In my early days (2014) as a Master Trainer, I was criticized by a couple of former Master Trainers (they were from another company but I really looked up to them). I use the word “criticize” carefully distinguishing it from corrective feedback intended to inspire someone to make improvements. They had nothing edifying to say to me. They didn’t like the way I looked. For one small example, I was told my hair looked way too messy and that it got in my face while I taught and that I should always slick it back in a tight braid or ponytail to look the part. (One of my newbie MT friends was told by the same women that she should put pads in her bra.) I could go on...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Fast forward. Last week we filmed @warriorrhythm Lesson 4. Afterward, I said, “hey, wanna get some pictures to commemorate the day?“ and Amber noted our hair was disastrous. And I smiled. And said “GOOD”!! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Those girls who put me down with smirks on their lips do not in any way reflect on Beachbody and how awesome that company treated me as a Master Trainer. Nor do they represent the incredible culture of Beachbody MTs who love to build one another up. But I think of them from time to time. Especially now as I endeavor to build a culture that embraces messy f*#€ing hair, little boobies and EVERYTHING else. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Young women reading this, I wish I could have been there to put an arm around my younger self. To whisper in her ear THEY ARE WRONG ABOUT YOU and their hateful comments and sideways glances are not worth the tears and dip in confidence. But I can’t, so I’ll say it to YOU. People who don’t make you believe in the best version of yourself are not worth your time. Period.
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This took me 45 years: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Of failures and successes. Of mentors and mentoring. Of studying and teaching. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here is my heart. Here is me going for it. Here is my vulnerability. Maybe it fails. But maybe is doesn’t. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you WARRIOR Nation. At first I was doing this for me. Then YOU came. And you believed in each other and you trusted me and now YOU. ARE. THE. WHY. 🧨 Instructors wanted. Members wanted. I didn’t know that day what I know now. Read on...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This was 4 years ago and it was my second or third time being cast in a P90X video and before ever being cast in PiYo. That day I was over the moon elated (and equally humbled) to be there for what was going to be the-first-and-only ALL FEMALE CAST. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Even though I was relatively new to the scene I’d already learned that these two day filming experiences were total exhaustion fueled by adrenaline and excitement. Usually on the flights home the endorphins would crash and I’d find myself tearful from a combination of fatigue and gratitude. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What I didn’t know about those two days is that these two women @kamjamz and @bekahjjackson and I would carve out precious time out of our insanely busy lives to talk daily. What I didn’t know about the Girl Power round is that my paycheck was cool and a business trip to LA was cool but the real money was to the pocketbook of my heart. Walked on set for a job. Walked off set with Pennsylvania and New York best friends. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our Master Trainer community was (and is) incredible. Spread out across the countries 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 but unified in passionate, purpose-filled lifestyles. I don’t talk much about the closure of BBLIVE operations. I only posted once about it. But I’m grateful to have been a part of a beautiful community of Master Trainers-so many of whom have stayed so close knit 🧶 and connected. That era was full of opportunities for professional and personal growth and I’m forever grateful for the 6 year ride. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What I know today that I didn’t know then is that the best things aren’t the accolades they are the people. 🤟🏻 All my love. |
ElleNEllen de Werd is the creator of WARRIOR Rhythm™ and WARRIOR Strength™. Inspired by global interest in her format, Ellen opened the WARRIOR Instructor Academy. Archives
August 2024
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