Change is on the horizon…!
I can’t believe it’s September next week! Where did the summer go?! I’ve had a fabulous summer - both personally and throughout our summer timetable! It’s been wonderful.
But with September on the horizon, we start to look forward to the time ahead… Before we talk about that - we need to look back at the last 12 months… Strap in - this might be a long one!
Last year I applied for a part-time Master’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and was very luck to be offered a place! I wasn’t in a position to accept the offer, so I deferred for a year. I took a leap of faith and went part-time in my day job with the plan to be able to begin my studies in 2022. The plan was that I’d spend the year building up MissFits Workout and my client base, I introduced new classes to the timetable and really poured myself into making MissFits Workout a financial success - so it could help pay the bills and reduce the reliance on my day job income. Then a year down the line (now!) I would be able to either further reduce my hours in the day job or I’d need to scale back MissFits Workout and my other projects to make space for my studies.
It’s been a great year and we’ve seen some growth, the community has grown and we have lots of regulars both online and face to face! however, due to COVID, heat waves, cost of living and individual circumstances, some classes have been quieter than usual - and my MissFits Workout income is not enough to cover anything close to my part-time wage in my day job - which means essentially I have to scale back MissFits Workout to something manageable over the next couple of years whilst I focus on my Master’s degree and still pay my bills (as they begin to rise…!).
The opportunity to study a Master’s degree is too good an opportunity to turn down. It will support my continued work in the fitness industry and will (hopefully) lead to real systemic changes to the industry that will benefit all of us. But it doesn’t mean MissFits Workout is going anywhere - I will still be teaching and you will be able to dance with us!
I’m waiting for my course timetable to be released in early September - then I can plan our MissFits Workout timetable before my course begins in October…! So watch this space for the new timetable! But in the meantime - here are some of the changes you can expect:
Reduced timetable
It will not be possible to sustain 5 classes per week once the term starts - I’m hoping I can still carve out the time for 2 or 3 each week. I may do some special events or one off sessions throughout the year too if there is interest. But the standard timetable will be scaled back.
Class days/times may change
The timetable for September will be similar to our timetable before the Summer - but from October, sessions may move to other days/times. Any changes will be made with at least a week’s notice and I hope once we have a new timetable it will apply for a minimum of a term.
Online monthly subscriptions will change
A reduced timetable will make the online monthly subscriptions less financially viable for our subscribers - so we’ve teamed up with a HAES aligned membership scheme (details to follow!!!) that offers a variety of online fitness classes (yoga, Pilates, strength and more!) and they’ll be adding the MissFits Workout classes you know and love to their timetable - so if the monthly membership works for you - you can join the new one instead and benefit from a wider range of activities (and still come and dance with your fellow MissFits too)!
The membership cost is a little higher than the MissFits Workout subscription but offers so much more for your money!
You will of course still be able to by the multiple class passes or pay as you go if you prefer.
This Girl Can Classes
We will definitely be dropping the Friday morning class from our timetable - unfortunately there just wasn’t enough interest or regular attendees to make it viable. I’d like to keep an evening This Girl Can Class on the timetable - but if you want to keep it on the timetable you’ll need to attend in September (or tell me you’re interested, at least!) so I know you’re keen to keep it! Otherwise, it may have to go… :(
So it’s all a little up in the air - but things will hopefully become clearer over the next month. I really appreciate your patience and support with it all! :)
In other news - I’m desperately trying to finish my current exercise qualification…! I started my Exercise Referral course earlier in the year and have been plodding through it - but with the Master’s on the horizon, I’ve had to knuckle down and get it done before I start the next one! This course is particularly exciting because it will allow me to work one to one with clients (something I’m often asked!) and create bespoke exercise plans for them. I will be focussing on clients with certain medical needs. More details will follow but I will be looking to support a small number of one to one clients by referral from their GP. If this is something that interests you then let me know! It’s likely to begin from January 2023 and will initially be available to face to face clients whilst I gain experience.
So that’s pretty much what’s been consuming my headspace for the summer! I’ve also had some lovely long weekends with my family and day trips with friends that have made it a memorable one. A little bit of respite before the challenges ahead! It’s also my birthday tomorrow - so I’m looking forward to a weekend of celebrations too! Who knew I’d be looking to begin postgraduate study at the grand old age of 41…?! Not me! Raise a glass or enjoy a slice of cake this weekend to celebrate!
If you’ve read this far - thank you! You’re my favourite! :)
