THE TEACHER  She begins her class with a warm smile and cools it down with a passage from the Bible. For Hedy Lopez, exercise is not just one or two hours of your day to get that flab out of the way, it is a lifestyle. And it’s not just about having a body to die for; it’s also about having a drop dead gorgeous spirit. She says, “The body is God’s gift.” And it comes with a matching soul that also needs a work out.Hedy is a Fitness Instructor. She teaches Pilates and dance in ritzy gyms and health clubs like Fitness First and My Spa. Her life as a fitness buff began in childhood with a sports-minded father. Week-end sports activities like swimming were routine for her family. She segued into teaching when she and her sister got hooked on dance classes in college. Dancing was not a fair weather thing for them; they were in class even in the middle of a storm. Their passion and their skill caught the studio director’s eye. And they shimmied their way to subbing for absentee teachers. From there, it was a natural step to becoming a professional instructor. As a teacher, her forte is the beginners’ class. Like a house builder laying good foundation, Hedy makes sure that the newbies in class learn the correct techniques to keep them from getting hurt and to help them advance faster.When asked to perform for special events, the teacher in her shuns the limelight. She instead turns the attention to her students. She would rather make them shine than be the star of the show herself. As she quotes her mentor, fitness guru Tina Juan, “It’s easy to be a performer, it’s more challenging to be a teacher.”Being physically fit and looking fabulous is not just for people who can afford it. Hedy’s ministry is showing those who don’t have a gym budget how to be trim and toned even if they’re just at home. THE TIPSNodding the Head is one of the preparations for Abdominal exercises that Hedy teaches in Pilates class. This  technique prevents neck strain and makes exercises involving head lifting so much easier. 1.Be extra careful when lifting your head from a supine or face up position on the mat.2.To avoid neck strain: •Do not leave the neck in a neutral position while lifting the head and upper body •Do not bend the neck too much while lifting3.Before lifting the head, lengthen the back of the neck and nod the head slightly. Maintain this position as you lift the head and upper body.4.Practice this: •Make a fist and place it with the little finger on the notch between your collarbones •Your chin should not touch your fist. This is the neutral position of your neck. You will notice that there is a natural curve at the back of your neck •Lengthen the back of your neck and slightly nod your head so your chin is barely touching your fist. Maintain this position when lifting your head and upper body •Do several repetitions of nodding from neutral position with the fist and then without the fist.

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