NASM CPT Workshop, Arlington

So last Fri/Sat. I went up to Arlington, went to the workshop and had an overall good time with my friend and DC in general…minus that one parking ticket. (what can you do? lol)

Workshop lowdown….

Eric Beard (http://twitter.com/ericbeard) is a sensational speaker, had me laughing with everyone else and knew his stuff. Boston accent…which is always a plus in my book when a man has an accent. Very engaging, one of those who knows how to use the spotlight type personalities. Did I mention he was funny? Used real world examples, got us moving (literally with arms, hips, legs, etc.) Told stories that related to the material.

Tanya Colucci (http://twitter.com/tanyacolucci) is also a really good speaker. Knows her stuff. Her style of presentation was different, ie. less laughs. but done well. She’s in DC look her up. She also put some personal stories into the mix which helped put it all into real jargon. Some of it was hilarious too. Like when a client “threw up” on her. LOL (not real throw up)

Really glad I went. Put the material all together. Went through the entire OPT model which if you have the text book is the basically the same thing only better b/c you were actually DOING it. So glad I went. Met some cool people there also.  Wear workout clothes folks, no jeans. You won’t be sweating but you will be moving. Did I mention I’m really glad that I went. The whole book made entirely more sense, I feel ready to take the taste.

The only complaint is this…why in the world do you, NASM, have this on a Friday and Saturday?!  In DC no less! crazy. Should be on Thursday and Friday. I had to skip out 2 hours early on Saturday so I could go see some sights that night. Totally worth it but I was feeling a bit bad because that was when they were going into the exam preparation part. Blah oh well I’m sure I’ll be good.

If you got the money I definitely insist that you go. Not only will you meet future contacts, maybe friends, but the whole course and material will make so much more sense.

*there will always be that one guy that makes it about him instead of the reason why you are there. just breathe. he will get shut up eventually

Wal-Mart; the Homo Sapien Sapien Playground

Is there anyplace best to observe the human spirit, nay, human interaction than Walmart? (Jane Goodall, anyone?) You have to be an observer in Walmart, sometimes even a detective. I can’t recall how many times I have been in the store and saw … something. Now, I can almost always rule out aliens, apes, and monkeys. The person in question walks upright, 2 legs & 2 arms, torso and head, most definitely wearing clothes. However, I can’t discern whether or not the something is either a female or male of the species. Even the hairstyle is ambiguous, whether it’s short or long or spiked. I even saw one with a Mohawk and couldn’t figure it out. A Mohawk I tell you, sheesh.

I’m all for show of skin, in moderation. I sometimes am known for showing a little bit cleavage, maybe wear a short skirt (not too short! I ain’t no trash thank you). I’m in the school of thought that if you show less up top, cover on the bottom and vice versa. You have to prioritize, show them what you want and focus on one thing. I believe most people in Walmart didn’t get that memo. I have seen people with shorts up to there (like Hello there butt cheek, how you doin?) and shirts that could fit a prepubescent girl (I don’t want to know how your back, belly button, shoulders, top of breasts, and arms look like but now that I do, not that I was looking, you should really know that theres a gym across the street. Just. Over. There.)

I’m not even going to write anything about the people who can walk but are too, ummm overwieght?, and then they get on those electric motors that beep when they go in reverse. Nope, not even going to go there.

Then there are the packs. Is it called a troop, or band? Usually, it’s late 20′s gangsters, teenage gangsters, teenage girls, families, Trashy Women (the worst in my opinion; see previous section on lack of clothes) and the lone ranger. Lets do a rundown shall we?

Late 20′s gangsters: Lots of tattoos, foul language being spoken, an uncanny ability to make my skin crawl, yet surprisingly can be very polite when asking a question about where a certain condiment could be located at. Danger level: low-med. Depends on how many there are and how much they have, ahem, consumed before the almighty trip to Walmart.

Teenage gangsters: Usually all boys yet curiously with 1 or more female “mascots”  that laughs too much and talks in too high a voice. Usually dressed to impress. By that I mean over sized jeans, or more confounding than that the skin tight low riders that young males are wearing (WTH???) a printed screen t-shirt and throw in some bracelets maybe some eyeliner (males and females) and you got yourself the raddest bunch of youngins on the block. Danger level: low. just try to use your elementary school vocab words when you’re around them or you might confuse them thereby sending them into a delirium crazed brain overload.

Teenage girls: Now I am a female, I was a teenager. I pray to God I didn’t act like this, and if I did don’t tell me. They go in packs. Skin tight packs. The clothes, the proximity of each other. Like a school of fish they are. You can tell if you look (don’t make eye contact) who is the Alpha Bitch. She, through subtle clues of body language, somehow conveys direction, who to make fun of, who is above standard thereby worthing of making eye contact with, and the overall atmosphere of the pack. I have seen pack members quake in a Alpha Bitch’s subtle piercing gaze of scorn or flower like the sun itself is rising just for that member to get a tan on her white ass.  Danger level: High. if you have low self-worth/esteem/confidence and low sense of self this pack will whittle you down to the size of a grain of sand if you so as much as look at them without a non-verbal acceptance first.

Families: You know who they are. It’s the family with the screaming kid. The Mom that starts screaming from the cash registers to the fabric section. “FAITH!” “FAAAIIITTTTHHHH!!!” (true story, everybody stopped, even the teenage girls stopped, everyone was still with the name FAITH ricocheting off all hard surfaces) The parents who let their overweight toddler eat skittles while sitting in the back of the cart (true story, so sad!) Danger level: low-high. depending on your sensitivity to sounds could be highly dangerous, and if you are somehow deemed the SAFETY! when kids are playing tag. If you are good at avoidance you’re good to go.

Trashy Women: By oneself or with others. Never seen more than 4 together at one time. Always has at least 1 wear the least amount of clothing possible with total disregard for public eyesight. They feel empowered, full of misplaced confidence. They are the SHIT. I say you should wear that much clothing in the privacy of your own home when trying to get it on but thats me. Danger level: med. you might have to explain anatomical parts to your children and who wants to do that in Walmart?

Lone Ranger: Anomaly. Either wears too much clothes in the heat of summer or too little in the cold of winter. Sometimes mumbling could be heard when around such a person. No discernible words but you just know s/he’s going over the equation to e=mc² or repeating the mantra about staying calm and cool and collected in crowded places. Danger level: low-med. don’t bump into or get in the way of the lone ranger or s/he might surprise you in a not so happy way

Sometimes Scientist set up elaborate climate, environmental controlled studies to observe human behavior. Save some money and go to Walmart.

NASM Workshop

Experience NASM Live

NASM offers over 95 Live Personal Training Workshops in over 33 cities across the U.S. Designed to help you prepare for your Certified Personal Trainer exam, enhance your knowledge or develop a specialty, NASM’s personal training workshops are the perfect addition to your personal training education.

Workshops cost $279.00 and is non-refundable is missed. Can cancel the workshop within one week of the workshop for the current transfer fee.

*This is all stated HERE at the NASM website. I’m telling you this because next Friday and Saturday I will be attending this workshop in Arlington, VA. as well as exploring DC.

I will putting up some awesome pics of the capital and telling you all about whether or not this workshop was really worth going to or not. It’s not the cheapest thing around with the price tag of $279.00 so you will get the good the bad and the ugly. I’m thinking about sneaking in my camera…but we’ll see on that.

I’m currently on ch. 7 of the NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training so I will be writing if this has helped me with the course material so far. Also, whether this will help with material in the rest of the book.

Tim Ferriss

My Unusual $100,000 Birthday Present (Plus: Free Round-Trip Anywhere in the World)

Tim Ferriss, author and New York Times Best Selling of The Four-Hour Workweek will be matching for every dollar donated, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. The deadline will be this Sunday ending at midnight PST, thats July 25, 2010. The goal is to get approximately 1,500 donors at an average of $33 each, which will add up to $50,000 and, matched, add up to $100,000.

What its for you ask? Kids, schools, field trips, basic course material, and literature. You find the “request” that most resonates with you and donate however much you can. All the proceeds are tax deductible. You can find all the requests HERE.

Now you maybe wondering OK whats with the, Plus: Free Round-Trip Anywhere in the World thing about? hmm?

Well, for anyone who donates, Tim Ferriss will be randomly picking one individual who will be selected to receive….round-trip ticket anywhere in the world that Continental or Star Alliance fly, whether Rome, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, or hundreds of other awesome locations. There is no expiration date on the trip, so you can take your time getting your passport in order.

Its definitely a win-win situation. Helping school children that don’t have the financial means to get the best they deserve and have a chance at getting a round trip ticket to anyplace in the world.

There are other incentives…if you read incentive #3 you know what I’m talking about. Don’t mind though…I’m winning that one. Hopefully.

*If you don’t go to the link at the top of the page, watch this. It will tell you about some of the challenges schools and kids are facing today.