The Pro Beat • Vol 4: Fall 2023

THE PRO BEAT

HEARTFELT + BADASS VOL 4: FALL 2023

SHOP THE NEWEST REBEL SQUAD MERCH LINE -->

a note from KP

Hey there Pros,

Happy Fall Season, Pros. Fall is kind of my favorite time of year. It’s a reminder that things end but also begin, that life moves in cycles and every moment is precious.

I’ve been reflecting a ton on my career with POUND. Actually, I can’t even call it that. It’s been my life. It’s part of me. I have these moments where the reality of what we’ve done and how far we’ve come really set in. The most recent was at a leadership summit. I sat in a hammock and it hit me. 13 years and it still feels so special. So powerful and so unique. We’ve held on so tightly to our core values as the world changed around us and created real community around the globe. And as I finish the Blue Zone series on Netflix, I am reminded of how powerful and NEEDED community and movement are. We know this. It’s why we do what we do. But these are things that KEEP US ALIVE and longer! And as I watch our new series of PRO stories all I can think is “these Pros are saving peoples lives.” Like you all have that power. You know that right?

You are all SO freaking special and powerful and unique and I am just so proud to be connected to you.

Remember that this Fall Season. Remember that you never know what people carry with them, and that your kind words, warm hugs and welcoming spirit could, quite literally, save someones life.

- Peace, love + Ripstix

#REBELSQUADGOALS

Your REBEL SQUAD is your crew of passionate rockstars who have your back and empower you to embrace your most badass self at every turn. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you belong here. Everyone has a place in the heart of POUND and, together, we’re unstoppable.

Our passion for what we do fuels our rebellious spirit, and it’s this passion that drives us to make a difference, break barriers, and inspire change. To the end of 2023 and beyond, let’s ROCK together!

heartfelt thank you to all those who shared their Posse photos with us on this spread using the hashtag #REBELSQUADGOALS

HOW WE’RE MAKING NOISE

UPCOMING EVENTS

OCT 14 // FAME FEST

W/ICON MOMO FOSTER IN DALLAS, TX

OCT 21-22 // FITJAMUK

W/ICON CLARE KITE IN SHEFFIELD, UK

NOV 3-4 // FIT CAMP UK NORTH

W/ICONS JESS MCKEE + KYLIE BOND IN SUTTON, UK

NOV 3-5 // SCW BOSTON MANIA

W/ICON AMY WARD IN DANVERS, MA

NOV 11-12 // SUPER GIRLS SERIES

W/PRO LACIE PETRY IN JACKSONVILLE, FL

NOV 24-26 // DUBAI ACTIVE

W/ICON MARIE HEAVEN IN DUBAI, UAE

THINKING OF ROCKING AN EVENT?

Hosting special events in your area is a great way to support and expand your Posse. When you list these events in The Label, they’ll show up in the ‘Find a Class’ page search on poundfit.com, making it even easier for people to find (and make noise!) with you.

WHEN DOES AN EVENT REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM HQ?

If and when your event has more than 50 attendees, you are representing POUND at a convention or expo, attracting national media coverage, or if you are unsure, please fill out our EVENT INQUIRY FORM. Questions? Email events@poundfit.com.

PAST EVENTS

September was a loud month for us! We made noise at many events including, Strength in the City Chicago and Bibione Beach Festival in Italy! We rocked out with more than 2,000 rockstars and welcomed new members into our Rebel Squad!

@magda_f86 + @atmika76

RESEARCH + TRENDS LONELINESS

World Mental Health Day is October 10 and POUND ICON, certified Mental Health Therapist and founder of The Healthy Space, Jess McKee, shares her thoughts on the topic of loneliness and the importance of community and staying connected in this The Pro Beat.

Today, we are the most connected we have ever been thanks to technology. Social media makes it so that we can see what our friends and family are up to regularly, and text messaging and emails make conversation across great distances instantaneous.

Whilst tools for communication are in abundance, it doesn’t and hasn’t eradicated the feeling of being lonely. Loneliness can mean different things and feel different from person to person. It is important to note that feeling lonely and being alone are not the same. Some people love being alone or in smaller groups, and for others this can trigger loneliness.

Within my personal and professional practice, I have come to believe that loneliness is an unavoidable human emotion that we will all feel from time to time. However if it lasts a long time or recurs frequently, if it feels intense or if it impacts the overall quality of life, then it can play a part in poor mental health.

Esther Perel on Artificial Intimacy

Jess’ thoughts were inspired by Esther Perel’s podcast on Artificial Intimacy. Acclaimed psychotherapist and relationship expert, Esther Perel, warns that there’s another harmful “AI” on the rise—Artificial Intimacy—and how it is depriving us of real connection. Listen to the full podcast, Center for Humane Technology | You Undivided Attention Podcast with Tristan Harris here

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JESS’ TOP 6 TIPS TO COPE WITH LONELINESS:

Get to know your version of loneliness. Maybe it has a name? When loneliness comes to visit, what is it that you find yourself in need of? By exploring the moments before loneliness comes to pay a visit, as well as what encourages it to stick around longer and what makes it leave, you can gain a better understanding of your loneliness experiences. By recognising and even befriending your loneliness you can help to make if feel a little less powerful.

Seek out connections. Call a friend or a family member and talk – not a message or an email, but an in-person conversion to speak – even better (and more mental health benefits) if it’s while you walk (see #4)!

Deepen your relationship with yourself. Try to be your own best friend and get comfortable in your own company. Sit, meditate and speak kindly to yourself in your free moments and you may find the ‘door’ through which loneliness ‘enters’ stays shut more often.

Exercise! Always a mood booster – POUND is the perfect loneliness booter as it has elements of exercise, music and connection all wrapped up together. POUND Unplugged also offers time at the end of class to sit with and befriend yourself (refer back to #3)!

Don’t get caught in the ‘scroll hole!’ It is easy to turn to social media for a distraction but this can result in actually feeling more disconnected and lonely… avoid the ‘scroll hole!’

Seek professional help. If you are really struggling with loneliness, reach out to a therapist or similar professional in the mental health field. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness and there are professionals who want to help! Connecting with professionals can feel scary and overwhelming at first, so know that it’s okay to take it slow and be kind to yourself along the way!

PROS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD

Every day is mental health day for these Pros who work as group fitness instructors and mental health professionals!

Megan Sparks, LPC (Pennsylvania, USA)

Megan is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania who works in a group private practice. She works with a variety of different age groups to help empower them to make desired changes in their lives and improvements in their mental health. She is also an Internationally Credentialed Sandtray Therapist. Utilizing this type of therapy allows the nonverbal side of our brains to speak and give us words that we may not have full conscious awareness of through the sensory input of sand and miniatures (aka little toys/figurines). She loves to incorporate and encourage movement into therapy when she has the chance as well!

“POUND accepts everybody and every BODY! It empowers people to accept themselves and move in a way that makes them feel good, which aligns a lot with my work as a mental health therapist! Like paying attention to the cues given in class, if we pay attention to our own cues our nervous system sends us, we can effectively respond and feel good with better and better execution!

Nothing is more satisfying than hearing a client, parent, or teacher tell me how much better and more regulated they feel once they start investing in themselves, whether it is from therapy or a POUND class. It is my hope to continue to find ways to blend mental health work and POUND in my community!”

Dr. Karen Golombecki, PsyD, LP (Minnesota, USA)

Dr. Karen Golombecki has been a Licensed Psychologist and a Pro since 2022. She works in the areas of Rehabilitation and Health Psychology, supporting people with chronic medical conditions, chronic pain and managing health behaviors. She also specializes in working with individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. She has taught POUND Unplugged at a local fitness center, and is hoping to be able to provide POUND classes for people with disabilities in the community. Recently, she and a group of Minnesota Pros did a fundraiser for the Special Olympics of Minnesota.

“When I learned about POUND, I fell in love, and then when the POUND Unplugged format was released, I knew that I needed to get trained. Combining the awesomeness of POUND and the mindfulness aspects of Unplugged was the best of both worlds for me!”

You’re incredible, Karen! Thanks for all you do!

Thank you, Megan, for all the important work you do!

Emma Swift, LMHC (Maine, USA)

Emma is a mental health counselor by day and a POUND Pro by night. Her career as a counselor and her love for POUND have overlapped since the very beginning. She actually took her first POUND class and became licensed while finishing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She took a POUND class as her morning self-care the day of the state licensing exam (and passed with flying colors).

“Becoming a POUND instructor has helped me in so many ways, both personally and professionally. POUND has helped me become more confident, self assured, healthy (both physically and mentally), and has challenged me to step outside my comfort zone in all areas of my life. I now run my own successful private practice and get to do what I love for a living. POUND has also given me the confidence to start writing a self-help guide on parenting based on years of working with children, adolescents, and parents navigating mental illness. I am passionate about working with these populations as well as members of the LGTBQ+ community and spend a great deal of time helping people navigate anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, Autism, and Bipolar Disorder. In all my spare time (sarcastically), I have also developed my own training model called ‘Thinking Outside the Box’ where I teach other mental health professionals new/different ways of engaging with clients that you won’t necessarily find in a text-book. Never, in a million years, would I have thought I could stand in front of a conference room full of strangers and provide a meaningful experience (without completely embarrassing myself). POUND has helped me become the person I am today and the very best counselor I can be for my community. I tell literally everyone I know they should try therapy and a POUND class at least once in their lifetime. I still stand by this today!”

You rock, Emma! Thank you for being a part of our fitness rebel family!

Tia Goetsch, CNA (Montana, USA)

Tia earned her Certified Nursing Assistant certification in 2013 and her Medication Aid II license in 2016. After falling in love with POUND as a Posse member at her gym, Tia knew she wanted to bring POUND to the long term care facility that she worked at at the time. This facility is for people diagnosed with a mental illness; from schizophrenia to Parkinson’s and dementia.

“Rocking out with this population really showed me the true meaning of “every age, every stage.” I taught there from 2019 until Covid hit the facility at the end of 2020. The green “knitting needles,” as the ladies called them, still brought a release to folks in a 1:1 rock session under quarantine until 2022.”

Now her favorite place to teach is for a nonprofit at a local addiction recovery center, helping those in recovery move with POUND.

“From seeing a 98 year old woman with dementia smile while she makes her own drum solos to the 25 year old man who just came home from an impatient treatment dancing with his son, POUND has been there. We walk all different paths in life but we all share the same beat.”

Thank you, Tia, for your work and service to your community!

LABEL LEARNING

PRO SKILLS HIGHLIGHTS

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NOV 28 • 4P-5P PST

Connect with POUND’s CEO and Founder, Kirsten Potenza, in this free Pro Skills Q+A session. Questions will be sourced from YOU, our Pros in the community, and Kirsten will share insights from her 12+ years leading a global fitness company! At the end of the discussion, Kirsten will highlight POUND’s upcoming annual challenge, her vision for the end of the year and how we can head into the new year feeling inspired and connected.

A CHAT WITH KIRSTEN POTENZA

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To submit your questions for consideration, please add them here by November 17, 2023.

Sign Me Up -->

LEARNING NEW POUND UNPLUGGED TRACKS

OCT 20 • 5:00P-6:30P PDT

DEC 18 • 12:00P-1:30P PST

In this NEW Pro Skills workshop, POUND Unplugged Pros will move through two months of New POUND Unplugged ROCK tracks and identify ways to incorporate cueing, coaching and successful transitions to each unique track.

POUND Education Hours: 1

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CUE LIKE A REBEL 3-COURSE SERIES 3

OCT 28 • 7:00A-8:30A PDT

NOV 18 • 7:00A-8:30A PST

DEC 09 • 7:00A-8:30A PST

In true rebel fashion, Pros are always looking for new ways to challenge the status quo and redefine what it means to be a leader in fitness - both in class and beyond. In this 3-course series, we’ll start by taking it back to the basics to check in on our foundational Pro Skills. First, we will identify class design strategies and return to our most tried-andtrue cues with the options within the Movement Spectrum. From there, we will practice advanced cues and identify some of the most asked for movement + technique options. At the end of this 3-course series, Pros can expect to feel empowered with new tools, and walk away with renewed focus and a deeper understanding of POUND’s Pro Skills.

Registration is for all 3 courses. Each course earns 1 POUND Education Hour.

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A DISCUSSION AROUND SPECIAL POPULATIONSDEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER’S AND NEURODIVERGENT

NOV 16 • 3:00P-4:00P PST

One of the biggest topics and increasing needs in the fitness industry is for fitness professionals to understand how to best serve clients with various forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s and other neurodivergent abilities. In this free workshop, chronic disease specialist, Christine Conti, will highlight the importance of this population as it relates to movement and music and the considerations we need to take as fitness instructors.

POUND Education Hours: 1

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What do you want to hear/see in Pro Skills? Let us know at prosuccess@poundfit.com with the subject line ‘Pro Skills.’

BAND PRACTICE

CONNECT + MAKE NOISE IN-PERSON

Meet-up, make noise and rock two brand new POUND tracks at Band Practice! Connect in real life, elevate your Pro Skills and return to your classes with a renewed passion and, did we mention, 2 NEW TRACKS!?

Band Practice tracks are exclusive to each event and are not featured in The Label. Pros who are active on The Label are eligible to register for Band Practice events for the program(s) they hold an active license in. Completing a Band Practice earns 3 POUND Education Hours.

I felt like this Band Practice took what I learned in training and not only refreshed me but helped me grow! As a newer instructor it was so valuable to have the songs broken down and different tips on how to cue. It gave me a whole lot more confidence for teaching the songs.

~PRO, MICHELLE B.

St. Paul, Minnesota // Sept. 24, 2023

Boise, Idaho // Aug. 12, 2023

Samarinda, Indonesia // Sept. 9, 2023

Dayton, Ohio // Sept. 30, 2023

Taoyüan, Taiwan // Aug. 12, 2023

SHOUT OUTS

We believe that doing good and being good also means creating more inclusivity in all that we do. In the last Pro Beat Edition we introduced a contest to raise the bar - our bar. We are on a quest to highlight the incredible authenticity of our Pros. The challenge, ‘I am POUND,’ asked our community to stand proud in their uniqueness and incredible light. Here are just a few of the incredible Pros who submitted (you can find them rocking our newest merch line in the Shop as well!).

I am POUND because it allows me to be myself. POUND allows me to ROCK as a plus size individual and move my body in a way that makes me stronger physically, mentally and emotionally. I love being a PRO and teaching classes for everybody and every body.

LISA MCMANES

POUND Pro, Unplugged Pro, Generation POUND Pro, Tour Crew (Ohio, USA)

KARON BOATWRIGHT

I am POUND because I love the sheer joy of spreading the love of POUND - the music and energy and the ability POUND gives me to give back to the community as well as show people that any one at any stage or age can be a part of this and always feel welcome and included!!

JENNIFER CLEVELAND

I am POUND because I am here to serve others with an open mind, big heart and genuine connection with each person I encounter. I am meaningful with my conversations and believe community is everything. My classes are for others others, not myself, and all proceeds go towards a charity or I generously donate my time. I make no profit but an enormous amount of personal gain by connecting with other humans and giving back to those that need it the most. I truly believe ‘come as you are’ and ‘all ages, all stages!’

POUND Pro, Unplugged Pro, Generation POUND Pro, Tour Crew (South Carolina, USA)

POUND Pro, Unplugged Pro, Generation POUND Pro, Tour Crew (Idaho, USA)

EDUCATION AT YOUR OWN PACE!

Have you wanted to take a Pro Skills course live but the time didn’t work out for your schedule?

Learn on your own time, at your own pace with Pro Skills course recordings inside The Label!

Watch entire recordings all at once or split them up into multiple days - the choice is yours. Education is on-demand and at your fingertips, inside The Label!

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, PURCHASE ONE PAID RECORDING AND GET THE SECOND ONE FOR FREE!

*Course recording(s) must be purchased between today at 12:01am PDT and October 31, 2023 at 11:59pm PDT to qualify for the offer. Pros will be emailed after purchase within 2 weeks from end of promotion (October 31) with a promo code to be used on a future paid recording of their choice. Promo codes are limited to one time, per user use. Promotion may not be combined with any other offer. Recordings are available for viewing for 30 days after purchase to qualify for the offer.