Ironwoman

Not quite what I had in mind

Just read the story of Choo Ling Er, and I feel super inspired to train for a triathlon now. It's so going onto my Wishlist or Resolution or something along those lines! I haven't even completed a full marathon yet and I wanna do a  Triathlon. Hhmmm... deathwish? But, sometimes we should just allow ourselves to be inspired to do stupid crazy things. Being cynical and skeptical in the name of pragmatism may prevent any down moments of disappointments, but it will also prevent the high moments of achieving the crazy stuff. A straight line is not living k, you need both the ups and the downs... just like the ECG of a living person.

I've checked it out. The Malaysian event is too soon and clashes with my rehearsals and my show in early May, plus I don't know how to lug my bicycle all the way to Terengganu. But, the Singapore one... is in July. And, unlike the Malaysian competition, they provide bike rentals. And, they have the Sprint Distance competition to cater for beginners. And, that gives me 6 solid months to train. 

Should I?? 

25-26 July, Singapore

Hit the ground running!

Finally, I have registered for the 2013 Standard Chartered KL Marathon!!!!

Mampus... some crazy voice inside my head told me to do that and I don't know why I listened. I already have knee problems and I have just turned 35. If I live to 70, this is exactly midpoint. Yes, may be that crazy voice in my head has a name: mid-life crisis. First, I took an artsy sabbatical, now I wanna run 42.195 kilometres around KL.

While I'm at it... I might as well give myself a reason behind this crazy torturous journey. Please help me motivate myself by supporting The National Autism Society of Malaysia by going to my Runner's Profile page. Ta-da!!

Then, please click on this nice big blue "donate" button on that Runner's Profile page to donate:

Registration and the motivation behind it are just the beginning of the torture journey... now comes the training.

The crazy training calendar

I've already gotten a headstart and pre-train before I flag-off my training.
Week -2: total 7.5 km only.
Week -1: total 22 km only.

Next week will be Week 1... when the sweat, tears and blood begins! Look on the bright side, at least I can eat mother-loads of carbs and not get fat. ;-)

I'd better hit the ground running, wish me luck & support my cause!!!! :D :D

Should I?

Coming sooooon, jeng-jeng-jeng!!

Should I attempt the full marathon this time?? People say the biggest obstacle is your own mind... I think my mind is in pretty good shape!!! Not that sure about my legs though... :p

I like to Move It-Move It!!

It was National Rheumatoid Arthritis Day several weeks ago. I know that I always post only events about kidney disease but this time, I volunteered to help my colleague out in her disease area. Since dancing is my thang! ;)

the RA patients rolling their shoulders... macam thriller MTV zombies pulak. Perhaps that song will be the next dance class with them??? ;)


You wanna stretch it-stretch it??


Bollywood Jai-Ho!!


J.Lo's On the Floor... erm, I guess Latin stuff is not a good idea wt RA patients. Need to keep that in mind for future.


Me & my dancing team!!!

I wonder is there a job out there where I just organize patient activities???? Across any chronic disease....

Da-do Run Run Run, Da-do Run RUN!!

Not talking about the old song by The Crystals but all of us first timers managed to finish the Standard Chartered KL Marathon in the Half Marathon category last Sunday!!! Yayy for us!!

Chris, Chloe, Sista & me managed to conquer the dreaded 21km that we didn't quite have the time to train for. Hehehehe.

All of us took d shuttle bus to avoid driving into with all the roads closed, super early in d morning. The sun wasn't even up yet!


Along the way, sempat lagi I take some jakun photos of our good ol' KL the way we have not seen it before... on foot!! :p


When I saw the 20km milestone, boy did I RUUUUNNNN for my life!!!


Have never been so happy to see this tall flagpole before in my life!! :D :D :D


As I crossed the finish line, I saw the clock 2:31:xx.... shucks!!! I missed my personal target by slightly more than a minute!!
But the next day when the real results tracked via our RFID tags were out online, it was 2:29.07!!! Yippppeeeeee!!!! Achieved my target ya'll!! *spasm dance* Rank 179 in the Women's Open pulak tu... *extra hyper spasm dance* :D :D :D

Happy happeeee sista & me wt our medals


Chloe, sista & me with our medals!!! Yay!! We have earned the right to SS... woohoo!


Full marathon next year???? Erm... *gulp* tak nak pikir dulu la.

Workout fueled by fantasies

Hubby always blogs about fitness and gym stuff. Here's my turn... from a regular gym member's point of view.

Why do I only go for 3 types of classes and treadmill?
- Bodyjam (is da BEST!!!)
- Bodycombat
- RPM

People say "reality bites". Which is rather true as nothing in this world is every perfect. Reality means you need to accept the good along with the bad in everything. But in fantasies, you control what happens. You determine what's in it. You can be doing anything you want, anywhere you want, with anyone you want.


In the dance inspired Bodyjam, you can imagine that you are performing on a big fancy stage ala the Grammy's or in Broadway. Or your shakin' ur bootie to a hot raggaeton beat in Miami's hottest club. Or you are the back up dancer to Gwen Stefani in her Japan tour concert! It doesnt matter how you dance in reality, all that matters is that you eat, drink and breathe dance in your fantasy. You can be THE best in your fantasy. It's your fantasy, you can even BE Gwen Stefani if you want. ;)


In the more aggressive Bodycombat, you can be fighting side-by-side with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan or d hot Jet Lee! Or you could be in the boxing ring muay thaying someone in the beautiful Thailand. Even something a little closer to home, you can be punching the guts out of your boss or your most annoying customer. Wouldn't that be fun? :p


In RPM, you can ride in the wind across the Himalayas... or if you are more imaginative like me, you could be riding out at sea or even in outer space!! You can close your eyes and just go by the sound of the instructor's voice. There is never any traffic, there is never any risk of hitting anyone or anything if you close your eyes. If you're a romantic, like me, you can be cycling in the rain in black and white!! lol!



Finally, there's the treadmill. I can close my eyes and be running along the canal in front of d place I was staying in Glasgow. Beautiful!!!

Isn't that more fun than the reality of just going to them gym, working out on a yoga mat/step-board and exercising those calories away????

Wet cement

After teamteaching with sifu ie. Kenny a couple of nights ago, got him to reassess me. :)

After giving me the usual feedback session, something he said, made a lot of sense. He said that the 1st 3 months is extremely crucial for any new instructor. This is when our habits form and sets in place. It is also when we make our first and lasting impression on members. Like wet cement, if you mold it while it's still wet, it takes the form you want. If you wait till it is set, sori lah...

So for the next few months, he advised me no matter how bored I am of the 2 releases I have, (which I am!) stick to it so that the moves become reflex action without having to use the brain. Instead, use the brain space, time and effort to improve on coaching. Members will also be happy to see us improve eventhough we teach them the sames songs. He gave a lot of very practical coaching tips too. Thanks sifu!!

So, its BJ 45 & 46 for me all da time... sien!!! :s Lucky after Christmas got BJ 47. :)

Caution: wet cement! Don't step on me ya? ;)

My very own first Bodyjam class!

Had my very own first Bodyjam class today in IOI!! It was an unexpected one, initially thought my first class would be the one in DU on Thurs...hehehe.


Ta-da! My name's on d board!!! :))))

Was kinda nervous coz wasn't really well prepared especially for the tracks from BJ45 which is a bit rusty since I was practising BJ46 like crazy to do clearance. Hehehe. But overall it was fun!! Looking forward to Thurs! :)

What a GGRRREEAAATT day!!

Today, I was nervous about 2 things... my first surgery (as a helper not a patient k?) and my Bodyjam clearance.

The surgery which was an abdominoplasty, lasted for about 6 hours!!! I only managed to have lunch at about 3.30pm! Had to stand all the way throughout the surgery and my legs ache. But at least d doctor asked to have the Mamma Mia! soundtrack playing and we even sang along! ;) Not only the surgery went super smoothly... my part in it also went super smoothly that the surgeon wanted to learn more. And he was singing praises about my product to another colleague of his while we were having a bit together till she agreed to use it!!! He said that his patients love the effects and the faster healing. I didn't even need to do any selling AT ALL!! :) Isn't that a nice warm fuzzy feeling?

Then in the evening, I made my way to Summit for my clearance assessment by Leo. Arrived early so I did some last minute practising. During the class, it wasnt as non-intimidating as IOI would've been since there are more people and I don't really know them. I guess sometimes my nervousness showed, sometimes I managed to hide it, hehehe. Adalah some mistakes here and there, lotsa improvements to be made still... for both cueing and technique. But final result??? I cleared!! I cleared!! Yay!!! Yay!!! Now am truly part of FF's Bodyjam team! Dance 4 life! :) Another warm fuzzy feeling!!

Wasn't it such a beautiful day??? :)

A eureka moment for Bodyjam

Last Fri evening I had planned a BJ46 practice wt a fellow trainee. But when I reached Axis, she was no where to be found. Called her a couple of times but she did not answer. I was ffk-ed!!! Sigh! So since I have already booked d studio wt Teoh, I might as well practiced alone. Luckily, Sista was gymming with me coz I was staying over at her house that day. So, I suggested she become my "member" while I conduct a class of 1...hehehe.

Sista was nice enough to teman me while I practice. Then halfway through class I had a "Eureka" moment. I realized I didn't have to struggle to memorize what to say and how to cue. Because I was trying to get her to follow what I do, I never ran out of things to say....which is a mistake that happens to me ALOT!! How she danced and how well she could follow me became like this feedback loop that prompts me what to say next. So, next time, when practising chorey get instructors...when practising cueing, get members eh?! ;)


Yay!!!! Thank God for Sista!! Hugs!!

Miracle 2008 - Bodyjam 45 Rrrrrocks!!!

Last Saturday was the Miracle event for this year at The Curve. Funds raised will go to Mercy Malaysia in aid of the China Earthquake Relief Efforts and also for Kirtarsh Handicapped and Disabled Childrens' Home in Rawang. You just buy the coupons and use it to gain entrance to class or to purchase stuff from sponsors.

As usual, us dancaholics will turn up for the most glamourous and HOT class of them all... Bodyjam!! Not just any Bodyjam, but the brand spanking new super duper hot Bodyjam 45!!! Woohoo!!

This time, I decided to drag Sista along for a fun time and a good sweat out! The rest of our gang opted out to go makan escargot in Jinjang... yeah, u heard me right... not si-ham, not lala, but escargot... in Jinjang! Hhmmpph!! Heartless gluttons. :p Well, it's their loss!

The new Bodyjam 45 has the coolest Rock Choreography ever! So all of us dancaholic divas were dressed all gothic and rocked up to the occasion.


Sista and I dressed to kill!!

We actually dressed to kill liddat even to class earlier that day... ;) vanity is a woman's birth-right!!


Sista and I on d dancefloor.... eh... why d fler looked at d camera so garang ar?


De sizzling HAUTE Bodyjam launch team!!


With sizzling hot & sexy moves...


Dancing our hearts out... notice d fler in white singlet? That's Sha, methinks he's da best dancer in our Bodyjam 45 training batch! :)


Strrrretch...


De super crazy energy in d launch team make you wonder if they're powered by energizer?? ;)

It was great fun!! All for a good cause too. Thanks to Baby to taking da chun chun photos for us! Muaks!!

The SS duo

Did some SS photography wt baby at the gym today... :p

Do I look like a Bodyjam Instructor??


Presenting my very own waist mic-pouch!!

Baby's gift to me... right after my training. He was holding it while waiting for me when I came out of True Fitness, USJ after the Bodyjam training that day. How did he know I'd pass? Awww... the faith he has in me.... isnt that sweet? That's why I'm marrying d fler. :)
Dah lah I haven't even been cleared by Leo yet. ;)


Perhaps a Jam-Combat joint class in d future??? ;)


Even got myself some wrist-weights to strengthen my arms. Arnold said I needed that coz my armlines are not strong or sharp enough doing Bodyjam. So I gotta buck up!! :)


My big and strrrong man!!

The spirit of Dance!

After 3 grueling days of training....
......
......
I passed!!! I passed!!! Yay!!!

It was physically draining but it was so much fun!! We had the 4 hour dance-school on the first to get us to buck-up on all the dance steps. By the second day, we were aching all over. But once we started dancing again, it seems that all the pain just disappears and we go crazy all over again! However, it wasn't just about dancing, we had to learn how to be a good coach, how to instruct and motivate people. A class isn't just about yourself...it is about the participants.

When all of us were working hard memorizing the choreography and practising in front the the mirrors, it gave me the feeling that I'm in the one of those dance-school movies like "Fame" or "Step Up". Cool eh?

I got a nice smooth R&B track for the 1st presentation which suited me quite well but for the 2nd presentation, I got a hard rock track. Yikes!! Just had to throw the real me out the window and be the angry rocker instead. It's really cool to be someone else once you're on stage! ;)


Go Bodyjam 45 trainees!!! :)

And thanks sooooo much to Leo, our headteacher who was there for us all the way from the start!!! You rock girl!!

gym-MEMBER

I remember one time I attended Azyei's class kat Manulife. Told her I looked up d FF website schedule dulu before coming. Then she said "Eh? you pun pilih-pilih instructor? I tot ur bf is GXC, should be neutral?" My bf being in da instructors' circle doesn't mean I am.

I am anything BUT neutral. I luv Azyei & Leo's Bodyjam classes da most although I don't get to attend it often. Definitely more than the hazardous glamourous Kylie or Tracy's class despite getting to preview new releases.

I have my own classification of instructors:
A. Love it, love it, love it!
B. Like da class... fun.
C. Huh? Nobody else ar? Oh well, at least I get to workout.
D. Never will I attend this class again!!

***but because bf is in da instructors' circle I can't name da instructors within each classification.

Yup, I am still very much a gym member... and I like to pilih-pilih da classes by instructors I like and skip da classes by instructors I don't like. After all, I am paying to go to class, not getting paid to. :)

And just saw from Leo's blog that my 2 fav's are not going to launch this time :( Oh well, I don't like attending launches that much anyway.... quite hazardous too.

Gym casualty

Went to Kylie's Bodyjam class in The Curve yesterday. As usual, her class is jammed packed. We had to stand about 1 feet apart from each other, hazardous!!

And I have the injury to prove just how hazardous...


Ouch!!

The gal on my right tertendang me. Not by any fault of hers but the fault of the class being too full. There's just not enough space.

Thank God it wasn't a Bodycombat class!! Or it wouldn't be just a small bruise...

I am missing you...

I haven't been to gym since last Friday. This is coz one of my friends worked-out right after her belly pierce and got a bad painful infection. So I decided not to take the risk.

I did go to gym today, but I just did light exercises on the machine. No buckets of sweat, no adrenaline and endorphin rush. How boooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnggggggg...

I miss GX!! I miss Bodyjam!!! I miss dancing!! Boohoohoo... I am really missing this,

Haven't even blogged Miracle 07, think it's abit 2 basi 2 blog it now

I am soooo going for class tomorrow. I only have one more week to practice Bodyjam 41. This GXholic is back!!

Miracle Audition: 4TY CENT da bomb!

Last Friday was the auditions for the Miracle Team Challenge at FF IOI. The finalists will be able to present 1 track at the launch of the new release of Bodyjam 41 for a charity event!

That was what I had been busy with... practising da choreography for Bodyjam 34's Disco Inferno (by 50Cent). Whoa... now I know it is not easy to be an instructor. This is only 1 single track, imagine those who have to memorize the chorey for many many releases!!

My tribe??? 4Ty Cent!!


From left: me, Farah, Jean and Ann

We've been practising until pretty late at night, because we had to start our practices rather late, after the studios are free from the group-x classes.


Huddling for last minute pep-talk!

We did a few boo-boos during the performance but it was really fun! I could feel the tribe-chemistry of 4Ty Cent's performance!!! Hot!

Hip hop mania!


Bruuuuuuuutal looks!

Anyway, bf was too busy being a judge to take that many good shots... so I don't have much pics to post up yet. However, one of the team members from our rival team took plenty of pics and even a video of our performance as well as theirs! They were dressed to kill in their sizzling Latino outfits. Really cool! Can't wait to see those pics! :)

Bodyjammers are da coolest bunch I've met, they can be rivals and great friends at the same time. All we want to have lotsa fun, dance our hearts out and perform!!! The last time they had this tribe challenge, I was in a Bodycombat team... and just like the name, all da teams were in Combat! They had a much stronger competitive streak than the Bodyjammers.

My lean mean Bodycombat ex-tribe leader!!

You lookin at me???!!!

Hope we can make it to da finals!! All will be revealed on June 4th! Arrghhh... suspense gila!

Busy

Haven't got time to blog lately... busy with this.

Will blog once d audition is over!!!

Accented Jam

Hmm, don't know if I am hearing things... but since Kylie came about, some of the other Bodyjam instructors have miraculaously developed an Aussie accent. It's ok when you've live in Australia for a period of time, but if you've been here all along? Err... I've heard of people emulating their leaders or teachers but just the accent?? Heheheh...

Bodyjam 40!!

Went for the new Bodyjam 40 last week. I have mixed reviews for this release. Music not as good as the last release, not so many hits in the songlist.

- Warm-up, so-so sahaja.

- Da latin track, tak ada kick la. Still prefer the previous release.

- The jive-swing track is da bomb!!! I loved "Candyman" at first move! I have always loved the swing era. The music, the fashion, the dance... love it love it love it!!! Btw, does anyone know where can I take up swing classes????

- Recovery track was cool too! JT's "My Love"

- Da last block, also so-so sahaja la. All the songs tak pernah dengar la.

- Cool down was quite cool, with da disco feel.

Overall, my fav is still Bodyjam 39 and 35. Still, I will go back for more, just for a taste of my "Candyman"!!! It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing! ;)