I asked my Instructor Friends “Has Level 2 ETM Changed your life?” Here is what they said

I asked all my ETM qualified friends:

“Did the ETM change your life and set you on an exciting career path? – and what doors did it open once you had qualified.

Can you remember your exam music and routines?”

The response has been amazing with some great throwback fitpro music too; so I had to share it with you:

 

 

Tim Holbrook Excellent idea ETM totally changed my life, it was bolted on to my other courses I didn’t want to do it but I did and loved it. Then one day working on a large gym an instructor didn’t turn up I was working so stepped in and taught not the best class but BOOM my career started and off I travelled

 

Kirsty Trapp My Mum paid for me to do my Etm for my 18th birthday
21 years ago !!!
I remember my exam routine to this day 😂 x

 

Kelly Ravenscroft Best thing I ever did…..allowed me to open my own business and ultimately earn more money be healthier happier never looked back changed my life

Suzanne Jane Rowley Totally agree
Only 5 years ago for me and I’m successfully teaching double classes most evenings, my music was Hey brother Avicii ✌️32bpm.
X

Leah Dodd It changed everything for me. I was a post woman before, getting up at 4.20am to walk the streets in all weather. I did my ETM started teaching classes in the evenings then went full time as an instructor. God I was terrible at first, people would actually just walk straight out of my classes huffing about how awful it was. I persevered, went to loads of fitness days/conventions etc and gradually got better. Then after the breakdown of my marriage I actually saw your post Rachel on Facebook about how Charles was looking for instructors in Playitas. I’d had a glass (or two) of wine and was feeling sorry for myself so I just sent my CV. The rest is history.

Andrea Gaynor A pivotal moment in my life 22 years ago 🙈🙈
It’s been a pretty amazing journey and I still absolutely love it!!

 

Mel Tiffin 14 years ago, after attending a local Aerobics class, the instructor gave me the inspiration to go out there & qualify with ETM, saying to me that she could see that I enjoyed it & would make a difference to others by inspiring them, I plucked up the courage to enrol on a course, I loved it, & was asked to go back to help with their next Group of budding instructors. I remember using the Hawaii 5 o, track

Caroline Newman Made me who I am 1994 I passed ! I still have my 6 week lesson plan .Trained with LA fit in the days if Norman Basson ?? which I believe is now Premier training .I urge all new qual instructor to do Etm/group fit as it becomes an priceless teaching tool

Tom Lowe 23 years ago I worked in the drawing office at BT. I was going to numerous Step classes a week & a certain Amber Lort-Phillips persuaded me to do my YMCA ETM.
Best thing I ever did!!!

Soon after I qualified I met a certain Rachel Holmes who was doing a Line Dancing section in a masterclass/workshop at Bodytalk in Edinburgh.
You persuaded me to give myself a name – Texas Tom was born, class members quadrupled!!
Her I am decades later still teaching busy classes (Thankfully – & for the record, not Line Dancing)& still loving it.
Only time I cringe is when I say “when I taught in the 90’s” 🤣
Wouldn’t change a thing!
XX
ps Can only remember ‘Generation of love’ Masterboy & ‘Not over yet’ Grace as part of my Aerobic curve, sure I still have class plan on an old hard drive somewhere – might have to have a look!

Karen Charlton I qualified in 1999 taught by Sally Wormall. I remember using Backstreet Boys and Backstreets Back in my toning section! Still tempted to do the squats when I hear it. Sadly I don’t teach anymore but one day would like to get back into it x

Lisa Dollery My gym paid for me to do
the ETM with my boyfriend (now husband) I started my 1st class in 1992 at a local village hall and have never looked back! I loved it it was what I was born to do! If I couldn’t be on the stage this was my time to shine 😀 I still have the routine and music, breakdown etc. Community is my passion I have worked in clubs but much prefer to rock up to the village hub. X

Ann Alderman 25 years ago…eek! Used to attend loads of Aerobics classes, so my friends who were training ptoviders said “we,ll fast track ur ETM as u need to be a teacher!” 3 months later i was quald, taught my first Aerobics class to 35 people.My legs were like jelly, top lip stuck to my teeth, wheremy mouth was so dry with nerves, threw up in the loos before the class, but got thru it, was buzzing after and still going strong and loving it today x

Eileen Dixon Yes! I worked in an insurance brokerage, was planning to get married and decided I needed a job I could do to work as well as being a mum. In 1997 I took my ETM with Premier Fitness and Development, back then they were based only in Trowbridge. I started teaching evening immediately. Still have my 10 week programme. Cotton Eyed Joe was my revitaliser!
I still have people attending my classes from when I first started.

Esther Shortt Memories, I remember my music Holiday by Madonna was one part, and lots of tapes ready to do warm up , aerobic curve, and MSE, think there was some Montel Jordan in there too, TAPES 😂Best thing I ever did, thanks Rachel for the trip down memory lane

Wendy Harding ETM was the beginning for me, 1996 I think in Bolton. My warm up tune…. Donna Summers Hot Stuff!
I then did aqua, step, Swiss ball with Cherry Baker-hilarious! & then went on to do gym instructor, special populations & level 3, the list goes on.
I’m currently back teaching in the first venue I ever used for a keep fit class in 1984 before anyone had a qualification and we made up a ‘mix tape’, always had a room full & charge ‘em 50p!
Those were the days😂🤣😂🤣

Nesta Shephard Completely changed my life! Qualified in 1990, music I remember was Belinda Carlisle ‘Leave a Light On’ for pulse raiser and Michael Jackson ‘Beat It’ for aerobics. Remember the aerobics curve 😁 My classes are all about Seniors Fitness and Pilates now and I still teach 3 in the same village hall as I did back then, I still have some of my original clients 🙏

Kerry Dennis Most nerve racking thing I have done I think …. but totally the best thing!! 3 of my 4 children were with me until 3 weeks before they were each born!! The viva😳…. scary!!! My 6 week progression folder notes and fab stick men notes are in the loft! I must get them down and take a look. I remember I used Bobby Brown, Two can play that game. Omg and used tape cassettes!!!!! Those were the days!!!

Caroline Amey My warm-up was daft punk one more time and my aerobic curve was a speeded up version of let’s groove by Earth, Wind and Fire 😂 I remember my routine like it was yesterday! I’ve still got my stick men notes somewhere 😍

Linda Christine Zandbergen I still have my exam sheets with music and counts saved. It’s been 15 years! 😁

Harriet Elisabeth Thunder in my heart was my exam music!
Every time I hear it it makes me a bit scared/excited!!

Exercise to music was something I always wanted to do….
but it also supported me whilst training to do a degree in operating department practice.
Now I’m a qualified ODP I still teach my classes and I feel my clients really respect me for working long hard hours in healthcare and being there for them to put 100% into classes xx

Tabby Browring Totally changed my life. It was a toss up between new bedroom furniture and my ETM course. 😆 My ex husband said it was a waste of money and pushed for the furniture. But got a bonus at work which was all mine, so ETM is was.
24 years later (and one husband down) I haven’t looked back.
It’s who I am, it’s what I love and now I love training and qualifying others to go on the same journey.

Judith Barrass Yep allowed me to work around my kids and husbands job that moved around. I met Rachel Holmes one fitness convention, before she was famous. I can remember the music and even some of the routine. I went on to do all the fitness qualifications and then started on therapy.

 

Shaun Houghton Defo! I was working in a factory, but going to classes in the evening. One day, back in 1996, my instructor told me I had good co-ordination for a guy. She told me about the YMCA/ETM course at Stoke-on-Trent College. I signed up, I was the only male onthe course. I passed with flying colours, here I am 21 years later, still teaching, with a solid brand. My warm up was Livin Joy – Don’t Stop Movin’ what memories! Take me back now!!! Xes when I left school! I hated it! I wanted so badly to be a fitness instructor! I just gave it my all. The joy and satisfaction I had when I handed my notice in was priceless! My mum & Dad said I was making a massive mistake. They say they didn’t say that now, but they did. It made me all the more determined to prove them all wrong! Best move I ever made! I ❤️ my fitness family and friends I have made xxx

 

Joanne Trueman Oh still have my choreography notes and ten week plan ! So nervous on that exam day, 27 years ago, but I absolutely love it !

 

Jane Thomas Me too, I was on maternity leave and not looking forward to going back to my Human Resources management job. Found the ETM qualification and never looked back. I had the Jacksons don’t blame it on the sunshine in my music and I forgot my routine so we did grapevines for England until I got back on it! Shortly after qualifying I started my own classes in the village where I lived … and the rest is history 👏👏

John Anthony Shehan Without ETM I 100% wouldn’t be where I am today. My career started 26 years ago teaching in a leisure centre in Chelsea, London, just one class a week BUT that soon turned into 15 classes a week, a studio Co-ordinator job, before travelling the world as a fitness presenter for more than 20 years, which has allowed me to make lifelong friends I’d never have met otherwise.. I only teach 4 classes a week these days, but I have a full time job working for a 5 star brand and am responsible for concept creation, managing a team of 100 teachers and over 200 classes a week, with other bigger projects in the pipeline. Although the fitness industry has changed significantly and a lot of classes these days just have music in the background and don’t work to a beat, being able to understand the music, where and when to use certain songs and performance value is invaluable and I certainly wouldn’t be able to do what I do today, without having done my ETM all those years ago… I’ll never be able to forget the song “Finally” by Candi Staton 😊

Elaine Denton Oooh. I don’t remember the music but I remember my exam 😱 and the routine 🤣 grapevine, 3 hamstring curls, box steps 🤣 ETM was the gateway to my teaching in 2000 and back to now when I stepped back into teaching Fitness Yoga and Fitness classes. I’ve done CPDs to keep my updated, but what I love about ETM is it teaches how to count music. Level 2 gym doesn’t and in my opinion makes ALL the difference. ❤️

Teri Moss Nearly 28 years ago I did my training with Jill May- few around now will remember her but she was formidable back then in the emerging fitness scene.
I can’t remember my routines completely – though I do remember Grapevines and steptaps (surprise) but I do remember my music. I have it somewhere on a battered cassette tape. My brother was a DJ at the time and mixed some 12” tracks for me-
Chaka Khan – I feel for you
Erasure – Lay all your love on me
and a European import track called Animal which he mixed with Jungle Bill from Yellow
You did ask!!!!!
Oh and it cost £575!

Julie Patching 17 years for me this year. I was a competitive ballroom dancer from the age of 6, Blackpool twice a year, every year and then on the original ‘Come Dancing’ for 2 series with Angela Rippon. Qualified as a dancing teacher, had my own dance school and some years later did my ETM…..and haven’t loooked back. Still teaching a mix, but mainly Fitsteps, Pilates and a freestyle (yay!!) body con class. Have tutored and assessed for ymca and now doing my Level 4 Advanced Pilates and Exercise Therapy!! Still loving it and it has shaped my career and made me who I am 😊 I love helping and motivating people! 💕 My exam warm up was to ‘Unbreak my heart’! Toni Braxton 😱 still shudder with a smile when I hear it 😊

Vicky Hayes Moving on up was in my routine
I only did etm to teach while at uni but then never went!
I still have my 10 week plan!

Candice Boyd I did my ETM in 1998 after my instructor suggested I train as an instructor. BEST – DECISION-EVER! Of all the courses I’ve done since, I still remember so much about my training course in York. The instructors were fab and brilliant teachers (they got a guest instructor to do a workshop one week- can’t remember the choreography but remember the ripped abs and bootie 😉). I remember having A0 sheets plastered around my bedroom with the 8888’s listed and choreography (I still break my music down doing this today!). Only song I remember is “When Tomorrow Comes”, Eurythmics for my aerobic section. Happy times 😊

Cathy Hague I can remember my routine I still have it written down with my six week plan
The best thing I ever did x

Julie Regan I qualified in 1994 and in my second ever class did a high impact jump onto to land by going through the floorboards of a boxing gym I was using in London! Put me off for years but went back to teaching in 1999. Moving on Up by M People triggers memories for me x

 

Wendy Barratt Yes best thing I did! Back in 2009, I can’t remember the music, I think it was a set CD we were given and we chose from that! I still have my ring binder folder with all my aerobic curve breakdown in!
I remember as a pro dancer at the time finding the phrasing and 32count blocks second nature to me but so many in my exam group found it really difficult, it was so hard to work off the beat!🙈

Sally Wormall I did one of the first conversion courses for people already teaching “keep fit” in 1986! I too had Kylie and The Locomotion Rachel Holmes. Don’t have my notes any more, but I do have two shoeboxes full of Pure Energy cassette tapes (going back to High Impact 1) which I can’t bear to part with. My favourite class is still Old Skool Aerobics on a Friday morning 😃😃😃

Katy Tatlock I love reading these trips down memory lane!! ♥️
I did my ETM back in 1999, I used JX Son of a gun in my aerobic section…went on to personal trainer award, taught all sorts of weird and wonderful classes over the years, became a tutor and assessor for CYQ. Still teach now, but only 5 classes a week as I’m in the second year of my BSc hons in Paramedic Practice and have been able to transfer my skills from teaching…(communication and being comfortable to be in charge of a situation) into my new career, and these skills come in very handy!!! ☺️

Ceri Barnes Took my ETM with the YMCA in 1994 after being a dance teacher teaching children and adults for 8 years – I had my children by then and decided that my working life was taking a turn into fitness which fitted much better with being a Mum! Teaching dance was as time consuming as my work life is now so I can see why I changed tack! I remember my tutors Liz & Rachel as they were Welsh! I can’t remember my music but I think it was something like ‘the key’ @calling mr vain’ and that kind of stuff – very 80s! I have now had my own studio for 6 years after teaching in halls and also for the local leisure centre for some years – and run my business with an official name Cerisport for 18 years. I have a team of instructors and still teach freestyle classes including step, Pilates, Purestretch (who I also master train for) and specialise in pre & postnatal and pelvic floor health. I also PT. Anything is possible if you are prepared to work your butt off but I would say that my passion for dance and then fitness & helping people keep fit & healthy has enabled me to still be teaching after 36 years!!

Jackie Huggins I did ETM with Jonathan Copp and Annie Vincent 14 years ago. Never looked back. Love every minute still even with aches and pains now. Still going at nearly 59. 😀

Gina Plenderleith Took my ETM 1992 my peak was Venus Bananarama
It’s the best thing I could’ve done with my life – I have 4 children & manage to always take to school & pick up & still have a great, successful career.
I teach for Nuffield Health in the corporate sites in Canary Wharf teaching up to 5 classes a day & love every minute of every day 💖
You’ve been my mentor throughout from doing your masterclasses in the 90s to Fitness Pilates currently 😍
Thank you Rachel Xxx

Laura Elizabeth Qualified in 2007 and have never looked back! Yep I remember the choreographed verse/chorus assessment block was to black and gold, and the aerobic curve and mse to the mix YMCA fit gave us 🙌🏼

Jo Bonner When I qualified 25 years ago, little did I realise I’d still be teaching all these years later. BEST THING I EVER DID! I’ve met so many amazing people and made friends for life. I went retro for my exam with Disco Inferno, Eye to Eye Contact, Play That Funky Music White Boy. I’m a terrible hoarder so still have all my lesson plans, still have the cassettes I used but nothing to play them on!

Sophie Ashcroft I used backstreet boys larger than life and Eiffel 65 blue . I think I still have my notes somewhere. I did my course about 18 years ago 🙈

Nicola Guitart ETM is such a joyful skill to have and of course a lot of people bypass it these days. The knowledge from this course is so valuable and you will be one of the few with ETM in the bag. Can’t recommend it enough… Even with a growing number of brands, my freestyle ETM classes have stood the test of time. Do it…. Your classes will thrive and there’s so much satisfaction from putting your own routine together when everybody loves it. ♥️

Steve Barrett Do I remember my routine? I’ve only had five moves….”grapevine”!!! Music? Hmm it would have been by Powermusic (Work Me Down Down)…and on cassette LOL! Did ETM change my life? Yep, thanks to a lovely relationship with a well know shoe company I collected passport stamps from 60+ countries, taught many times at the ETM event of all events IDEA World and used the motivation, education and observation skills I learned from teaching ETM to transition in to a new carrer developing new concepts and programming for the fastest growing fitness company in the world…….and the really funny thing is I really really didn’t want to do ETM in the first place but that story is for another day xx

Lisa Carroll Yeees I first started out as a sports therapist in the 90’s. Then I qualified in ETM in 2001 & I have never looked back. Still teaching now & I love it all my classes are freestyle. My warm up track for ETM exam was Starlight by superman lovers & my aerobic curve Believe by Cher. Great memories it was the best feeling ever when I passed 🤩 xxx

Lexie Griffiths Totally changed my life and still doing the same routine now at my Crazeexmas evenz year 28 in germany this weekend. Gave me the momentum to leave teaching and work full time as a fitnessprofessional- 35 countries later am still as passionate. Thankyou Janinos- 1980 – first EatM qualification in th UK and the best decision of my life- you rock Rachel Holmes

Cath Puffer Yes it did change my careers and life I did my ETM 89 at Loughborough university. I remember the exam 😱😱. It gave me a great grounding for all the other things I’ve done. 👍

Helen Carpenter-Waters I’m an original RSA etm qualified teacher and did mine at college with the wonderful Joy Martin ( actually did I it the year before RSA came in to being and so went back and re did the course when it was validated by RSA) our course was one year part time and we also gained a diploma in health and fitness studies.As a very young dancer and gymnast it gave me amazing skills, knowledge and foundations on which I have built a life long career in fitness, health and dance and for which Im eternally grateful. The confidence I gained from that course has taken me on to ongoing trainings, areas and opportunities Im sure I would not have had the courage to do. Next year I am in a position to train with the world renowned physio/researcher and teacher Diane Lee, all from having the good fortune of attending one of the first trainings in the UK for ETM big love and thanks to Joy Martin and Jerry for such a wonderful start.

Steph MacKeown Absolutely the best choice I ever made. Met great people and made long lasting friendships through teaching since I did my ETM in 1994. Still teaching some step and aerobics and now an ETM tutor/assessor which I love…..love sharing my passion with others 😍. Still have all my notebooks with all my routines in them in the loft 😂

Alice Milner OMG over 20 years ago but I clearly remember using Tina Turner Nutbush city – I dropped out of a University Degree (Engineering Product Design) to pursue my passion and now as you know own two studios! I have helped half of South London and most of Bath to be a little bit more active more healthy and have many many students that have gone on to become teachers themselves even trained a few of them up myself!

Jo Crayford I did my YMCA course in August 1997, remember driving to the event and wondering why every radio channel was so somber ☹️ then realised Princess Diana had died. Passing ETM was a life saver for me, after 14yrs working for the Police I had a breakdown and had my ETM and rebuilt my life bit by bit. Still teach but now Pilates. I still have all my original notes and I remember one of my tracks was Black eyed Boy – Texas!
😊😊😊😊

 

Ros White ETM changed my life. It meant I could leave job that depressed me for one I love. Focusing on building a career in fitness in my 40s (you’re never too old!) helped me get over the end of a 20 year marriage and embrace a new life and I’ve never looked back. I vowed to always teach Community classes no matter what other roles I’ve had in the fitness industry and nearly 11 years on I still do with Fitness Pilates, Dance Fitness and HIIT favourites with clients. My exam music warm up was Inaya Day Nasty Girl and my Aerobic curve was Darude Sandstorm which I still regularly have on my Spin playlists. I’ll still be using my ETM skills in my 70s and beyond I hope! X

 

Susan Elizabeth Taylor-Birch Qualified in 1995!! Used Sunchyme, Dario G!! Changed everything for me!!

 

Stacey Jacques I haven’t taught ‘aerobics’ since I did my ETM 20 years ago but it was the pre-requisite for everything else I qualified in to teach and gave me the foundation for working at Pure Energy for 8 years and all the friends and opportunities that came with that. So for me, an absolute life changer. x

 

Joy Tipton I did mine back in 1991 paid by a local leisure centre I can clearly remember putting the warm up pulse raiser together and I’ll never forget “the only way is up” and I can still remember my routine! Tina turner simply the best was a great sit up track to end on!

Danni Evans ETM old school style..RSA qual back in mid 90’s 🙂 I have taught freestyle ever since…so over 20yrs, it ulitmately put me ahead of anybody who only had a gym qual when going for a job and group exercise is the basis for our gym we now run as a family. I remember my whole file of work… drawing a big A3 diagram of stick men doing stretches and detailing everything. When I delivered ETM quals I would get my file out and show them how lucky they are now to not have to do so much!!! I remember painstakingly putting together the music on cassette and my peak was Cotton Eye Joe and do you remember doing the ‘revitaliser’??? Mine was Blame it on the Boogie 😂 … and thank you for reminding me how old I am!!!!! 😘

 

Lynne Joyner ETM set me off in the world of fitness. It was going to be a temporary job until my children started school and I was going to do a civil engineering degree. Tracy Bedford, Vinnett Alvaranga and Lincoln Brydon were my role models and inspiration. I was at the same gym as Lisa Dollery!! Gone back to teaching step and recycling old routines. Used to put our own tapes together!! 🎉

Paula Denvir ETM definitely changed my life after doing 2 seasons in Ibiza trying to make it as a dancer.
My grandad said to me one day after watching Mr Motivator “you could do that” and I did! He lent me the money and never allowed me to pay him back.
Played Spice Girls “Who do you think you are” & Peter Andre “Mysterious Girl”.
Remember my ETM like it was last week as when I turned the class and walked back I fell backwards over the stereo but got back up and carried on!
Still going freestyle strong 22 years on 😘

 

Jill Robinson I did mine in 1997, my warm up was to ‘I’m a dreamer’ – I had a really bad bout of flu for my exam day and had lost my voice! I practically had to be wheeled in – but I managed and passed. Out of all the qualifications I’ve done, etm set me on a road of my passion. I managed to leave my job as a government statistician and now have my own Pilates studio. If it hadn’t been for the good old etm I wouldn’t be here now – doing a job I love and helping so many people. 😄

Chrissie Gonsolvis My ETM was great but the Advanced ETM course with Alex Rees and Michael Steel was the real game changer towards teaching classes and becoming a lecturer and IQA

Ceefit Oliver Mine was used as APL towards my HNC to then progress towards HND and BSc sports science to then progress to my PGCE in PE. ETM is where i started 💜

Celia Johnson I also Qualified with RSA YMCA JUNE 94 Doing my 10 week program was so scary drawing them match stick men I was 30 and still teaching at 60 My high lights was when my Brother Steven Dorsett introducing me to Step and doing my Course with Gin Miller with Reebok
Also visiting Karen Voight Studio in Calafornia

Fiona Burkinshaw Oooh. I’ve absolutely loved reading all these posts. Some absolute classic tunes being chosen (and still played) I qualified in 1992 (I think) with AFAA. I can honestly say I love it more now than ever. What a fantastic ever changing industry to be in. The opportunities are endless x

Gemma Louise Gooding I did my etm when I was 22 and had a 2 year old son. Best thing I ever did and I now teach all sorts 17 years on. My warm up was Danni minouge put the needle on it and my aerobic curve was finally . Such good memories x

Sue Doyle I did my ETM in 1994 over 5 weekends!!! With a three yr old to juggle, study and practice it was a testing time! But so glad I did it!!!
My music consisted of tapes…. 😂😂😂 each section of the class was recorded on an individual tape so I didn’t have to fast forward the tape for each section in my exam 😂😂😂
I can remember using M People moving on up as one of my aerobic tracks! Even now when I hear it it takes me back! Moves consisted mainly of grapevines, box steps with arms, jacks etc! Plus visual cues, I went onto doing lots of various workshops, courses with the likes of yourself Rachel and Jayne xxx
My course was with YMCA

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