Sara Rojas, originally from Dayton, Virginia, has lived in London for 26 years. In the 1980’s, before she made her trans-Atlantic move, Rojas had taught aerobics and water aerobics in Harrisonburg.
“I used to work in hospital, but then moved into health and fitness,” Rojas said. “I worked with ill people and myself was unhealthy–smoking, drinking, having loads of coffee. I have always seen as preventative medicine.”
Rojas has taught everything from step to aerobics, but now is instructing in spinning, bosu, aerobics, pilates, yoga, and chi ball method. Currently, Rojas works at two gyms–or health clubs as they are called in Britain. She teaches at The Armory in Hampstead, North London and at The Manor based in Cricklewood. Rojas currently teaches three classes per day and up to 13 classes per week in order to not wear herself out.
“You can run health risks if you over do it by teaching too many classes,” Rojas said. “I do not do back to back classes either– the burn out factor is huge. After a while you learn to teach and not do.”
She also must be certified to teach her classes. Currently, she is working towards becoming a certified Pilates instructor, which not only involves learning how to do the Pilates moves, but an anatomy course
“I am a stott instructor–that is a kind of pilates. You have to go pay for the certification course. That lasts two weeks. Then you have to do so many hours of practice, so many hours of teaching and observation and take the exam with in six months,” Rojas explained.
The hardest part of Rojas’s job, according to her, is motivation. Though she loves her job, she says it can be tiring.
“Motivation is hardest part. I’m just the same as everybody else. The teaching is easy, but to drag yourself in there is hard. You have to make it fun, be able to put enthusiasm in to it,” Rojas said.
Despite all the hours of physically and mentally exhausting work, Rojas loves her job and enjoys doing what she does.
“I absolutely love [teaching] because there is instant response. You can see instantly that you have helped someone reduce stress, feel more confident, or even have a good time,” Rojas said. “And I suppose you have to be a little bit of an actress; you have to perform every day.”
Rojas tells prospective instructors that the most important thing is not to over diversify.
“You can’t do everything,” Rojas said. “Really go with your best category and learn everything you can. Continually educate yourself.”
