Virtual Fitness Wii FAB (For Absolute Beginners)

Featured guest: Ray Bolden   Greetings! What do you know about the video gaming world? Do you wonder what game your child is playing? Do you feel clueless about the video gaming world? You're not alone. Many of us judged video gaming as bad without ever really knowing why.  Ray has been a gamer for a number of years. We met when I was running an summer camp circa 2008. In my ignorance and arrogance, I was trying to open up more songs. My friend brought her son over, (Ray) and he opened up DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party for the Wii for mii! He did it quickly, effortlessly and with amazing rhythm and grace. We could only hope to be as good some day. DanceDanceRevolution is the gold standard of exergames. It also happens to be a game changer for the fitness industry, if we have anything to do with it. You heard it here first... Tune in. Hopefully you will learn something. Questions? Contact Wii Fitness Examiner on Facebook! Respect to all gamers! Penda, Goddess of Virtual Fitness Wii FAB (VFF) Penda and daughters DDR            

Call me crazy, and you wouldn't be alone, but I've been at this Wii exergaming business since 2007. That's, well, I have to go get my calculater, but that's a long time.  Yes, the Wii U is out and yes, no one is talking about the Wii console, and yes, I know you have one that is sadly collecting dust. Why else would you be tuning into this show?  PendaGoddess turned 60 years old and is still flying high and kicking butt. Virtual Fitness Wii FAB, a comprehensive program of Wii exergaming, is still evolving and refining techniques and training curricula. I'm going to talk about some new games I purchased recently. Tune in to find out which ones or I guess you can just look at the slide show.  If this is your first time listening in, welcome. This show is geared to group fitness professionals and is an ongoing effort to inform and recruit fitness instructors to train in Wii exergaming. Make money training Wii exergaming teams! Yay!  

Greetings! If you've been following the saga of the Wii Balance Board then you will want to tune in to this segment. I actually speak to a Nintendo Customer Service representatitive. And I sneeze; I need to learn how to edit a show for real... Questions asked and answered Does Nintendo repair Balance Boards?How much does it cost?What's the process?What did I miss when I was troubleshooting the Balance Board?What happens if your Balance Board cannot be repaired?How to spell my name and my email address. Even though I'm disappointed that my Balance Board has to be repaired, I'm okay with packaging the Balance Board and sending it in. Will, of course, keep you posted. In case you are wondering, I purchased the Wii Fit Plus Balance Board accessory package at Burlington Coat Factory. Less than $20! Connect with me: @pendagoddess Wii Fitness Examiner on Facebook

Since yesterday, I have been unable to get my Balance Board working correctly.  Have you ever tried to weigh yourself and kept getting an error code telling you to just stand still? I kept getting these messages as I tried to weigh myself. This short segment describes how I tried to correct the problem and didn't succeed. Yet, I still managed to get my workout done yesterday and today with a malfunctioning Balance Board. This show includes: steps to troubleshoot your Balance Board suggestions for workouts with Wii Fit Plus even when your Balance Board is not working properly. In the podcast I mention that I will include several links: Virtual Fitness Wii FAB stepping Virtual Fitness Wii FAB running Virtual Fitness Wii FAB hula hoop Don't judge me. I'm not a professional videographer; I'm sure you get the point of the exercise though. Go ahead and try these techniques and let me know how they work for you. My dream is to get a group of us together with Balance Boards and have a little fun! Visit my FaceBook page Wii Fitness Examiner for more tips and to connect with mii. Thanks! Contact mii at: rainacasarez@gmail.com  

Greetings! Recently I was asked to provide interactive entertainment for a Destress Recess day. A range of activities offered included massages, a movie theater to watch old sitcoms while eating popcorn,  a golfing instruction station, a room to play board games and more. Because Virtual Fitness Wii FAB is not widely known, I took this opportunity to educate the participants about Wii exergaming protocol, techniques and becoming a professional WEE. Tune it to hear how I planned, practiced and prepared for the event. I'd love to hear your feedback! WEE on my way out the door

Greetings all! Hope you have gotten your Wii on today. I sure have. I wanted to share a review I wrote on a book I received: Teach Math with the Wii. There is so little educational Wii literature that this book is a welcome addition. The authors love technology and they wish to engage students in the math classroom at the highest level. How to get a greater buy-in? Why, bring the Wii into the classroom, of course.Imagine the students response when they see a Wii in the classroom! What about you? Do you play the Wii seriously and professionally? Please, we'd love to share your story. Contact Raina at wiifitnessexaminer@gmail.com. Let's schedule an interview on BlogTalk Radio.  For more Wii Exergaming Expert information please click on the links below National Wii Fitness Examiner Wii Fitness Examiner Facebook @Penda on Twitter

We're going to start a Wii Exergaming book club exergamers. Are you ready? It's not every day that I find a book dedicated to using the Wii with innovative programming.  Similar to Virtual Fitness Wii FAB which was developed by a professional fitness instructor, (yours truly),  this book is written by a mathematician and educators.  Meghan Hearn, to quote the back cover briefly is "a mathematics educator and specialist" and Matthew C. Winner a teacher librarian, former elemetary educator holding a BS in elementary education and MS in school library media.  Disclaimer: I did request and receive a Not for Sale/Preview Copy Uncorrected Sample copy of the book in the mail.  The book is available in a number of formats on Amazon.com. Please order through the Wii Fitness Supply Store . Links mentioned in broadcast: Khan Academy iste Music by JaBig can be found on YouTube Follow mii on Facebook - Wii Fitness Examiner Examiner.com - National Wii Fitness Examiner Twitter - @pendagoddess Support WEE's everywhere!  

Greetings!  The Wii is the best tool that is underused around the world. Listen in and perhaps you will be inspired to dust off your Wii and get playing again, seriously. Some topics we'll chat about today include: Wii Exergaming ExpertWiihabilitationSeniors and Wii exergamingWii Exergaming teams; You can always talk exergaming with us: Facebook: Wii Fitness Examiner Twitter: @pendagoddess Examiner.com: Raina Casarez, National Wii Fitness Examiner

Greetings, Everyone!  Today's show will be a presentation of sorts. Penda, Goddess of Virtual Fitness Wii FAB (For Absolute Beginners) will be taking you on a tour of her Wii charts and workouts for Wii Fit Plus.  Wii Fit Plus highlights include: Lotus Focus (uses Balance Board)Penda's Calendar statisticsMy Routine Leaderboards revealing Penda's most played games to least played  Yeah, over here, we take playing Wii seriously! Join the Virtual Fitness Wii FAB community. We'd love to hear from you.  Facebook: Wii Fitness Examiner Twitter: @PendaGoddess  Examiner.com: National Wii Fitness Examiner Website: MindBody Group Fitness Arts email: raina [at] mindbodyfitness [dot] ws  

Zumba Fitness for Wii is an effective workout and definitely will be added to the lineup of games for Virtual Fitness Wii FAB.  Join Penda, Goddess of Virtual Fitness Wii FAB (For Absolute Beginners) as she rants about how fun this game is and gives you tips and tricks so you can get your groove on! Rating: 5 stars!

Perhaps you have listened to previous shows with Chandra, who is the creator of AfrobicsTM, described as "the workout to a different beat" which uses African-dance rhythms to get you moving. Chandra has been a fitness professional for over 25 years and is now travelling internationally sharing her passion for fitness. Join us as we get an update on what the fitness scene is like in the Middle East, what the current gas price is and how living and teaching abroad has expanded her outlook on life.

Please join us today and tune in to listen to our guest host, group fitness professional instructor Annamarie House discuss a variety of topics important to you, the fitness professional. Topics may include: Being prepared and knowing your routine Training tips Finding a mentor and why it is important to have one. Have a question? Please type it in the chat room. You must register to participate. Registration is free and easy. Thanks for joining us!

Gail McFarland Gail McFarland is a fitness professional in the Atlanta-area who I've had the pleasure of knowing for a number of years. We used to bump into each other as we seemed to end up teaching at the same places. Here's her bio: Gail McFarland is the published author of more than 100 short romantic confessions and stories and eight novels.   She is also  the daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter of African-American women who died of heart attacks. Making a decision to change her lifestyle in 1985 led her to aerobics classes in College Park, GA -- and the rest was history, and a life of majorly intense workouts.  A dedicated wellness/fitness advocate, Ms. McFarland is currently a nationally certified fitness instructor and consultant.  As an aerobics instructor with more than twenty-five years experience, she has taught widely throughout the city of Atlanta and counts body sculpting and Pilates as her current favorites, though she will always have a soft spot in her heart for Step.  Her community wellness activities include acting as a Health Promotion Specialist for Fulton County (Georgia) and working the Association of Black Cardiologists REACH for Wellness program.   A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ms. McFarland now makes her home in Atlanta, Georgia. We'd love to have you join us! Thanks! Gail "The Fitwryter" McFarland

Please join us today and tune in to listen to our guest host, group fitness professional instructor Annamarie House discuss a variety of topics important to you, the fitness professional. Topics may include: How to a create a career as a group x instructor Music selection Finding choreography Do's and Don't's for group x instructors How to increase your class size How to get more classes How to deal with difficult members professionally The importance of having a national certification and why to keep it current Have a question? Please type it in the chat room. You must register to participate. Registration is free and easy. Thanks for joining us!

It's my pleasure to welcome my friend and professional fitness peer, Kwietha Bolden to the show. Kwietha offers the following services in Atlanta, GA: Life Coaching; Voiceover/Acting Instructor; Just Need Some1 to Talk 2?; Personal Chef; Personal Training. Kwietha is a multifaceted performer, personal development coach and an advocate for healthy living. Through her “Spoken Word” Kwietha indulges in sharing her thoughts, ideas and passion for life. With style and eloquence she expresses her loves, disappointments and accomplishments.  Her life is her love and she lives it fearlessly well. In addition to performing Kwietha is a Personal Media/Acting Coach, training clients and students of all ages in Acting, Modeling, and Image concepts.  Under the tutelage of this dynamic and inspiring artist her students are encouraged to leap out of their shells and think way outside of their boxes thus fulfilling their deepest dreams.   As an advocate for healthy and wholesome living, Kwietha lovingly helps others become their personal best by providing personal training and teaching healthy meal preparation.  With over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness realm, Kwietha combines tough love with expertise to motivate her clients to achieve their fitness goals.   For all your health, fitness and wellness needs visit KwikPhyt.

Because of extenuating circumstances, I am unable to host my BTR show until further notice. Thankfully, Annamarie agreed to host the show today and share with our listeners more information on the ins and outs of the business of group fitness.

*delayed start, mic was on mute. my bad* Sure it's your business. But, do you remember why you got into this business? I do. I chose to be a Group Fitness Professional Instructor because I love to dance. All day. Every day. When I discovered that I could get paid and get my dance groove on, I was ecstatic! Fitness for fun and profit Listening to Annamarie share her story yesterday, I am reminded on how I lost my focus on fun and fitness and invited stress and more stress into my passion of teaching group fitness classes. How much money was I making? How many more classes can I teach? Oooh, my body hurts, but I can't stop now. What new format do I have to learn to stay competitive? What new specialty format can I learn to command more pay for the same length of time? Etc. The stressful thoughts were slowly poisoning my initially joyful journey into the fitness profession. No-role Role Model It's stressful believing that you have to be perfect as a fitness professional and that means (you fill in the list). Annamarie never stopped teaching throughout her weight gain, kudos to her! She was still benefiting physically, despite gaining weight. Group Fitness Professional Instructor's are not role models for 'the perfect body'. We are role models of varying levels of fitness. And the fitness industry is wise to welcome every body as a teacher, embodying the principle that every body needs to move, every body needs exercise. It's about fun When you stop having fun in the business of fitness, then it's time to step back and reassess how you are 'doing' the business of fitness. That's how I developed the Group Fitness Team Training Model. Check out my website to learn more. In the flow, PendaGoddess

If you've checked out Annamarie's Facebook page, you will see some startling before and after pictures. Today, she will share her story with weight gain and loss and how it affected her career as a fitness instructor. Naked gym Did you know Spain has introduced a gym for nudies? Yeah. Would you go work out in the nude? Body image and ego go hand in hand in the fitness business. How accepting are we of others and ourselves when we feel we are 'fat'? How does it affect you? Fitness is more than the outside As fitness professionals, we know that it is more important what is going on inside our bodies than what might be going on on the outside. You can be fit at any age, any size, with any illness or chronic medical condition. Fitness starts and ends within. Do you care what other people think? If you are outer-focused and waiting on others to approve of you or applaud you, then you are depriving yourself of your power. You are the only one that needs to approve and applaud you. Have you done that today? Chat room open Join PendaGoddess in the chat room. You must register to chat. It's quick and easy. And free. Links: Tyme 2 GoGo Wii Fitness Examiner MindBody Group Fitness Arts Foundation MindBody Group Fitness Arts on Facebook

Since this is my public 'verbal journal', I'd like to share a bit about my own journey into the fitness industry. I hope what I share will inspire you to commit to your own fitness journey. Every body is a star Each one of us has our own unique physical body with its innate capabilities and possibilities. How far you develop your body is a personal choice and commitment. Commit I've been a BTR show host since 2007, but that doesn't mean I've been broadcasting all that time. Since I've been recently broadcasting regularly, I'm seeing immediate benefits. Same with my body; the more regularly I'm moving, the more I'm commiting to a healthy, balanced, joyful lifestyle. Group Fitness is key  inspiring me to move. Get paid to move It's a no brainer. Why not get fit as a professional? Get paid to get fit. That will keep your attention and energy focused. Create a fitness lifestyle What does a professional fitness lifestyle look like? It can look many ways. That's why I've developed Group Fitness Team Training. For me, this is the way I can maintain my physical activity levels, stay in the business of group fitness, and keep my body healthy and strong. Tips I've got lots of tips and not just for fitness. My tip for today: "Teach what you have to learn. Learn what you have to teach." Wii Fitness Examiner MindBody Group Fitness Arts

Group Fitness Professional Instructors' (GFPI's) classes are generally open to the public. That means anybody and any body can join the class. So, what if you are facing a room with differently-abled bodies, as is almost certainly the case? How do you teach every body with the proper modifications? Emphasizing Function A blogpost entitled Emphasizing Function written by the NCPAD discusses the fact that "that any person can experience peaks and valleys in health, and therefore any person is prone to experiencing some kind of disability. It shifts the focus from what caused a disability to the impact that it has on the person." What does that mean for Group Fitness Professional Instructors? Join in the convo. Meet you in the chatroom. Love to hear your comments.

The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability published this article on their website: Clarifying the Role of Physical Activity on Weight Loss, written by Christine Pellegrini. Christine asserts that physical activity "It is possible to lose weight by solely exercising and not changing your diet; however, it would take more exercise than most individuals have time to do each week and would take longer than most people hope." Good news! This is such good news for the Group Fitness Professional Instructor. We can focus on fitness in our classes. We don't have to work out at level 10 intensity. And we are here for the goals of progressing fitness levels, improving coordination, cultivating rhythm, increasing strength, and endurance. And how about it's all just for fun. That's how I feel, it's all just for fun- it's just fun with benefits such as all the above. If you need a little inspiration to move today, tune in to the show.

If you listened to the show last week, you'll know Annamarie House brings expert insight into the industry of Group Fitness and Professional Group Fitness Instructors. Learn about the many facets of the profession of Group Fitness with Annamarie. Calls welcome and chatroom open. Contact Annamarie on her Facebook page and website. About Annamarie I have been a group exercise instructor for 22 years now and counting..... My passion is dance and I have created my own dance cardio class called Tyme 2 GoGo which incorporates strip teaze, belly dance and funk all in one. I was a member of the NIKE Rockstar Dance Team three times. I am ACE certified and also Hayward State Health and Fitness institute certified. I have a aqua cd out called Aquatic Workout which is designed so that you play it and you follow the routine to get a great workout. You could also use it to do a land low impact class if you do not have access to a pool. I am trained in a variety of classes which includes strength training, step, interval, bootcamp, salsa, stripteaze, hip hop,TKB and aqua. I am very passionate about what I do and just want to help people reach their goals. I coach cheerleading and do the tumbling and conditioning for the teams. I would really like to get out there and help the youth since they really have a problem with their weight and lack of exercise. They do move they just need a little more coaching to see that they can acheive things that they set out to do. If I can help one child see how important it is to workout and eat right and they implement that in their own life than I feel like I have accomplished a lot. We need to take care of the children and teach them how to take care of themselves before it is too late.

"How do you get enough?" That's the question posed by the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability's video contest. They want to see how differently-abled or people with disabilities stay physically active. The details Being physically active is good for every body. The intention of this video contest is to illustrate that people with disabilities do live healthy, active lifestyles as well as share various ways to get physical activity for individuals with disabilities and activity limitations. Here is a video version of our announcement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AGgD9rFdsA Whether it’s indoor or outdoor, recreational or competitive, solo or team, easy or intensive, we are looking for how you (successfully or unsuccessfully) get enough activity in a 1- to 10-minute video clip! Winners will be announced on August 1, 2011. This video contest will be promoted through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and video sharing sites such as YouTube. Prizes Two winners in each category will be selected. Winners will be posted on www.ncpad.org on August 1, 2011.   Completed Videos 1st Prize - $1,250 2nd Prize - $500 Raw Video Footage – a chance to win along with your video professionally edited 1st Prize- $750 2nd Prize -$250 Conceptual Scripts – a chance to win along with your video professionally filmed and edited 1st Prize-$350 2nd Prize-$150 Website: NCPAD

Group Fitness Professional Instructors (GFPI's) use the body as a tool for income. Just like professional athletes, we rely on the body to function at peak performance levels, consistently, over an extended period of time. That's why you can tell if an instructor is in this business as a hobby or as a career. A GFPI knows she has to take care of her body to thrive in this business of fitness! This show is my pitch to you to join the profession. We need more instructors. We need new instructors. We need to innovate. We need you!

This verbal journal has been talking recently about the professional fitness niche - Group Fitness. Group Fitness classes require trained instructors who  provide groups a movement experience that is harmonized, synchronized and synergized, consistently, everytime. Since my discovery of the Wii and over these 100+ shows I've recorded, I've been obsessed with integrating the Wii into the Group Fitness niche. The result is Virtual Fitness Wii FAB (For Absolute Beginners) - a Wii-designed Group Fitness Format. Yes, you can use one Wii to lead any-sized group in a Group Fitness Format. Rhythmic movement is the key to Wii and it's critical to a good workout and score! in many of the fitness games. So, today I'm going to tell you about becoming a Virtual Fitness Wii FAB Group Fitness Professional Instructor. Any body can be one. You need to have Wii though, because you have to put in your practice time. This is a brand new format, so come on and get in on the ground floor. Join me, won't you? PJ's okay.

Today I'd like to chat about what it takes for a Group Fitness Professional Instructor to get her trademarked group fitness format into gyms, etc. Many GFPI's, after years in the business, have the experience and creative desire to introduce her own specialty format. But how do you get it out there? This is really how the idea of a new fitness business model came to me. I wanted to make money teaching fewer classes for more money and train instructors at the same time. It seemed like I was just wasting energy, mentoring someone in my class to the point of certification, but not following through with a class for them. Not to mention, I was missing opportunities after opportunities to brand my teaching style. You know, the first thing an instructor does when she creates a format is run out and get it trademarked or patented. How can you trademark movement? Choreography? And why not welcome the competition? It can only mean that your format is getting popular. Of course, the point is to make an income off of this format you created. Listen in to hear more. Call-ins welcome and chat room open.

Today I am pleased to welcome Walter Aguilar of Volo Innovations to talk about this studio management software created by fitness professionals for the fitness profession. The great thing about this software is its adaptability in tracking any type or size fitness business model, from the solopreneur to the full-sized gym or private personal training studio. Volo can even be adapted to track a new fitness business model like mine, Group Fitness Team Training. I'm signing up to try it out. Listen, if you are serious about staying in the business of fitness, then make sure you can afford to. Track your income and expenses. Make sure your business doesn't bankrupt you before you get it off the ground. Keep your overhead low. Volo is affordable, even for those low-budget businesses run by entrepreneurial philanthropists (yours truly). Hey, Volo is having a contest and giving away an iPad 2. Yay! Check out their website and like their Facebook Page. Call-in or join us in the chat room.

The Group Fitness industry is in flux at this very moment. So much energy is flowing. Did you catch passionate and energetic Annamarie on Tuesday? She has graciously agreed to be Tuesdays Guest Host. You can be a Guest Host as well. You want to try, let's set up an interview. I'd love to hear about your fitness journey, how it has transformed you and your lifestyle, what your passion is, what your mission is and all that stuff. It's all about collaboration and sharing and working less and playing more. Less stress and a balanced approach to your fitness regime as well as your classes. MindBody Group Fitness Arts Foundation is the sponsor of Virtual Fitness Wii FAB. The mission of this foundation is to recruit, train, nurture and promote Group Fitness Professional Instructors (GFPI's). Here's what the team at MindBody Group Fitness Arts offers: speciality formats, team training, income while training, flexible training and performance schedules, increased income while teaching, branding, duplicable business model, creatively evolving supportive community. And so much more. So I sound like a commercial, but I'm excited. I'm ready to re-enter the playing field of group fitness. There is a great demand for GFPI's and we need people to step up to the plate and commit to loving on themselves with some fun physical activity and to share the power of community. We are the nurses in the fitness field. We care for every body. Chat room open and call-ins welcome.

Annamarie House will be filling in as Guest Host on the Virtual Fitness Wii FAB show. As a Group Fitness Expert, Annamarie has lots of practical information that can help you and your career as a group fitness professional instructor now! Call-in with your questions and/or join the chat in the chatroom. Be sure to follow Annamarie House's page on Facebook and Twitter. Penda, Goddess of Virtual Fitness Wii FAB and aka Wii Fitness Examiner is on Facebook as Wii Fitness Examiner and is a member of  MindBody Group Fitness Arts Foundation. Group Fitness Professional Instructors, join us here on Facebook for free routines and tips for your career.

When I got into the business of Group Fitness, believe me, I still had a 9 to 5 job. It just evolved from being 'just for the fun of it' to 'making Group Fitness a career and business'. And what are the choices now for the Group Fitness Professional Instructor in 2011 and beyond? What do you want them to be? Personally, to continue as a Group Fitness Professional Instructor as I age, I have designed a model I tailored to feet my needs. It had to work with where I am in my life now - physically for sure. I've given up the kickboxing and traded in the salsaerobics for Tai Chi and Qigong. And the Wii, of course. I've been suffering from the little known BuBS - Beat up Body Syndrome. I hurt all over all the time, most days. I remember one of my clients saying to me, "I live in pain" and I heard "I live in Payne." And I'm thinking "Illinois, where is Payne" and almost asked before I realized what she was really saying. Hahaha! I don't live in pain, I generally release it and listen to my body more carefully. Pain does get your attention, doesn't it? But you know, you don't have to push past or through pain. That's definitely how I did it and I admit to doing it the HARD way! Now, I'm ready to do it the fun and collaborative way. Not only is it time for a new fitness model, but a new business model for the business of fitness. Join in the discussion. Call or chat in the chat room.

What is it like to be entering the business of fitness as a personal trainer? We'll meet Tisha Barnes who is in the beginning years of providing personal training services. Tisha will be sharing with us her experiences and wisdom learned along her journey thus far. Tune in and join us in the chat room.

If you listened to the show last week, you'll know Annamarie House brings expert insight into the industry of Group Fitness and Professional Group Fitness Instructors. Annamarie spent some time recently with what she calls "new talent" entering the group fitness profession. Cueing skills, she says, are lacking. A successful group fitness class is a well-execueded class - period. If you cannot cue how are your followers going to be in step with you? Instead, they will be stumbling after you. Group Fitness Professional Instructors (PI's) not only have to learn new formats, but learn how to teach new formats and cue participants who are at various levels of fitness. Sounds like fun? Then you may be harboring a secret desire to become a Group Fitness Professional Instructor! Tune in to learn more! This is scheduled to be a recurring segment so please, tune in live and call-in with your questions. Chat room open.

Annamarie House has been a group exercise instructor for 22 years. Her passion is dance and group exercise and she is the creator of Tyme 2 GoGo - a fusion of striptease, belly dance and funk. She is ACE-certified, has been a member of the NIKE Rockstar Dance Team three times, and has her own Aqua Fitness CD entitled "Aquatic Workout". Trained in a variety of classes, Annemarie's teaching portfolio includes: strength training, step, interval, boot camp, salsa, striptease, hip hop,Turbo Kickboxing and aquatic fitness. "I am very passionate about what I do and just want to help people reach their goals. I coach cheerleading and do the tumbling and conditioning for the teams. I would really like to get out there and help the youth since they really have a problem with their weight and lack of exercise. They do move they just need a little more coaching to see that they can achieve things that they set out to do. If I can help one child see how important it is to workout and eat right and they implement that in their own life than I feel like I have accomplished a lot. We need to take care of the children and teach them how to take care of themselves before it is too late." You can connect with Annemarie on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tyme-2-Go-Go/204395246242566?sk=wall as well as her website http://www.yourfitguru.com/annamariehouse. I have a fitness page on facebook http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Group-exercisefitnessdiet-tips-and-dance-format/204395246242566 Please check it out and if you like it please join the page. I put up tips for group exercise instructors , motivational tips on fitness and thoughts that could help you. I want to spread the word of fitness and how much it can help your life if you incorporate in.

Do you ever wonder how people without a professional fitness background manage to keep in shape, energetic and moving? Me too. So I've invited Claudia Moss to join us to chat about how she maintains such a vibrant spirit and energetic body. Claudia Moss is a novelist, poet, blogger, motivational speaker,talk show host and burlesque performer. She is a former College Board consultant and a former DeKalb County English educator. "I am a writer, blogger, reader, dancer, speaker, photographer, burlesque dancer, actress and lover of life. I enjoy immersing myself in the arts in all of its manifestations. I am ever interested in living well, living my dreams, and living my BEST LIFE, as Oprah says. I embrace the day, risks, discussions, love, peace and passion. My show will bring to life all that makes me tingle with the JOY OF LIVING!" Listen to The Siren at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/claudiamossshow

Gamestaq.com, is a streamlined peer-to-peer marketplace for buyers and sellers of video games. Gamestaq meets the massive demand for a used game marketplace that provides fair market value pricing. The site will initially focus on titles released in the past 12 to 14 months, and will continually expand to include more titles and games from older video game systems.Gamestaq Beta was previously launched during the second half of 2009 to an exclusive group of 2,000 hardcore gamers and testers. Feedback from this knowledgeable audience allowed Gamestaq to significantly refine its offering for both buyers and sellers. Gamestaq is the brainchild of Co-Founders Joseph Gindi and David Faham in an effort to offer both buyers and sellers the real market value for games through a secure and guaranteed marketplace.“Real gamers appreciate our focus on customer service and pricing transparency,” said Gindi.

Monique Hollowell, a passionate professional, develops fitness solutions.A former intercollegiate athlete at the University of Washington in Seattle, she graduated with a BS degree in Zoology and minor in Anatomy and Physiology. Monique has received certifications from ACSM, NASM, Yoga Fit Training Systems, and is a Master Instructor with the Pilates Coach and Bender Training Systems. She has also received a Special Populations Certification from the Cooper Institute. Monique has held several club management positions and rose through the ranks to the executive management level, and has been responsible for running a multi-million dollar personal training division of a health club chain. Monique's transition into motherhood and continued zeal for fitness created Fit for LaFemme, Inc., which offers Lafemme Mobile Gym and Lafemme Fitness Bootcamps. A National Fitness Presenter, Michele has presented at IHRSA, IDEA, Body, Mind Spirit and Fit Fest. She has recently published Bellie Fit Basics and is the host of TheFitnessIQ Radio Show, here on BlogTalk Radio.

Lawrence Biscontini, M.A.is a Mindful Movement Specialist. He is the recipient of numerous awards: ECA Instructor of the Year Award for Best All Around Male Presenter (2010), Presenter’s Choice Debut Premier ECA Award (2009), Best International Program Chosen for Japan for “Shakti” (2007), Best Corporate Trainer for Xerox Greece (2006), Best Mind-Body Presenter (ECA, 2005), Specialty Presenter of the Year Award (Can Fit Pro, 2004), and Instructor of the Year Awards from IDEA (2004) & ACE (2002). Lawrence has been a Spa Consultant and Trainer for leading international spas including Cavo Tagoo Mykonos, Greece (2008), Canyon Ranch (2007, 2008), and Greenbrier, among others. Lawrence has celebrity clients like cast members of ABC TV’s soap opera “General Hospital,” and appears on news (CNN Headline News) and television (“LIVE! With Regis and Kelly”). He is Contributing Author to industry magazines like AFAA’s American Fitness, IDEA’s Fitness Journal, and Spa Asia. His books include Morning Cardiovascular Workouts, by Human Kinetics and most recently, Running the Show: Excellence in Fitness Customer Service, and Cream Rises: Excellence in Private & Group Education. In the USA, he has created aquatic, yoga, and T’ai Chi programming enjoyed at illustrious fitness chains and spas, including Equinox, 24 Hour Fitness, Gold’s Gym International, Bally, and Golden Door Spas. A percentage of all of his website sales goes to charity. To inspire career wellness development, he has instituted several Biscontini Scholarships for the fitness and spa community and “Yo-Global,” a program to take yoga to the underprivileged. Find Lawrence at www.findlawrence.com. Lawrence, a resident of the world, teaches in English, Spanish, Italian and Greek.

Lawrence Biscontini, M.A., has made fitness history as a Mindful Movement Specialist by being the first to receive the following awards: ECA Instructor of the Year Award for Best All Around Male Presenter (2010), Presenter’s Choice Debut Premier ECA Award (2009), Best International Program Chosen for Japan for “Shakti” (2007), Best Corporate Trainer for Xerox Greece (2006), Best Mind-Body Presenter (ECA, 2005), Specialty Presenter of the Year Award (Can Fit Pro, 2004), and Instructor of the Year Awards from IDEA (2004) & ACE (2002). Lawrence has been Spa Consultant and Trainer for leading international spas including Cavo Tagoo Mykonos, Greece (2008), Canyon Ranch (2007, 2008), and Greenbrier, among others. As Nutritional Counselor, Lawrence has created complete nutritional menus for spas from Manhattan to Mykonos. Lawrence has celebrity clients like cast members of ABC TV’s soap opera “General Hospital,” and appears on news (CNN Headline News) and television (“LIVE! With Regis and Kelly”). He is Contributing Author to industry magazines like AFAA’s American Fitness, IDEA’s Fitness Journal, and Spa Asia. His books include Morning Cardiovascular Workouts, by Human Kinetics and most recently, Running the Show: Excellence in Fitness Customer Service, and Cream Rises: Excellence in Private & Group Education. In the USA, he has created aquatic, yoga, and T’ai Chi programming enjoyed at illustrious fitness chains and spas, including Equinox, 24 Hour Fitness, Gold’s Gym International, Bally, and Golden Door Spas. A percentage of all of his website sales goes to charity, and to inspire career wellness development, he has instituted several Biscontini Scholarships for the fitness and spa community and “Yo-Global,” a program to take yoga to the underprivileged. Find Lawrence at www.findlawrence.com. Lawrence teaches in English, Spanish, Italian, and Greek, and is a resident of the world.

Tru U is designed to be a support, providing you with all the tools you need to begin and COMPLETE your journey to total fitness.To become who you already are.

Our final visit with Chandra. Tune in to more amazing insights about living abroad in the Middle East and teaching fitness.

Diet-to-Go wellness guru Alicia Kirschenheiter is an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer and a Weight & Lifestyle Management consultant. The owner of Evolution Total Wellness in New York is also the author of "Oscar & Otis, Fat Fighters." For more information, visit www.linkedin.com/in/evolutiontotalwellness

Sara Lewis is the owner of Mix Fitness [http://mixfitness.net/about.php], a mobile personal training business specializing in providing weight loss solutions. Lewis, a group fitness instructor and personal trainer with a decade of experience, assists novice fitness instructors prepare for certifications through her group fitness certification prep course and is an AFAA Certification Specialist. As a former Group Fitness Director and Program Manager, Sara has helped countless students and coworkers master the skills necessary to lead a wide variety of successful group fitness classes. Lewis holds a BS in Exercise & Health Promotion from Virginia Tech and currently holds ACE, ACSM – HFS and AFAA certifications.

My dear friend and colleague, Chandra Russell currently residing in Saudi Arabia teaching Afrobics and providing her services as a Fitness Coach joins us to chat about her experiences. She also is providing Human Resources consultant services to Golden Gate [http://www.goldengatesa.com/]. Check out the sandstorm [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7935689.stm]

Listen to Penda's on the spot reactions after watching Nintendo's presentation at E3 2010. Wow! Blown Away!!! Super Duper! Ready to shop for new games! Ready to try new, innovative ways to play. Penda is ready to become...sigh!, a gamer.

My dear friend and colleague, Chandra Russell, currently residing in Saudi Arabia teaching Afrobics and providing her services as a Fitness Coach joins us to chat about her experiences.

The author is a certified personal trainer who has held various leadership roles including CFO and now Marketing Director. Gma Goldie loves to share her studies on health, fitness and filtered water.Proper Posture - Do you Have Einstein's Hunch? Let's talk about posture.

Devon Wright is a Certified Biofeedback Therapist, Chopra Center Certified Perfect Health Instructor (use AC1002987 for free shipping off your first order of Chopra Center Products), Registered Yoga Instructor, American Diabetes Assoc. Certified Zumba Instructor. Fresh from visiting India, Devon will share insights from her visit and about her many interests as a fitness professional. Check out her website at www.ananda-llc.com. There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein

Group fitness is undergoing a re-structuring in order to remain viable as a profession and valued by those we service. What will the updated model of the group fitness profession look like? Using the Future of Fitness A White Paper, by Les Mills Intl as a reference, and building off of our conversation with fitness expert Norma Shechtman, Penda will chat about some possible scenarios.

In 2009 Les Mills internation published The Future of Fitness A White Paper [futureoffitnesswhitepaper.com]. Authors included Suze Dale, Sue Godinet, Natalie Kearse, and Dr. Adrian Fields. In my opinion, and that is what this show is all about, this is a drop everything, must read this minute for every fitness professional. If you choose to remain clueless, you will be left without a clue to how things are already changing radically within the fitness industry. This party is really about ready to get started. Are you on board?

Norma Shechtman, BS, MS, MA has talents and expertise that are well documented, ultimately leading to the ACE (American Council on Exercise) Fitness Professional of the Year Award on March 1, 2003. Previously, in 2002, Norma was nominated as one of the top three fitness professionals in the world from ACE. She holds a bachelors and masters degree in education and a masters degree in kinesiology. Norma holds certifications in Pilates, personal training, group fitness, kickboxing, indoor cycling, water fitness and many others. In addition, Norma travels the world presenting the latest training information to fitness professionals.

Today, the US Department of Health and Human services hosted a webinar regarding the implementation of the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines. This is the hot off the press review of the meeting from my notes.