S t a f f Pe r s p e c t i v e
by Laurie Gilfedder
Smile, You’re On Fitness Camera
When You Least Expect It, It’s Your Lucky Day...
accomplished the original goal of
capturing the class so that the FI
community could “see” the program.
But an interesting thing happened
immediately. As soon as I produced
and posted the first video on
Facebook, the Power X family started
critiquing themselves. No, they
weren’t interested in their hair,
makeup, outfits or how they looked.
Honestly, they weren’t!! They were
concerned with perfecting their
form! Kelly and I discussed how the
video was motivating them to
L
ights, camera, action! You’re on
FIT Camera!
We don’t claim to be one of the “Big
Eight” movie studios such as MGM
Grande, Warner Bros., Columbia or
20th Century Fox, but FIT Films is
famous in its own right! It’s not
staged. It’s real, and it’s happening
real time. It’s not models, actors or
actresses. It’s Fitness Incentive
members, trainers, instructors and
yours truly - the mostly discreet and
occasionally sneaky cameraman
(woman), popping in and out of classes
throughout the gym. Now you may
think that I’m trying to capture you in
your most awkward moment, but that’s
not true....I promise!! It’s all about
members inspiring and helping other
members.
So FIT Films just sort of evolved. I
began filming Power X about two or
three years ago. Kelly Wallace had
asked me to video her Power X group.
At the time, the program was being
conducted off Fitness Incentive
premises and on the village tennis
courts, so members who were
interested in the program had no idea
what it was all about since they
couldn’t actually “see” the class. I
began meeting the Power X group every
Wednesday at 5:30 pm. and thus began
my introduction into filming and the
Power X family.
Now filming them once or twice and
producing a video would have
You may think that
I’m trying to capture
you in your most
awkward moment, but
that’s not true....
I promise!!
improve the execution of every
different move. And so I was
motivated to continue. When the
camera was out, and the little red
light was on, everyone tried just a
little harder!!
the 150+ classes and programs that FI
offers. It’s possible but not likely that
the average member tries every single
class that Fitness Incentive offers.
But in the comfort of your own home,
you can click on the FI Facebook page
and view a class that you may be
thinking of trying or perhaps you’re
ready to step up your fitness regime
and looking for a new challenge. Look
no further....check out the videos!
Throughout the hundreds of videos that
I have been involved in producing,
camaraderie and support are the
common thread. And it goes well
beyond even that! Just a few days ago,
a member stopped me to tell me that
she was interested in taking the Bridge
Basics class and had watched one of
the videos. She mentioned that in the
video there was a member who was
pretty much her age (and mine!)
performing and executing some very
challenging and difficult moves. That
gave her the motivation and the
courage to step out of her comfort
zone and try out the Bridge class. So
without even knowing it, an
unsuspecting member, Sandy French,
motivated another member to
participate. I shared this conversation
with Sandy, and it made us both feel
really good to be part of this little
circle of motivation! At first, I
thought it’s an age thing, the older I
get, the more important relationships
and helping others becomes. But I
really do believe that it’s an FI thing,
too. Throughout my filming, I have
witnessed this amazing fitness
community helping each other.
Whether it is Mat Pilates, Bridge Basics,
Power X, Cycling, Personal Training, the
people are the common denominator.
Together we make a family. We are the
Fitness Incentive family, and you know
what they say about family being a
circle of strength!
Before I move on, I must take a
moment to tell you something more
about that first group. You know how
your first love always holds a
sentimental place in your memory?
That's how it is for me with the
Power X Group. They are an amazing
group of athletes, different shapes,
sizes, with varying levels of ability
and fitness, but they are a group well no, more like a family - of likeminded individuals striving to be
better, helping each other to do their
best and to achieve their goals. They
are competitive yet supportive. The
camaraderie, the support, the
friendship was palpable, and I was
lucky enough to be involved in it!
Thank you, Power X’ers!
And so began the effort to “show”
Summer 2016 FIT to Print
Laurie Gilfedder, in addition to her role as cinema verte
film producer, is the manager of our Facebook marketing
and the Personal Training department.
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