edit – Vegas Crashers)
Lower Body Conditioning : The Edge Of Glory (Southern Light)
Core Conditioning : Own This Club (DJ Marc)
Cooldown : Telling The World (Logan S.)
BODYBALANCE 55
Tai Chi Warmup : Forever Lost (Conjure One)
Sun Salutations : Get Some (The Influence)
Standing Strength : The Last Dance (Radiator Of Elegance)
Balance : I’m No Angel (Suburban Shorn)
Hip Openers : Love, Love, Love (Avalanche City)
Core – Abdominals : Lost In The World (de la Roche)
Core – Back : Science & Faith (The Script)
Twists : Secrets (Fundamental Envy)
Forward Bends – Hamstrings : Still Here (Natasha Bedingfield)
Forward Bends – Hamstrings : Scarlet (Brooke Fraser)
Relaxation : Deep Rest (Richard Maddux)
Meditation : Pure Light (Richard Maddux)
BODYCOMBAT 50
1a. More (B&W Edit) – Spice Club
1b. Rolling In The Deep (Technoposse Remix) – Fizzy Deejay
2. Frozen – Big Fiesta
3. What’s Up? (Dougal & Gammer Hardcore Mix) – DJ Destiny
4. Let It Die – Kartsy Wolfbain
5. Nessaja (Breeze Remix) – Scooter
6. Gimmie Dat – Ciara
7. Eye Of The Tiger – Uprising
8. You’re The Feeling (Exclusive HN Mix) – Heaven 7 vs Al Storm
9. Pause – Pitbull
10. ISHFWILF – Disturbed
BODYJAM 59
Warmup : Til Death (R3hab Remix – Wynter Gordon )
Isolations : Drop It Low (Kat Deluna feat. Fatman Scoop)
Hip Hop : Get It (T.I.)
Hip Hop : Countdown (Beyoncé)
We Run This Mutha : Happiness (Michael Woods Remix – Alexis Jordan )
We Run This Mutha : Run The World (Girls) (Kaskade Club Remix – Beyoncé)
Recovery : Bass Down Low (Depth Emblem Vegas)
Til Death Do We Party : Judas (Southern Light)
Til Death Do We Party : Metrum (Original Club Mix – Fedde le Grand)
Til Death Do We Party : Champagne Showers (Party Playaz)
Til Death Do We Party : Til Death (Ken Loi Remix – Wynter Gordon )
Groove Down : Dedication To My Ex (Lucid Long)
BODYPUMP 80
Warmup: Resuscitate Me – September
Squats: The Edge Of Glory (Glory Mix) – Red Beans & Rice
Chest: Smells Like Teen Spirit – Ninth Immortal
Back: The Tide – Twilight
Triceps: Till The World Ends – Britney Spears
Biceps: Eye Of The Tiger – Altiyan Childs
Lunges: Fading Like A Flower (Club Radio Mix) – Dan Winter
Shoulders: Hands Up! (Sample Ripperz Remix) – Jens O
Abs: Rolling In The Deep – Colourbox
Cooldown: Fade Into Me – David Cook
RPM 53
Pack Ride : All Night Long (Lost Issue Overdose)
Pace : Till The World Ends (Alex Suarez Radio Remix – Britney Spears)
Hills : Welcome To The Club 2011 (Dancefloor Kingz Remix – Manian)
Mixed Terrain : Kings And Queens (Mekon Garden)
Intervals : 1983 (Negative Experience)
Speed Work : Wired (Extended Mix – Dash Berlin feat. Susana)
Mountain Climb : Wherever You Will Go (Handz Up Club Mix – Jan Wayne)
Ride Home : Busy (Olly Murs)
Stretch : She Ain’t You (Chris Brown)
BODYSTEP 86
Warmup : Ready 2 Go (Dead Eye Vacancy)
Step Warmup : Who’s That Girl (Neutron Ignition)
Step Orientation : Loud (Zesty Thunder)
Step Athletic : Determinate (Infinite Council)
Mixed Strength : Party Rock Anthem (Party Playaz)
Power Peak : Rise Up (Lip Six)
Step Recovery : Happiness (Jump Smokers Radio Edit – Alexis Jordan)
Party Step : Run The World (Girls) (Breeze Xile)
Speed Step : Untouched (Viper Electro)
Peak : Poison (Reachout)
Recovery/Conditioning : Like Water (Ladi6)
Cooldown/Stretch : Price Tag (Jagged Eagle)
Alternative 8&9 – Athletic Circuit Track : Mortal Kombat (Encounter The Ultimate – Ironic Militant)
BODYVIVE 21
Warmup : Let Me Take You Away (Radio Mix – Jenn Cuneta)
Cardio 1 – Squats & Leg Lifts : Not Myself Tonight (Jody Den Broeder Radio – Christina Aguilera )
Cardio 2 : Mucho Mambo Sway (Audiophox Re-Boogie Remix – Shaft)
Cardio 3 – Agility : I’m A Believer (Metal Alexander Shutdown)
Peak Cardio : Ring The Alarm (Freemasons Club Mix Radio Edit – Beyoncé )
Active Recovery : More Than A Woman (Bee Gees)
Dynamic Strength : Bright Lights Bigger City (Cee Lo Green)
Integrated Strength : Boys And Girls (Space Jammers)
Hips : My House (Kids Of 88)
Core 1 – Back : Here Comes The Rain Again (Freemasons Remix – Eurythmics)
Core 2 – Abs : Like Water (Ladi6)
Stretch : Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down (Alicia Keys)
SH’BAM 6
Track 1 : The Edge Of Glory (Beans Mix – Red Beans & Rice)
Track 2 : Get Down (Crew 7 and Young Sixx)
Track 3 : Lady Marmalade (Global Nation)
Track 4 : Sweat (David May Remix Edit – Wand 17)
Track 5 : Papi (Legend Zappa)
Track 6 : Judas (Southern Light)
Track 7 : I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Blizzard Brothers)
Track 8 : Throw Your Hands Up (Dancar Kuduro – Qwote feat. Pitbull & Lucenzo)
Track 9 : Run The World (Girls) (Beyoncé)
Track 10 : Party Rock Anthem (Party Playaz)
Track 11 : Don’t Stop Believing (Warm Armadillo Rampage)
Track 12 : Pretty Girl Rock (Audiogroove)
CXWORX 5
Warmup : Best Love Song (T-Pain feat. Chris Brown )
Core Strength 1 : Hold It Against Me (Jumpsmokers Radio Remix – Britney Spears)
Standing Strength 1 : Heavy Cross (Gossip)
Standing Strength 2 : Gimmie Dat (Ciara)
Core Strength 2 : Operation B2010 (Amigo Reverse Three)
Core Strength 3 : Back For More (Cool Million feat. Eugene Wilde)
Bonus 3 – Standing Strength 1 : Burn It To The Ground (Intergalactic)
Bonus 4 – Standing Strength 2 : The Beautiful People (Marooned Atmosphere)
Bonus 5 – Core Strength 2 : O.M.G. (Gordon & Doyle Remix – Jason Born)
BODYCOMBAT 50 tracklist
Posted by: nzglen on: November 12, 2011
Hi guys, sorry for the delay on this – I’m not allowed to release tracklists until workshops start (which is today!) so here it is! (the only exception I ever make is if another website publishes the tracklist first – then as it’s ‘out there’ I will do the same – but BC50 has been nicely kept under wraps this quarter!)
So here we go! Bit of a celebration mix as you’ll see with three tracks being brought back from earlier releases (Nessaja which was the bonus track from BC16, plus Frozen and Eye of the Tiger from BC2!) and, love ‘em or not the return of sound effects! For my first impressions on the release itself see my BODYCOMBAT 50 Filming post. As always where an LM cover has been used I’ve tried my best to link to an original (the mix for Frozen is faster than the one linked as an example). Enjoy!
BODYCOMBAT 50 tracklist
1a. More (B&W Edit) – Spice Club
1b. Rolling In The Deep (Technoposse Remix) – Fizzy Deejay
2. Frozen – Big Fiesta
3. What’s Up? (Dougal & Gammer Hardcore Mix) – DJ Destiny
4. Let It Die – Kartsy Wolfbain
5. Nessaja (Breeze Remix) – Scooter
6. Gimmie Dat – Ciara
7. Eye Of The Tiger – Uprising
8. You’re The Feeling (Exclusive HN Mix) – Heaven 7 vs Al Storm
9. Pause – Pitbull
10. ISHFWILF – Disturbed
BODYPUMP 81 filming
Posted by: nzglen on: November 8, 2011
- In: BODYPUMP
- 14 Comments
I don’t usually write about BODYPUMP filmings but as a few of you have asked about it and now I know a bit more about the entire process after my interview with Glen for BODYPUMP 80 I thought I’d write a quick post about it.
If you read my BODYCOMBAT 51 post you’ll know I didn’t actually participate in this one. I did see the release from the squat track on though and it was the first time I’ve actually ‘watched’ a BODYPUMP filming (I’m usually always participating). It was quite fascinating to actually just witness the event as you can take a lot more in – especially when you’re not busting your gut just trying to complete a set!
Again I did try to make a timetabled team teach of this release beforehand on the Saturday (as I did with combat). A group of us set up our equipment to do the class then noticed it wasn’t actually a full BP81 rehearsal at all, rather it was Ruthie T and Héctor Ponce Cortegana (from the Netherlands who was an 81 presenter). When the warmup started and it was ‘Saturday’ from BP78 we turned to each other and decided to pack up and leave. Ruthie/Héctor if you saw a group of us go it wasn’t anything personal, we’d already done 4 classes that day and had come in especially to see 81, so sorry we left, if anything we were all a bit disappointed as the BC51 team teach didn’t happen beforehand either!
Anyway, BODYPUMP 81 was presented by Glen and Susan, Héctor (above) and Shaun Egan from the UK. I do have to make a special mention of Shaun; man the guy blew me away. The way he instructs really resonated with me, strong powerful delivery – it was awesome! I saw him present the back and shoulder tracks and both were out of this world – in fact watching him present the shoulder track actually gave me goosebumps! (I’m not kidding!) Wicked wicked job.
Although I can’t mention specifics about any of the music I can give you a feel for each track (except the warmup as I missed it!) Squats was a very well known track that’s by a very well known band, however it was a cover. I was a bit concerned when I heard it as everyone will be immediately aware it’s not the original and it will probably raise a few eyebrows. I’m always a little worried when LM remake a track from a supergroup like U2/Bon Jovi/Guns n Roses etc as these bands are so established that it’s instantly recognisable when they are covered (wait to you hear the cover of the coodown in BC50 as an example). We can remake slightly more obscure bands or pop tracks any day of the week no problem, but these iconic bands when covered are a lot harder to sell as people have heard their music hundreds of times throughout their lives. But that’s kinda my pet peeve and most probably feel differently. I can’t really speak of the chorey for this track as I arrived towards the end of it.
Chest is a poppy track that’s also in BODYCOMBAT 51. Seemed fun! Back was one of the two stand out tracks for me. I had another instructor come up to me after the filming and say “Oh my God did you see that back track – it must be like 9 minutes!”. It. Is. HUGE. Just when you think it’s over there’s more – then more! Massive track and loved the music and chorey – plus Shaun delivered it with absolute precision.
Triceps – didn’t really recognise the tune – but again it was pop. Biceps was rock – think BP77ish. Seemed to go down well. Héctor presented that one. Lunges sees the return of a BODYPUMP super regular artist! (no not Pink – but probably your next guess is right!) – hope you like the new move in BP80 that’s all I’ll say about that! Shoulders I’ve spoken about before. I don’t know the track (in fact I’m not even sure it had any lyrics!) but felt very ‘operation blade’ like – dark, powerful and EPIC!
Abs was similar in style to the ab tracks of late (like We No Speak No Americano or Please Don’t Go) – seemed okay. For me personally the last few ab tracks have been a bit, umm, how do I say it, “odd”? If you look at the ab tracks from say BP76 (Cooler Than Me) through to BP79 (We’ll Be Alright) they are all a bit quirky don’t you think? They seem to have lost a bit of the intensity from the previous ones like BP75 (More), 74 (In My Head), 73 (SOS Let The Music Play) etc. Do you agree? Anyway – 81 follows on in a similar vein in my opinion.
As far as an overall feel for the release? Well the emphasis for this release seemed to go back to building ‘pressure’ in the muscles. There was a big push towards hitting this 800 rep figure that seems to be a theme in the new Les Mills Pump, as well as *cough splutter* “The Rep Effect”. Again I LOVED the back and shoulder tracks! They will go down in history as standouts for sure. Lunges looked like a butt kicker and rock lovers will enjoy biceps. All in all 81 looked great!
