Learning to “Yell”

Posted byLori Posted onMay 11, 2011 Comments30
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This week I’ve been filling in for one of the personal trainers at my gym; taking over his circuit classes in the morning. These have been my first group classes I’ve taught and I must say, it’s been a blast! I’m learning to yell because of them.

In a way this is true... just replace BASIL with YOU (*see end of post)

 

I am not really a shy person, but I’ve never been one to go all out and assert myself in situations. I’m quiet, I take in the situation before speaking, I listen. But this week, I’m getting to yell! And since it’s a 15+ person class, within a huge room in the gym and everyone spread out, I have to yell. And I love it!

Now, learning to yell isn’t all that hard. It just takes someone telling you to speak up as one of the trainers pointed out to me. He told me that I needed to take command of the class… so I did. And I learned I could! For quiet me, it felt so empowering.

 

No more whispering... 😉

 

Anyway, as most of the people in the morning circuit classes are a few generations ahead of me (aka: older) so I knew the classes had to include exercises with modifications, yet still challenging. Here’s a sample of what my victims students are doing:

The Great 16 Circuit

16 exercises, done in a circuit. 45 seconds of go-time, 15 seconds rest. Repeat and then go onto the next exercise (example: 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest, 45 seconds on, switch exercise).

  1. Push-up walks (push-up, walk hands to over to the side, push-up. modify at an incline, on a bench)
  2. Hands-to-Elbows planks (start on hands in a plank, drop one arm to elbow, then the other, repeat. example)
  3. TRX alternating side squats (or body weight squat)
  4. Plate or dumbbell bend over row
  5. Kettlebell goblet squat (squat holding kb static)
  6. Box step-ups with knee-drives at top
  7. Medicine ball toss (toss in the air and catch after it bounces)
  8. Med ball slam (slam medicine ball as hard as you can on the ground and catch)
  9. High knees
  10. Standing toe tap on medicine ball (fast as you can)
  11. One arm kettlebell swings (switching arms on the 2nd round of  45 seconds)
  12. Standing knee to elbow (example)
  13. Stability ball hamstring curl (bridge pose)
  14. Stability ball pike
  15. Reverse lunge with weight
  16. Supermans (example)

And then they get to rest… before I have them all circle around the room doing wall squats. mwahahahha! Yelling! Power!!!!!

Just kidding (about the power part…. I do yell though…), it’s super fun and after the first class I got a standing applause!!! 🙂

So, in conclusion to the workout, and short post, I learned that doing something that scares you, or that you are not used to doing is rewarding. You can learn to yell (or assert yourself) however you’d like, but I’d recommend “learning” as soon as you can.

 

My apologies to the two or so men who read this blog... 😉

 

Just think, if you practiced “yelling” more often, you just might be unstoppable with fulfilling your dreams. 🙂

What “yelling” are you trying to learn?

Do you have a related story of how you learned to assert yourself?? Was it as scary as you thought it would be?

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30 People reacted on this

  1. […] workout that would force me to feel the gym. I found this awesome circuit on What Runs Lori’s blog. I thought it looked like a great, full body workout and it definitely was…with a little […]

  3. I LOVE it when instructors yell! It makes class way more fun! I love that circuit. I have all your workouts bookmarked. The only thing that has kept me from doing them is that I dont have anythinggg at home to work with. I could just skip those parts – but I hate skipping anything. You know?..

  5. Learning to teach Group Ex was the most empowering thing I have ever tackled. It’s not even about the volume of the “yell” – it’s about the POWER and STRENGTH that you’ve developed in order to do it!

  6. Awesome! You go girl!

    I am not a yeller at all…well maybe after a few drinks, haha

  7. I really like this post because I too have been working on asserting myself lately. I’m not naturally loud and assertive. I’m much more reflective. Like you mentioned, I like to take in the situation before I make my move. I’m currently interning at an org where I shadow/help lead challenge course programs for students. Over the past 2 weeks, I’ve finally gained the confidence to just “go for it” (as in lead activities even if I’m just starting to learn them). I’ve learned that even if you don’t know exactly what you are doing, you can still command a group and be an effective leader if you maintain a confident presense. It’s been really rewarding for me to take these jumps and realize that I am actually pretty good at leading.

  9. My vocal chords could definitely use a bit more of a workout. I’m pretty shy in many situations, especially those that are new and I’m not very familiar with, and the last thing I can imagine doing in those situations is “yell” or be more assertive. I shut right up. I know I AM capable of speaking up but it’s not very often that I get the guts to do it. I’m getting a bit better over time, MUCH better than I used to be, but it’s quite a process! One of these days I’m totally going to be a yeller though, I can feel it 🙂

    1. Yeah, I think it takes some practice for some of us. But then again, sometimes I want to be assertive, but it just isn’t worth the effort, you know?

  10. I am in the same boat, Lori! I’m learning to be less of a people-pleaser and more assertive, and it’s SO empowering.

    and, omg.. I love toothpastefordinner cartoons. haaha.

  11. Hahahhahahaahah LMAO over here at the whispering at your kids things… that would be sooooo creepy!!!! 😀 Public speaking gives me the willies, so teaching a class realllly makes me squeamish… and by proxy, I think you are a mega badass! 😉

    1. Well thank you! I never thought I would stand up and “demand” attention- public speaking freaks me out big-time… but teaching the classes is SO much fun!

  12. I’m a pretty assertive person, or at least that’s how I’m perceived. I don’t hold back and I feel comfortable in the front of room explaining something. But when it comes to being center of attention, I shrink like a violet.. kinda weird.

  13. I used to take Tae Kwon Do back in the day and I swear the hardest part in the beginning was learning to yell (when you kick, punch, etc). It’s considered very important and you HAVE to do it. At first it felt so weird to be yelling especially with all the other people there but once you get over that it became one of the best parts! It totally erased stress and gave confidence to add power to your moves.

  14. Isn’t teaching group classes so much fun? Sounds like a rocking workout- LOVE wall squats!! I’m trying to learn additional patience now…so I’m MORE ready when the baby comes haha

  15. I’ve never been a yeller lol but I might get into it 😉 Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!! 😀

  16. I’m not a yeller, but I don’t mind being yelled at, especially in classes like that. I’m yelling at myself to get some work done on my manuscripts, but there is so much other stuff I need to that sounds much more appealing. Today I wrote “Write. Seriously. DO IT, KATIE.” verbatim on my to-do list. Have I written anything yet? Nope. But I made cookies. 🙂

  17. I am SO shy in groups haha. I’m not sure if I could let go enough to do this!!! Which is *part* of the reason I will probably never be a trainer lol. I’m excited for you though!!!!! Sounds like you’re really growing!

  18. i’ve never been afraid to speak up for myself & often times i’m the one to take control of situations & be in charge so for me, i’ve had to learn how to be “yelled” at. in other words, my challenge is allowing myself to be led & stepping back to let others take control. this has been very fulfilling for me at times, leadership is also teaching others to be leaders.

  19. I’m trying to yell myself into not skipping my workouts! Maybe I’ll try your circuit, it looks like a toughie!

  20. Oooh awesome, maybe i will try this workout! Good for you for learning to assert yourself, go you! I’m definitely not the yelling type so something like that would be good for me too 😛

  21. Yay for another kick my booty workout! I will be trying this one out as well 🙂 I really need an interval timer though (or a coach) because its hard to keep time when the timer is on my wrist! lol

  23. teaching group X is such a blast!!! I teach cycle and bootcamp and I love it more than anything! Both of those classes I get to “yell” at my participants in a positive way of course :-=)

  24. I remember one time in college when my suitemate really pissed me off about something. Usually, I’d let it go and not speak up that something bothered me. However, something came over me that day and I just let her have it. It felt fantastic.

    Sure, it wasn’t the most productive way to talk about a situation,b ut it did feel empowering. Now, I try to take the middle approach.

  25. I think learning to “yell” like this would empower me as well, but at first I think I might feel “bad” at it, lol, I tend to be pretty shy at times.

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