Pearl Howie's Blog, page 12

Back To School Marketing Bootcamp

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Hi guys,

So, trying to get my bottom in gear after that long break I received an email (with a ticking clock) from the amazing Lucy Whittington who helped me figure out my Thing earlier in the year. (Guess what, it���s called Pearl Escapes and it���s about helping you all escape, but you know I get that it���s all about helping people feel alive now and not just get great abs and lose the cellulite, but you know, it can take a while to see what���s on the end of your nose!)

I sat there you know doing the er... but I���m not sure if it���s the right moment for me, maybe I should wait... and then I pressed the button! (Those ticking clocks on sales are annoying but they help you decide right!?)

Anyway Lucy���s thing is called ���Being A Business Celebrity��� and really understanding and owning what you do. And I love it. Because it���s not like other marketing stuff I���ve looked at it���s about going deep and understanding yourself, your clients, what you do and how you do it. It���s more like one of my spiritual courses and it embraces the woo-woo stuff that I���m all about. But it���s also about standing up and owning what you do, which for an English girl who can sometimes be a little bit embarrassed at getting top marks in class is a little bit you know... uncomfortable.

But just like I tell you guys in class about getting a little bit sexy and touching your own body, I need to strut my stuff.

One of the exercises I was doing was looking at what your clients say about you and so I went back to look at some of the testimonials on my website and I was blown away by some of the comments. So in the spirit of owning my thang I wanted to share them... and the link to a whole load more with you.

What People Have Said About Pearl Escapes

"You're doing magic"

"I finally feel like I'm really living, not just surviving."

���This class is the highlight of my week.���

���That reminded me of my mum and brought my childhood right back to me.���

���I loved the book. I think every reader will have the feeling of oh yes she understands the way I feel������

"���even though I don't know you, you have given more invaluable advice than anyone I know."

���Having read your book this morning on-line, you have given me so much hope and the reason to keep going now. I cried loads reading your book and then I laughed out loud at some of the expressions you used. You are an inspiration to me already.���

"���a voice of encouragement for those who believe success is impossible.���
Susan Jeffers, PhD,
author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

"I actually had sex last night for the first time in MONTHS and feel much better for it (as does my husband I am SURE)... so whatever you did it was wonderful!���

���I absolutely love you for introducing me to this."

���Five years of shoulder pain gone in 2 months! Thanks by the way!���

���To me, you are a hero��� You have learned to take something negative in your life and make it a positive... a gift to others. It doesn't get any better than that. Don't doubt that you are capable of helping others��� in terms of other of life's difficulties��� What an adventure!������Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway and Embracing Uncertainty

���It's cheer up time���.

���You give us our va va voom.���

���I woke up the next day and I didn���t have the usual pain in my back getting up.���

More Testimonials

Gosh... (going red)... thank you.

Much love, Pearl x

Weekly Newsletter - I���m Back!

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Saturday 5th September 2015

Saturday
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Monday 7th September
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3

8:15pm - 9:15pm �� Zumba�� Fitness�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��7

Tuesday 8th September
12:00 - 12:45pm Zumba�� Gold-Toning�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6 (Stick hire ��1)
Please note - new Zumba�� Gold-Toning class��

1:00 - 1:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 prebooked ��6 on the day

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Wednesday 9th September
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked ��6 on the day
Please call to book

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2

Thursday 10th September
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4

6:15 - 7pm�� Zumba�� Gold-Toning�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6 (Stick hire ��1)

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

All classes running normally from then on!


A Few Things I���m Loving

I do love coming back from hols to loads of TV to catch up on and also... brand new adverts. I was watching this one with my mum at the weekend - yes, this is EXACTLY what I was like as little (without the specs - they came later). Although my family were usually yelling at me to stop dancing around like a baby elephant (���you���re going to break the stairs��� was a common one!)

























There are so many clips and videos on YouTube from this year���s convention and this was one of my favourite moments - our keynote speech from Ashley Judd. It���s just a few moments and I wish you could see the whole thing - not least her whole dance!! She does talk a little about getting in each other���s space and unfortunately the way it���s cut makes it look like she���s talking about physical space, but as I remember she was actually talking about how our bodies get objectified and about some of the many comments she receives through social media and the media on her body (mainly her bottom!) Anyway, unfortunately they also cut out the wonderful moment when she whipped off her top and revealed sparkly ASHLEY letters on her bottom!!! In your face critics! She makes me feel very proud and blessed to be a Zumba Instructor!
























This is a great video from Beto Perez (who invented Zumba) about last year���s Convention (you���ll have to wait until next July for the video of this one). It���s quite exciting for me as this year I visited Zumba Head Office, which you���ll see in the video, and did Beto���s class at B2 Studio where you���ll see the rehearsals and believe him when he talks about the heat!!! Also at about 8 minutes in check out the gorgeous Loretta Bates - my Basic Steps Instructor and a huge, huge inspiration to me since day 1! Just watching this makes me have a coffee craving - how I survive!
























Had the pleasure to meet this great guy who was honoured at Zumba Convention not only by us guys, but also by the PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA who filmed a Thank You to him and to all of us! Wow!!
























Zumba Gold-Toning is back in TWO time slots in September (and all newcomers get a free Pearl Escapes Bobble Bottle!)

Check out the timetable!! Zumba Gold-Toning will be on Tuesdays at 12:00-12:45pm at Wimbledon Park Hall and on Thursday evenings 6:15-7pm Wimbledon Park Hall - ��6 per class plus ��1 stick hire. You are welcome to block book this class but individual bookings are welcome as this is an ongoing class (not a six week term!)


Bobble Bottle Giveaway... restarts September!

Introduce a new customer to class in September and get a free Pearl Escapes Bobble Bottle!

You can also get a free water bottle when you sign up to my Plate by Zumba or Zumba Gold-Toning class!


Congratulations!

Congratulations to everyone who completed reward cards recently!

Stacey completed 5 classes, fit and fabulous!

Jill completed 15 classes, fancy that!


Pearl���s Blog

What I Learned On My Summer Holiday...


Thank You...

...for making all the cover instructors and your lovely welcome backs! For letting me take this time off to do what I needed to do and to come back fresh and ready to give you everything I���ve got!!

Much love, Pearl

What I Learned On My Summer Holiday���

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So I'm back��� ("���from outer space, just walked to find you here with that sad look upon your face���") eh, you know it.

So��� I knew when I headed out that this trip would be important to me, but I had no idea how important. That the highs and lows would be quite so high and quite so low, that I would hit so many walls ��� physical, mental, spiritual, learn so much and come back knowing so much more than I did when I left.

I kind of thought when I left that the hardest part of the trip would be Mexico, then Convention, (which I've been to twice before) would be more "normal" then I'd have another week to recover, visit Zumba Home Office and chill out in Miami, which I loved but saw only briefly last year.

Yeah. It didn't quite work out quite like that.

Mexico was incredible, I loved it and my first night there I totally relaxed lying in a rooftop pool under the blue moon and realized all the stress I had been carrying around with me was nothing. Man, I couldn't believe how great and easy it was, how I seemed to understand the universe and how everything was really perfect, my life was perfect, I just needed to stop stressing about everything and let go.

Then I went to the jungle where I proceeded to freak out about insects, struggle with the heat and realized that if my life was so perfect why had I given other people such a hard time, why had I not been more compassionate about their fears, which are probably more "real" than my fears about spiders? Shame spiral.

And so it went.

Have you ever had the experience of education where you get to a certain level in say, Maths or Biology, and then you start the next level of learning and the first day they say "You know everything you've learnt so far? Throw it out, now we're going to teach it to you again properly." Or when you go to live in a foreign country and everyone laughs at your vocabulary and accent because that's just what you learn from a textbook and no one actually talks like that?

That's how I felt a lot of the time, that, as much as I was learning, I was "unlearning" even more.

My trip kicked my arse.

In hindsight Mexico was the easiest part, because as the journey progressed I was letting go more and more of what I thought I knew, who I thought I was, and each day I became more uncertain, more vulnerable, more open, more fragile as I let in thoughts and feelings I had struggled to deny.

In Mexico I reread "The Four Agreements" (everyone I met seemed to recommend it and it was the book on my iPhone weirdly enough) and felt I understood it for the first time. I read "The Mastery of Love" by the same author and felt that I understood every mistake I'd ever made in my relationships.

I reached out.

Then I discovered a book called "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Bren�� Brown which I read right before Zumba Convention. It talks about being vulnerable and man, was I vulnerable.

It was such a different experience for me, not worrying about being good enough or showing off, just experiencing Convention really listening to what the trainers had to say and my friend ZINs, who were all facing their own challenges, personal and professional. I discovered that "Master The Business of Fun" wasn't just about business cards but about recognizing that when we play, when we embrace the music and the dance, magic happens and sometimes that magic tears away our armour and defences just as much as it can empower us when we feel that life sucks. (The beginning of "The Bionic Man" kept going round in my head as I felt I was being taken apart, "but we can rebuild you.")

But the hard part of my trip was just starting. Without a Convention, a new country, a packed schedule or anything else to distract me it was just space��� just me and me on the beach and we finally got to the stuff that was waiting for me in the silence. Some tough stuff.

A couple of days later and I finally felt I was ready, my head and heart cleared out to go on down to Miami and have some fun.

I was not ready.

Last year I met a guy in Florida, we started dating. We struggled with the distance and a million other aspects of life that get in the way. We'd been struggling pretty hard for a few months. I tried to manage my expectations, give up on it all, label it, plan my trip so that I would be happy and not reliant on him. I tried it all. When I got to Mexico everything changed and I opened up my heart again and got vulnerable. (In the second step and second book of Bren�� Brown's process comes "daring greatly". I guess you could say I did that too.)

There were moments when I felt that a miracle was possible for us.

Then life crashed back down. And I did too.

The next few days were pretty hard.

The first book I saw in Miami Airport on my way home was the new book by Bren�� Brown ��� "Rising Strong". It's a book about what happens when we fall or fail (however you choose to see it), and what it takes to get back up.

It could have been written for how I was feeling at that moment and it helped me to feel so much better. It's full of stories of people admitting when and why they failed and how they turned it around, so that's what I've been reading and working on and I wanted to share some of it with you.

There's a wonderful section on heartbreak and defining it, as opposed to disappointment, grief or failure by Joe Reynolds. "Heartbreak comes from the loss of love or the perceived loss of love." He goes on to say that even when we have no real expectation or hope, we can still have our hearts broken. Unrequited love can still break us. "To love is to know the loss of love. Heartbreak is unavoidable unless we choose not to love at all."

It helps me to know that this was unavoidable, as much as I struggled to manage my expectations or plan amazing stuff or just have excellent massages, I was always going to have to face the music.

It would be so easy to skim over it but I've been honest with you guys about so many things, and honoured by your responses that I want to tell you this.

At my lowest point I felt completely worthless. I lay on my bed counting the number of people who care about me, the people on my trip who said they thought I was amazing or cool or lovely. The great ZINs and ZESs I had met. But it hurt like hell that the one person I thought I was closest to chose not to be with me���

���and then I went to Beto's class. Every song picked me up and dusted me off a little more. By the time we got to "Footloose" I was dancing three inches off the floor. Then the salsa, oh my. (What was the name of that guy again that I thought I was into?)

���and then I went to a spectacular 5 star hotel where everyone was incredibly friendly and kind, and��� when I got out on a paddle-board the moment I arrived, dolphins swam right next to me. And that's when I figured I must be okay if dolphins want to come and hang out with me!

The highs may fade and the bad feelings come back, but I know that they will pass, that I will go to or teach a Zumba class that reminds me I am as wonderful, special and perfect as every other human being on the planet. I know I can pick myself up and go have a wonderful massage or go on another escape and those dark feelings will fade. I will remember the reality that it just didn't work out; we had a lot of challenges and it's not easy even without those kind of challenges, and most of all that those dark ideas that I am worthless or unlovable are just plain crap.

When I went on my trip I knew that the experiences would inform what I do next, especially with Pearl Escapes. I realised a few months ago that the purpose of any escape I go on or organise (including Zumba) is simple ��� to help us feel alive. In "The Mastery Of Love" the author puts it simply; "we are life" passing through our bodies. And we need to feel alive, to feel all of our emotions in order to be healthy. We can't live in anger for long, we can't live in fear, we can't even live in happiness all the time. And as human beings who have the audacity to fall in love, whether it���s with dreams, animals, friends, family or lovers, we inevitably have to experience heartbreak and grief. Escapes allow us to survive heartbreak by picking us up from rock bottom, but they also allow us to take time out from our work, our schedules in order to have the time and space to feel crappy too.

To mourn for those we have lost, no matter how we lost them, who they were to us or how long we had them; to understand that no matter how brave or strong we are that each heartbreak is unique and it's natural that a part of us will always long for the love we once had. It's okay. I still miss my dog and she died twenty years ago, but she was an exceptional dog.

If we don't take the time to feel our emotions, we can't deal with them or heal them.

We have to accept that we are yin and yang, masculine and feminine, dark and light, peace and chaos, pain and joy and embrace all of it in order to be whole and healed.

The author of the book Bren�� Brown originally started as a researcher into shame ��� what she calls the master emotion ��� because as she describes it, it���s shame that stops us from allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, to be open, to dare greatly and to get up when we fail.

It's when we are too ashamed, or afraid of shame to allow ourselves to change, to break, to laugh, to cry, to dance, to grieve, to make mistakes, to look foolish or silly or clumsy that we stop, stay in one place and stagnate and that's what keeps us from growing and doing better. It's what keeps us from admitting our truth, our humanness, our sweaty, messy imperfection.

This is kind of a messy blog, because words just can't express everything I've learned and want to share with you. I realise that too. That my guides and writing are really just 7% of how I could even communicate this to you if we were face to face. Writing sucks. But the way I really want to share it with you is not just face to face, but on an escape, on a journey that takes you out of your comfort zone, that allows you to feel whatever it is you need to feel to move forward in your own personal growth.

Because to be honest I can't really tell you what I learned on my summer holiday. I can only show you.

Much love, Pearl x

Weekly Newsletter - You Are With Me

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Saturday 25th July 2015

Saturday
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Monday 27th July
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3

8:15pm - 9:15pm �� Zumba�� Fitness�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��7
Last class for Summer - restarts on Monday 7th September

Tuesday 28th July
12:30 - 1:15pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Last class for Summer - restarts on Tues 1st September

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 prebooked ��6 on the day

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Wednesday 29th July
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked ��6 on the day
Please call to book - last class for Summer - restarts on Weds 2nd September

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2

Thursday 30th July
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class taught by Jodie Hay

Saturday 1st August
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Selina covering

Monday 3rd August
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class taught by Jodie Hay

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3
Class taught by Jodie Hay

Tuesday 4th August
6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 (summer on the day price)
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

Thursday 6th August
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

Saturday 8th August
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Selina covering

Monday 10th August
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class taught by Jodie Hay

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3
Class taught by Jodie Hay

Tuesday 11th August
6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 (summer on the day price)
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

Thursday 13th August
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

Saturday 15th August
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Selina covering

Monday 17th August
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class taught by Jodie Hay

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3
Class taught by Jodie Hay

Tuesday 18th August
6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 (summer on the day price)
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

Thursday 20th August
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class taught by Jodie Hay

Saturday 22nd August
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Selina covering

Monday 24th August
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class taught by Luigi Masullo

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3
Class taught by Luigi Masullo

Tuesday 25th August
6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 (summer on the day price)
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Class taught by Charlotte Coltman

Thursday 27th August
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4
Back to normal - Pearl Howie!

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Back to normal - Pearl Howie!

Saturday 29th August
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 (summer on the day price)
Back to normal - Pearl Howie!

Monday 31st August
No classes - Bank Holiday Monday!

Tuesday 1st September
1:00 - 1:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Please note change of time

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 (summer on the day price)

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 (summer on the day price)

Wednesday 2nd September
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked (summer on the day price)
Please pre-book

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2

Thursday 3rd September
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

Saturday 5th September
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 (summer on the day price)

Monday 7th September
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3

8:15pm - 9:15pm �� Zumba�� Fitness�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��7

Tuesday 8th September
12:00 - 12:45pm Zumba�� Gold-Toning�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6 (Stick hire ��1)
Please note - new Zumba�� Gold-Toning class��

1:00 - 1:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 prebooked ��6 on the day

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Wednesday 9th September
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked ��6 on the day
Please call to book (please check closer to the time as there may be an issue with this date at the centre!)

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2
Please call to book (please check closer to the time as there may be an issue with this date at the centre!)

Thursday 10th September
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4

6:15 - 7pm�� Zumba�� Gold-Toning�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6 (Stick hire ��1)

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

All classes running normally from then on!


You Are With Me

This is one of my favourite new tracks ���given��� to me by someone from class. I just want you to all know that I am packing you in my suitcase and taking you with me (in spirit at least!)

I always struggle to take time off and get that me-time so I am really making the most of my Convention trip (you see I do work when I am away too!) and soaking up all the good in the world - spas, massage, beach time, lounger time, food and yes, a few cocktails and all those wonderful instructors at Zumba Convention! So that when I do come back you get some brand new moves and a brand new Pearl!

If you want to stay ���with me��� on my travels make sure you add me as a Friend (quick, as I have to accept you before I go) on Facebook, or just Follow me anytime on Instagram (links at the top of this page). I apologise in advance for all the gratuitous smiley selfies and pics with Zumba Instructors!
























Zumba Gold-Toning is back in TWO time slots in September

Check out the timetable!! Zumba Gold-Toning will be on Tuesdays at 12:00-12:45pm at Wimbledon Park Hall and on Thursday evenings 6:15-7pm Wimbledon Park Hall - ��6 per class plus ��1 stick hire. You are welcome to block book this class but individual bookings are welcome as this is an ongoing class (not a six week term!)


Bookings and payments for cover classes

In order to keep things simple for the cover instructors all classes will be drop-in, first come, first served with a single price (see timetable for details) until I come back.

Normal booking and prices will be back in effect from the week beginning Monday 7th September.

If you do still wish to pay by Paypal please print a receipt or have it to show on your phone for the cover instructor as they will not be able to access my account themselves. Thanks guys - I know you will treat them well!


Bobble Bottle Giveaway... restarts September!

Introduce a new customer to class in September and get a free Pearl Escapes Bobble Bottle!

You can also get a free water bottle when you sign up to my Plate by Zumba class!


Congratulations!

Congratulations to everyone who completed reward cards recently!

Valerie completed 5 classes, fit and fabulous!

Andrea completed 15 classes, fancy that!

Josie completed 15 classes, fabulous on the dance floor!

Sally completed 35 classes, thirsty work!

Chris completed 35 classes, that���s how it���s done!

Sue completed 35 classes, those feet are so fast!!

Audrey completed 65 classes, sexy and you know it!!

and...

Alison completed a ground breaking, drum roll please...

700 classes!!! Sensational, stunning and staggering!


Thank You...

...for making all the cover instructors feel welcome and taking care of them as they do their best to take care of you!

Much love, Pearl

Weekly Newsletter - Walking The Walk

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Saturday 11th July 2015

Saturday
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Monday
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3

8:15pm - 9:15pm �� Zumba�� Fitness�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��7

Tuesday
12:30 - 1:15pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 prebooked ��6 on the day

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Wednesday
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked ��6 on the day
Please call to book

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2

Thursday 16th July
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4
Class cancelled

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6
Class cancelled

Saturday 18th July
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day
Selina covering

Monday
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3

8:15pm - 9:15pm �� Zumba�� Fitness�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��7

Tuesday
12:30 - 1:15pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 prebooked ��6 on the day

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Wednesday
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked ��6 on the day
Please call to book

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2

Thursday
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

Next changes to class...

I will next be on holiday from 30th July to 26th August and there will be a skeleton schedule to be confirmed with some of your favourite instructors. Selina will be covering Saturdays and Jodie will be covering Monday lunchtimes and Thursday evenings, you will have a new cover instructor for Tuesday evenings and Luigi Masallo will cover Thursday lunchtimes at Wimbledon Guild.


Walking The Walk

So they said can you come along to Lorraine again as we���re doing a big finale on the Southbank, and we���ll sort out your transport because of the Tube strike... okay... ...and can you please wear your bikini on national TV?

Well I keep saying it to you, so I had to do it. Get it out ladies - I did it on national TV!

Bobble Bottle Giveaway... almost here!

I have decided to upgrade my Pearl Escapes water bottles and this time they will be the top filter water bottles from Bobble!

Anyone who has introduced a new customer to class in June or July will be getting a free one when they arrive and you will also get a free water bottle when you sign up to my Plate by Zumba class!


Congratulations!

Congratulations to all you guys who completed reward cards recently!

Alex completed 5 classes, fit and fabulous!

Maureen completed 5 classes, feet of fire!

Joserey completed 15 classes, fancy that!

Pam completed 15 classes, fabulous on the dance floor!

Sharon completed 15 classes, phenomenal!

Mary completed 15 classes, funk it up!

Teddey completed 15 classes, fit and furious!

Teresa completed 15 classes, fantabulous!

Jenny completed 35 classes, thirsty work!

Chris completed 130 classes, wow and indeed wooh!!


Thank You...

...for making me (and everyone else in class) feel amazing and laugh so hard!!

Much love, Pearl

Weekly Newsletter - Written From The Safety Of An Air Conditioned Coffee Shop

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Saturday 4th July 2015

Saturday
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Monday
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3

8:15pm - 9:15pm �� Zumba�� Fitness�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��7

Tuesday
12:30 - 1:15pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 prebooked ��6 on the day

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Wednesday
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked ��6 on the day
Please call to book

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2

Thursday
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4

6:15 - 7pm�� Zumba�� Gold-Toning�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6 (Stick hire ��1)
Six week class starting Thursday 4th June (this is the last class until September!)

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

Next changes to class...

Please be aware I will be on holiday on Thursday 16th July and Saturday 18th July. Selina will be covering the Saturday and I am currently looking for cover for the Thursday classes. Stay tuned!

I will then be on holiday from 30th July to 26th August and there will be a skeleton schedule to be confirmed with some of your favourite instructors. Selina will be covering Saturdays and Jodie will be covering Thursday evening and one of the lunchtime classes at Wimbledon Park Hall.


Written From The Safety Of An Air Conditioned Coffee Shop

Yes - it���s that time of year when living in England does not guarantee we will be any cooler than the Sahara Desert! Luckily we have a wealth of local places to keep cool - coffee shops, the cinema, Sainsburys frozen section and yes, the Acacia Centre and Wimbledon Park Hall where we are blessed with air con.

Having said that, getting to and from classes is still a struggle in this heat so please, please, please play it safe - drink lots of water, find the shade and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!

It���s usually just for a few days so I won���t judge if you don���t make it to class - I���d rather you stay safe!

Since starting Plate by Zumba and a visit to the dentist this week I have been warned off the sports drinks that I would normally recommend to help deal with dehydration through loss of electrolytes - so instead I recommend lots of water, and anything rich in potassium, chloride and sodium (check with your GP if you are on a low salt diet as you may need more in this weather). Bananas and natural sea and pink Himalayan salt seem to be doing the trick for me!

For a little cold boost pop your water bottle (obviously your re-useable eco-friendly Pearl Escapes one) into the fridge or freezer. This is great when you wake up in the middle of the night and need something a little cold or when you are heading out to class!


ZumbaWear Sale!

Hot flash summer sale!!! Jump onto the Zumba.com website if there is anything you have been meaning to pick up - there���s also free shipping on qualifying orders! Yes I already ordered some goodies for those who are waiting for rewards and for those of you who fill up your cards soon!


We did it! And you have five days to catch up!

Yes, we joined the lovely Maxine Jones on Monday in Wimbledon Park to strut our stuff for Lorraine! The ladies from her class were so lovely and welcoming that we felt quite at home and it was a real boost to have other TV celebrities who were filming for Wimbledon fortnight sneakily filming US!!!! and posting on Twitter!!

If you want to catch up with our National TV debut it���s available for the next 5 days:-

https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/lorraine/29-06-2015


It���s on! Plate by Zumba with Pearl Howie began 1st July 2015!

Check it out! I���m feeling much more energetic and a few people have said they can see the results - nice for the filming and I���m not sure I would have made it through Monday without that extra energy!


Bobble Bottle Giveaway!

I have decided to upgrade my Pearl Escapes water bottles and this time they will be the top filter water bottles from Bobble!

Anyone who has introduced a new customer to class in June or July will be getting a free one when they arrive and you will also get a free water bottle when you sign up to my Plate by Zumba class!


Congratulations!

Congratulations to all you guys who completed reward cards recently! I am so sorry I will have to list you next week as I am in hiding from the heat (and the builders) and many of your reward cards are at home!


Thank You...

...for making me (and everyone else in class) feel amazing and laugh so hard!!

Much love, Pearl

Weekly Newsletter - Zumba on Lorraine Monday morning (early!)

Instantly know what I���m doing on Instagram
For up to minute news check out my Facebook
Or follow me on Twitter

Click to subscribe to my weekly class newsletter http://eepurl.com/U3C3T


Saturday 27th June 2015

Saturday
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Monday
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3

8:15pm - 9:15pm �� Zumba�� Fitness�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��7

Tuesday
12:30 - 1:15pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 prebooked ��6 on the day

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Wednesday
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked ��6 on the day
Please call to book

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2

Thursday
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4

6:15 - 7pm�� Zumba�� Gold-Toning�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6 (Stick hire ��1)
Six week class starting Thursday 4th June (this is the 5th class!)

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

All classes running as normal from then on!


Zumba on Lorraine Monday morning (early!)

So... I just got a call from the team at Lorraine and they are planning to do an outdoor Zumba demonstration on Monday morning 7/7:30am - 9:30am near the Wimbledon tennis courts. Don���t worry, it���s not 2 hours, but the time to get organised and run through some steps.

Everyone is welcome and here is the location: *Car Park 10�� / North of the athletics track / Wimbledon* Park (this is also the camping site)
*Wimbledon Park Road *(almost opposite the end of Woodspring Road)
*SW19 6PJ * or�� ��*6PN�� *

Obviously if you can make it that would be lovely (and let���s hope for nice weather!) but please don���t worry if not!

The organisers have asked us NOT to wear Zumba branded gear (how am I going to manage that?!!!) but in my experience of TV shows, we���ll get there and they���ll ask for something completely different!

And that���s all I know! If you do want to chat with me about this please do get in touch on Saturday as Sunday is my super day off this week!


It���s on! Plate by Zumba with Pearl Howie begins 1st July 2015!

Check it out!


Congratulations!

Congratulations to all you guys who completed reward cards recently! I am so proud of all of you!

Karen completed 5 classes, phenomenal!

Savi completed 5 classes, feet of fire!

Mala completed 15 classes, fantabulous!

Patsy completed 15 classes, fabulous on the dance floor!

Mary completed 15 classes, fit and furious!


Pearl���s Blog

Relinquishing The Fat Pants

I Wanted To Tell You A Story About Food


Thank You...

...for making me (and everyone else in class) feel amazing and laugh so hard!!

Much love, Pearl

I Wanted To Tell You A Story About Food

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It's interesting, I did a weekend conference for coaches, trainers and consultants last weekend and one of the things they teach you is that in order to "sell yourself" you have to tell your audience (whether it's in a class, in a book, in a video or an actual auditorium) a "compelling story". This generally goes along the lines of you being one thing then becoming another (like a Before and After). Funnily enough I had just had the Eureka moment of realizing my life story, but it's had so many chapters I was like "which compelling story"?

Thank goodness I don���t have to tell you all about me before I start a class with you!

In fact, the people I talk to most about my life are the people who call me up to find out about the class before they come. It goes like this "I'm so unfit, I'm a size��� (shudder) 14! I have a problem with my back, knee, arm���" and, of course, then I go on to say "Don't worry, I was a size 18 before I started Zumba, I've had major surgery that meant I couldn't stand unaided and I couldn't move my right hip properly even years afterwards and so I started belly dancing, and I tore my calf muscle, but don't worry about any of that, it'll all be fine���"

And they NEVER turn up. Because I guess they thought I just made it up to make them feel okay about coming to class. Because they don't know me. Why would they believe me?

I also wrote a book about a very difficult chapter in my life. The time that I gave my brother a kidney. (This is not something I am likely to tell you when you walk into a Zumba Fitness class ��� but you may see the scar ��� I like showing off my tummy even if it's not perfect and then I'll tell you about it.) Anyway, I'm so glad I wrote that book because it helped so many people but, of course, I had one critic review it who misread parts of it and then accused me of making it up. "If she ever had surgery���" Come see the scar chica. (I say chica but of course I mean the b word but I try not to swear too much).

Anyhoo.

So, I've just started my Plate by Zumba training and I LOVE it! Because I NEED it! I actually started following most of the guidelines when I first started teaching Zumba er��� 3-4 years ago and it meant that I looked awesome, could do more classes��� and so on and so on. And if you asked me I would say this is the "diet" I am on. (See "Fat Doesn't Make You Fat".) I also radically changed my diet maybe 15 years ago because I suffered from crippling IBS and read a great book about Candida Albicans and again this changed my life because I vastly reduced the amount of yeast, sugar and fungal stuff in my diet, stopped suffering from IBS, stopped having to take blue pills from the GP or over the counter and generally felt more human. So I've been resistant to any other "diet" because I'm already trying to follow these two, and I certainly don't want to add calorie counting into the mix. But of course although I am "on" these diets, the naughty foods creep back in; cupcakes, white pasta, white flour, alcohol, pizza, even "healthy snack bars" and the weight comes back on, the energy levels go down and er��� bathroom stuff that no one needs to know about.

So I'm excited about getting back on track, but that's not the story about food.

When I was 15 years old I loved to dance around and make up steps, I used to worry about food and try all kinds of faddy diets because, you know, I thought I was fat (oh, ridiculous youth!)

Then my world ended. Because my little brother had a stroke. Looking back that's probably when I stopped dancing around. I also stopped caring about food, at least in that "I'm so fat" way.

When my brother was transferred to the local hospital, walking distance away, I remember one thing I did. I used to go and visit him after school, (I think it may have been in the afternoon as I may have had study leave, although it must have been November/December��� anyway) but first I would go to the Italian deli and I would get the biggest, fattest chicken and avocado sandwich.

That's my food story.

Oh and here's another one, even earlier than that, when my brother was still in the really serious hospital we had all this family rushing in and rushing out so I remember that I made this enormous Indian meal from scratch, (even the naan bread) and just for that one evening we sat around the table (my mum and grandma were probably still at the hospital although I think they were there���), I remember my granddad being there. And we ate together. It was wonderful to get the praise for the food but I think the most important thing was just feeling like a family again.

Food is important.

The one thing I've learnt already from the Plate by Zumba training is "food is medicine"��� which the Chinese have been saying for thousands of years (see Traditional Chinese Medicine).

It's what we eat and how we eat it. Not necessarily with 24 chews or 6 small meals or even necessarily before or after exercise (although this can help the food to make us feel better) but it's everything.

Plate by Zumba, like Zumba is about teaching us as coaches to use everything we have to support you. They teach us the basics, the guidelines and it's up to us how to teach it. Whether that's including our favourite songs or foods, moves we think are cool or fitness variations or mindful eating or reminding you just how much better food can taste when we eat it with the people we love, or outdoors or even in bed!

I'll admit I've been tempted by "deliver all your meals to your door" programmes, been tempted by living on energy bars, but this is the Slendertone approach ��� "do the exercise without noticing you're doing it". It's the splitting out of mind, body and spirit and expecting it to work for us when we're a whole person.

Zumba is a holistic programme, I would even argue that it is more holistic than some yogas, it's a group programme because guess what, we like to dance together. Yes, I love to practice the steps and listen to the music alone but I also love the small classes, the big classes, the huge enormous fitness concerts because there is no other way to experience that kind of energy. (Wouldn't it be funny if we ended up doing a Plate by Zumba meal of 8,000 people eating together ��� wow, I like that idea ��� doesn't it feel very loaves and fishes?)

We like to eat together. Or if we don't like to eat together, we like to talk about food, generally speaking.

Do you remember at school if someone snuck in food to a class or lecture and the teacher would say "I hope you've got enough for everyone". Because sometimes it feels rude to be eating when other people aren't.

Anyway we seem to have got a bit confused about food as a society (the diet confusion industry is worth $1 trillion!!!) Maybe it's because we've forgotten why we eat.

I look back at those stories I told you about that difficult time in my life and I see that they are stories about love. That chicken and avocado sandwich was my way of loving myself, giving myself a little comfort and support and yes, energy so I could go to the hospital and give love there. Sitting around the table for that Indian meal was a way of getting love, not just for having cooked the meal, the appreciation, but to get those few moments of togetherness and familial love. The real love, the hard love was the sitting on hospital chairs with a terrible cup of coffee unable to eat. It did not feel good. The Indian meal felt good.

We dance to feel alive, not just happy, because there are sad songs, angry songs, jealous songs and I have been overwhelmed by the impact that "aliveness" has had on me and the people in my classes. We dance to fall in love with our bodies and ourselves again.

So the last part of the story, which I just realised (gosh, I love writing, it's so cathartic). For years I felt a certain way at certain meals, my stomach gets full and then all of a sudden it seems to drop and I feel overwhelmingly sad. It's like I don't even want to eat because the more I eat the sadder I get. Most often I feel like this at the big meals, the birthdays, Christmas dinner, even weddings. I'm so sad I almost wish I hadn't come for the meal. I feel terrible. I wondered if I had a problem with my stomach, or the food, what was wrong with me?

Of course, you know. Because I just wrote it down. That when the meal is over, the chicken and avocado sandwich, the Indian meal��� it���s back to "real" life, back to hard plastic hospital chairs and bad coffee (although the coffee in the rooftop caf�� at the local hospital wasn't bad ��� more on that another time) and, most of all, everyone leaves.

We have a lot to understand, about ourselves, our reaction to food, to mealtimes, to habits, the way that people around us have fed us, overfed us, starved us��� Food is about as emotional as it gets.

I want to be the best Plate by Zumba coach I can be, because I recognise that this is an incredible moment and an incredible journey we can take to heal ourselves, our families, society and the world. We have such an amazing opportunity to do good by remembering how to love ourselves; mind, body and spirit with our eating just as much as we just learnt it with how we move.

I am blessed to be here in this moment right now and I sincerely hope I get the chance to share this journey, this escape with you.

It's gonna be awesome.

Much love, Pearl x

Relinquishing The Fat Pants

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So anyway,

Five months on from this... Well let's start with the great big success bits. Guess how much I'm paying on my credit card debt?? A grand total of ��15 a month! Everything is either on 0% or 6.9% for the life of the balance - and I'm considering paying that off too (oh and the overdraft? What overdraft?)

I've halved my monthly bills (excluding the credit card interest!) and now the banks are chasing ME with 0% transfer deals!

And thanks to the people who pay me, this has been my best year in business yet!

The savings have paid for a trip to Jacksonville, another to Europe, more massage and of course my big summer break which you've already heard too much about (plus things like my Toning training, buying sticks and renting the room to get that going!)

I often think in life we get what we want when we don't need it anymore. When we can do it ourselves others trip over themselves to give it to us - of course it's when we're struggling that those around us (including companies that score us with points) stop believing in us. Our self-belief, confidence is so important, but more than that I believe the most important thing is courage. The courage to do what we cannot do, to try to climb the mountain even if we don't think we'll make it to the top, to dream, in the words of Don Quixote, the impossible dream. I see a giant, you see a windmill but it doesn't matter... it's my adventure.

Oh and I booked a reward flight to Cancun (I know you're sick of hearing about the trip to Mexico - I'm just a little bit nervous, it's a long time since I travelled outside of the States or Europe! )

And... I got a new credit card from Virgin Atlantic which earns me extra airmiles ...and that's when it went a bit wrong!

Because then I got a letter from MBNA (the same people who when I started paying down my debt told me they were raising my rates - to keep it in line with new customers) saying that as they were giving me the new credit card they were reducing my credit limit on the existing card by 5 times that much. Say what?! And yes, I'd already gone over the limit because I had no idea. (You can send me texts and emails about all your special offers but not about that!?) Anyway on the upside it took me about 5 minutes to transfer funds to cover it and send them an email to make sure there weren't going to be any penalties, but it freaked me out.

So I started thinking about why? Well I do like having masses of available credit, having room in my finances (you see where I'm going with this) but it's not as if I want to get into that much debt again. I had this last year (again, why do they do it just before you're about to go on holiday - not that you'll ever have to manage cash flow when you take time off work - seriously!) when they reduced my overdraft "because you haven't used the full overdraft in a year". Well no, because that's my wiggle room, my sleep at night room.

That is, of course, my fat pants. But I want my fat pants! What if I have a bad week or an injury, what if I just want to snuggle?

And I know even as I say it that I'm being silly. Them reducing my credit limit is a GOOD thing for me, because ideally I'd like to get out of all debt - and this is just a reminder that this time I'm changing for good. That, just as in my wardrobe, I already have new fat pants. And do you know where my new fat pants came from? Well, they used to be my skinny jeans, until they got loose and started to fall off (a bit like those black and white trousers last Thursday!)

I still have way more wiggle room in my finances (even if they do cancel my overdraft) than I did in January. Man, when I think if the decisions I used to have to make about what to pay first I realise how lucky I am.

Letting go of the fat pants is just me saying, okay, it's enough, I'm ready to change, I'm ready to leave behind that part of my life, I don't need that crutch anymore.

Now I just need to clear out my actual wardrobe!

Much love, Pearl x

Weekly Newsletter - That Butterfly Moment (not to be confused with the Butterfly effect)

Instantly know what I���m doing on Instagram
For up to minute news check out my Facebook
Or follow me on Twitter

Click to subscribe to my weekly class newsletter http://eepurl.com/U3C3T


Saturday 20th June 2015

Saturday
10 ��� 11am�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall �� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Monday
12 - 12:45pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

1 - 1:45pm Zumba Gold�� chair class Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��3

8:15pm - 9:15pm �� Zumba�� Fitness�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��7

Tuesday
12:30 - 1:15pm�� Zumba Gold���� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

6 - 6:45pm�� Zumba Gold�� �� Vestry Hall, London Rd, Mitcham, CR4 3UD �� �����5 prebooked ��6 on the day

7:15 ��� 8:15pm�� Zumba�� Fitness�� Vestry Hall�� ��5 prebooked ��7 on the day

Wednesday
10:10 ��� 10:55am �� Zumba Gold�� �� Acacia IGC, 230 Grove Road, Mitcham,��CR4 1SD �� ��5 prebooked ��6 on the day
Please call to book

11:30 ��� 12 noon �� Zumba Gold�� chair class�� Acacia IGC �� ��2

Thursday
12 ��� 12:45pm �� Zumba Gold�� �� Wimbledon Guild, Drake House,��44 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4ED �� �� ��4

6:15 - 7pm�� Zumba�� Gold-Toning�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6 (Stick hire ��1)
Six week class starting Thursday 4th June

7:15 - 8pm�� Zumba�� Gold�� Wimbledon Park Hall�� ��6

All classes running as normal from then on!


That Butterfly Moment (not to be confused with the Butterfly effect)

So I was talking to someone this week about the transformation process from caterpillar to butterfly, how when the caterpillar spins a cocoon and starts to change it actually becomes nothing but smush. I was talking about how sometimes we can feel like that, that nothing makes any sense any more, that everything is wrong and, it���s painful. Then slowly the butterfly begins to form inside the cocoon and it���s almost ready, then it breaks itself out.

Sometimes we want to push others, we want to tell them what to do and how to do it and pull them out of their cocoon but if we do that we risk destroying them, because a butterfly only comes out of its cocoon when it���s ready.

We struggle and others want to help us, but we have to endure the struggle, the journey for ourselves in order to become our own beautiful, unique butterfly.

That���s not to say we don���t want or need help, we do, but we have to be the ones to choose it. And we may need to learn certain things over and over again, but I think there are also moments when we realise something so powerful and so important that we know we have become the butterfly we were meant to be. (Even if there is another, bigger, more powerful transformation to come. I mean we���re a lot bigger than butterflies it can take us a lot longer!)

So I had my butterfly moment this week. I understand all the problems that I have been having and difficult experiences were just part of a struggle to break out, to transform and well, I think I���m a pretty gorgeous butterfly. (Just saying.)

This is the really long blog about it - and it���s very exciting for any of you who want more from Pearl Escapes i.e. me than you have been getting.


A Few Treats For You

I went online to find a couple of tracks but when I saw this video I HAD to share it with you. Sometimes I see pics and photos of Beto (the creator of Zumba) and yeah, I don���t get it either. Because like most ZINs he probably teaches a bit too much! Because when you find something that makes people feel like this you give everything you���ve got. But in this video I recognise my teacher. This is the few moments of talk at the end of a masterclass with Beto which are as valuable as the masterclass itself. I am so proud to call him my teacher. I really hope you join me at Believe in London (if it���s not sold out) or at the Zumba Cruise next January 2016 (put it in your diary) because everyone on that gets to do a master class with Beto. If I have one wish it���s that I could one day get to help him, with Pearl Escapes, to relax a little more - because he���s already changed the world - and that���s no mean feat.


























Here���s that���s getting a lot of love from you at the moment. (Remember the steps are probably different from mine - don���t get confused!) N.B. Why don���t I make videos like these? Because doing so breaks my ZIN contract - ulp! Sharing them doesnt!

The second is from Heidy and Armando - who also did My Check. Check them out (he he!)


















































Congratulations!

Congratulations to all you guys who completed reward cards recently! I am so proud of all of you!

Sarah completed 5 classes, fabulous on the dance floor!

David completed 15 classes, phenomenal!

Jennifer completed 15 classes, feet of fire!

Eva completed 15 classes, fantabulous!

Vicki completed 15 classes, fit and furious!

Barbro completed 15 classes, funk it up!

Jen completed 100 classes, woweee!


Thank You...

...for letting me be the caterpillar I needed to be to live my butterfly moment.

Much love, Pearl