My very first HOT HULA® fitness class

I was introduced to the HOT HULA® fitness program in January when I attended an instructor training workshop in Orlando. I took the workshop because it seemed like a fun new class format, and, even if I decided I wasn't interested in teaching it, I would still get CEUs toward my fitness certifications. I fell in love with HOT HULA® fitness right away. I got an intense, fun, low-impact workout from the class, and I knew I had to bring it to the Valdosta area.

This program requires each workshop participant to become certified before instructing a class. Since I had never done HOT HULA® before, I certainly wasn't ready to start teaching right away, so I took the instructional materials and practiced at home whenever I had spare time. I absolutely love that this program requires approval before starting up a class. Many fitness class formats just give you some instruction and send you out to teach, but Anna-Rita Sloss, the creator of HOT HULA® fitness, wants to ensure that all her instructors are qualified before they represent the program.

If a trainee instructor feels ready, she may send Anna-Rita Sloss Enterprises a video of herself auditioning her teaching skills to gain approval in order to start teaching. I decided I would wait until I took another workshop before I auditioned. I attended one last weekend in Gainesville, Florida. Since I was more familiar with the moves this go-around, I was able to keep up and get much more out of the training instruction. Each workshop participant had to take a turn teaching the class to determine whether she would become certified, while Anna-Rita took notes on our performances.

After the audition, Anna-Rita approved me to teach! I was ecstatic! HOT HULA® is SO fun and a GREAT workout! I can't wait to share it with others.

I immediately started planning my first class. I needed a location where I could start as soon as possible that had appropriate, barefoot-friendly flooring. The owner of Valdosta Nutrition offered to let me teach in his facility, so I scheduled my first class for today, Thursday, May 3 at 8:30 am. I recently dropped a Zumba® class during this time slot, so I knew some of my previous students would be willing to try it out.

I had just three days to organize my class format and advertise. I must have been pretty successful at promoting it because I had 17 participants show up! I was anxious and excited to get started!

I kept this first class very basic. I warmed up the participants with some isolations and easy movements and a few stretches. Then I broke down some basic moves to the rhythm of Polynesian drumbeats.

I showed the class how to do a "tamau," in which participants "smile with their hips," moving them side to side. We practiced it slow and then at tempo, then traveled from one side of the room and back, while keeping our upper body stable, our weight in our heels, and knees bent to work the legs and abs intensely and continuously.

Then I broke down the "ami," or hip circle. We practiced it in both directions, slowly at first, and then speeding it up. By this time, I was completely drenched in sweat! Next I taught the class an "afata," or box with the hips. They caught on fast!

After the step breakdown, we did a few combinations to some fun reggae songs. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. I definitely wasn't the only one sweating. All the participants said they could really feel the burn! Of course I yelled for them to stay low at least a dozen times! We cooled down with the Cupid Shuffle, and hung around afterward for some socializing and sipped recovery shakes from Valdosta Nutrition. I think the class went very well for the first time. I can't wait until my next class, a week from today on Thursday, May 10 at 8:30 am at the same location.

Juice Plus!

I do not feel comfortable promoting or selling any product without being 100 percent sure it is healthy and effective. I do not agree with many of the diet, weight loss, and detox fads that are currently popular. I have been taking a product called Juice Plus regularly for about three months now. It has taken me that long to be sure that I fully supported it before telling everyone I know about it.

Juice Plus is not a fat loss aid or a detoxification formula, but a way to make you healthier by giving you more of the nutrients and antioxidants that you need in order for your body to run in its most efficient manner. It is not considered a supplement, but as a whole food. It is a capsule that contains dehydrated, organic, raw fruits and vegetables.

The first time I heard about Juice Plus, I didn't think that I needed it because I love to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Some friends of mine started taking it and telling me how beneficial it was for them, so I decided I wanted to learn more.

I attended an event where I watched several videos about Juice Plus, as well as discussed its properties, and I decided I wanted to get it for my boyfriend. He only eats perhaps two or three servings of fruits and vegetables per month, and I am convinced he needs much more. I chose to give it a try myself as well so that I could put my son on it at no cost with a children's health study that the company offers.

I didn't see many changes during the first month or two. Then I started noticing that I had to take my son to the barber shop more frequently because his hair was growing faster. Soon after, I noticed that some of my scars were beginning to fade. Several scars that I have had since childhood are now barely visible. I have been told that my skin looks more even and healthier. My fingernails are now stronger, harder, and just keep growing and growing!

The thing I liked the best that I started to see happening was that my nightly food cravings were going away. I used to have extremely intense cravings for nuts and dairy products at bedtime. I would eat spoonfuls of peanut butter and giant cups of cereal and milk or yogurt late in the evening, which is not the best time to consume anything high in fat and calories.

Experts say that we have these cravings because our bodies are lacking some kind of vitamin or mineral. I truly believe, that, through my consistent ingestion of Juice Plus, my body is receiving all the nutrients it needs, and therefore I don't have senseless night cravings. Juice Plus is not meant to be a weight loss product, but I have lost a few pounds just because I'm not eating high calorie snacks immediately before bed.

Many of the nutrients contained in the multi-vitamins that most Americans consume are unable to be absorbed and used by our bodies. We were designed to fuel our bodies with food from the earth. We could survive. and live a healthy and prosperous life, by eating strictly plant foods. Our creator did not intend for us to live off of processed junk such as hot dogs and snack cakes. Everyone can benefit from more fresh fruits and veggies in their diets, and Juice Plus helps bridge that gap between what we should be eating versus what we actually consume.

I have just told you guys about my personal experience with Juice Plus, but please check out the scientific research and read all about it on my Juice Plus website. I am planning two events over the next few weeks where you can learn more. There will be a Wine & Wellness social on Friday, May 11th at 7 pm at the home of Amy Meier, a local Juice Plus distributor, where we will discuss ways to prevent diseases over a glass of wine. Then, on Wednesday, May 16th, we will have a whole food facial party, also at Amy's house. We will be talking about skin care and building our immune systems as we sip green smoothies. Space is limited for both these events, so please RSVP at 229.415.3782 or email me at jmavera2002@yahoo.com if you are planning to attend. Let's get healthier together!

Photography is from the Juice Plus website.