Mrs Rickard is writing a novel.

According to modern technology in 4 days time I will POP! out a baby. Ahhh a “due date”, the modern-day pregnant woman’s attempt “know” when her baby will get here. Couple this with the ability to find out what gender it is (no I don’t know this, despite my once sneaky attempt to find out), and we have the perception of “control” in our child’s life. After having had two children (one two weeks late, the second two weeks early), I realise this is all a farce. And yet I have bought into it once again and have spent the last 10 days making every attempt to “bring on labour”. Like I have some control. So, while I eat hot curry and pineapples, drinking raspberry leaf tea whilst having yet more sex (isn’t that how we got the baby in there…seriously I need to do that to get it out?) with the dairy farmer (oh how we have set up unrealistic long term expectations), in the back of the truck that we have just driven down a shingle road.., I am really envisaging yet another drive to Christchurch woman’s hospital (yip we have time to a coffee at Dunsandel), to be hooked up with some magic hormones that will prompt this baby along. That’s right, induction! Now if you are one of those woman who pops out baby’s in under 3 hours, this will make no sense to you. (And I hope you are because as “light” as I make this sound, it’s not that fun). And if you fancy yourself as a letting “mother nature take its course” type, well I did too and I tried it… for 16 days past “due date” and still nada, zip, nothing. So I’m putting it down to my highly strung self, who currently needs an attitude adjustment if I am to stay sane and married for the next 12 days. So, for the next while, it’s blunder along, make up really important jobs each day, try not to nut out at Miss 3, Master 2, the dairy farmer, cat, dog or chooks. And whilst I can still get away with it, I’ll go and down some chocolate.

And say goodbye and thanks to my team at Studio FIT… it’s been amazing.

It’s time to say farewell (and a Thanks!) to Frank and the team at the Gym Co in Ashburton. Studio FIT has had a great 2 & half years being based in their group fitness studio, but now it is time to move on.From Monday 11 May, the Studio FIT LES MILLS and YOGA group fitness classes will be located at the EA Networks Centre. The name and trading entity Studio FIT Ashburton will cease and all operations will be run by the EA Networks Centre.

I want to personally say THANK YOU to all our participants who have attended classes (LES MILLS, YOGA, Pregnancy YOGA, FIT MUMS, OVER THE LINE, RISE & SHINE) over the 4 years Studio FIT was been running.

It is an absolute delight to be a positive part of people’s lives. I’ve been privileged to get to know many of our participants and be trusted with stories and journey’s… from cancer diagnosis to remission and full recovery, from miscarriages to the safe arrival of new baby’s (and then more babies!), grandchildren, the death of friends and family, separation, divorces, shifting towns, falling in love, getting married, losing weight, gaining weight, anxiety, depression, anorexia, alcoholism, dealing with sick children, hip replacements, car crashes, completing half marathons, broken legs, broken arms and broken hearts. What I love is watching you go through life on life’s terms and keep coming to class. You kept fronting up and working on your fitness, being active and surrounding yourself with a positive community of people in a positive environment. And your head and your heart and your body have caught up with this good feeling, and I get to watch you grow and change.

And that is a most exciting thing!

I have also been blessed with an amazing, passionate, inspiring, motivating and energetic staff a small business owner could ever hope for. Huge thank you to Greg Spence, Mel Wareing, Robyn Sewell, Victoria Morrow, Sandra Hurley, Kathryn Hellyer, Carolyn Bond Hood, Jules Farrell, Olivia Hutchinson, Hollie Woodhouse, Anna Johnson, Alison Oakley, Anna Aitken, Robert Jacobs, Hannah Young, Malorie Dobbin, Katie Harrison, Brendan Sheehan, Michelle Carson, Hayley Doody and Rachel Davies. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In 2011 Mel (Group Fit Mananger previous to Anna) and I finally convinced my brother and business partner, Greg, to take a punt on starting a studio based group fitness and group training business in Ashburton. We secured a location on Alford Forest Road and Studio FIT was launched. One month after opening I was diagnosed as “pregnant”. Holy smoke, I thought, what have I got myself into! In the following six months three other new gym and fitness businesses had opened in Ashburton! Ever the optimists we carried on and found a market of people who were as keen and passionate about group fit as we were.

I’ve made a tonne of mistakes running this business – and for these I humbly apologise – the learning curve was steep. We stuck it out for 18 months at Alford Forest Rd, until we realised the business model had to change to become financially viable.

A lady who was both attending our classes and a Gym Company member, suggest that I speak with Frank about the possibility of moving to this location – they had facilities and equipment that we could utilise, and the businesses were complimentary. After a chat with Frank and John we agreed to give it a go and what do you know….we moved to the Gym Co, adding RPM and BODY PUMP classes to our timetable (and I was “diagnosed” pregnant.., again).

In 2013 Mel resiged to pursue a career in teaching.., but nature abhors a vacuum and who came blasting out of the woodwork but Anna Johnson. Taking over the role as GFM and having to get up to speed about 5 mins before I bailed on her to drop another baby. Anna took to this like a duck to water! She was on it, over it, under it, sleeping on it, doing burpees and crunchies on it and her passion just shone through. It was safe to go on maternity leave, if I could just sign off one request… can we try GRIT???

Lesson number 684…never try to argue with Anna J when she’s backed up by Kathryn H. I relented to “let’s trial this new programme for 12 weeks” that was apparently more PT style than pure group fit. The girls launched it and it sold out in blocks again and again and again. 3 months after having Jack I went and tried a class…, pause here… its been some years since I have wanted a bucket in the middle of a class, alongside this I was almost coughing up a lung, but if you want to get fitter FAST try GRIT – there is nothing that beats it for cardiovascular gain in record time.

Mid Canterbury desperately needs a new sports and recreation centre, and I have always wanted and intended to somehow be part of this. For the past 12 months I have asked and enquired and put Studio FIT forward as a business that could work with, or for, or part of the new EA Networks Centre. In January this year it was a agreed that the LES MILLS and YOGA classes would be part of the new gym at EA Networks Centre (and what do you know … once again I’ve been “diagnosed” pregnant!)

It is exciting to be part of this new facility and to know that our team of instructors have also been successful in their applications to work as group fit instructors.

I look forward to seeing our children grow up with amazing sports facilities and great opportunities. I’m excited to see young, keen group fit instructors and trainers (look out for Charli Hellyer!) come through and a community of fit and healthy people.

You get a week off and then it’s all guns blazing! I hope you will get along and make the most of your fantastic community facility.

I look forward to seeing you there (at least until the end of August)
Many, many thanks. Namaste,

Rachael Rickard

Mrs Rickard is writing a novel.

Almost due to POP!

I’ll begin this BLOG with an ending…

Hello World!