My name is Amanda Jane Piper and I live in Northallerton.
I have always been a ‘sporty’ person. I joined a cycling club called Wetherby Wheelers when it was first formed. I am one of the few original members who are still in the club now. Although I do not cycle at this present time due to family commitments etc… I have got a mountain bike I potter about on it from time to time.
I have raced (time trails) from 10 miles to 50 miles and over the years one of my greatest achievement was cycling from Wetherby to Scarborough, a round trip of 140 miles to raise money for charity.
The other is I qualified in 1988 as the Junior Best-All-Rounder Competition over 10 and 25 miles. Average speed of just under 22mph!
Shortly after moving to Northallerton, my neighbour dragged me out to a local aerobics class one night and I have never looked back and now actually run the class!! The Instructor had to go on maternity leave and was let down last minute by her temporary replacement, I had mentioned only a week before over dinner that I would help out if she was REALLY stuck (not thinking that she would EVER take me up on the crazy offer). After a plea for help I agreed to step in for the next 9 weeks. It took over my life and living room! But I really enjoyed it and my kids would find me ‘grapevining’ around our living room!
So this experience led me to apply for the Exercise To Music course back in 2003 at Middlesbrough College, I wish I had studied something similar when I left school but the thought would have never crossed my mind being the shy and quiet type (you may laugh). So at 33 I believed it was never too late to start and give it my all.
It was possibly one of the worst 6 months of my life, one day a week at college, working part-time and running the house with 6 & 4 year old boys.
I worked every spare hour I had; I had to learn the Anatomy side of things, first Aid and learn to write my own Choreography. There was blood, sweat, tears and a grumpy wife and mother. There was never a time I thought about packing it in though many did on this course as it was so intense.
My family always came first but this was a close second and I PASSED!!
My friends and family were shocked at the time as this kind of thing was out of character for me!!!
I worked as a Personnel Admin Assistant for some years when finally my classes went from a paying hobby to a business and something had to give. I left the job and never looked back.
I LOVE MY JOB!!