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Profiles In a series of articles we present the people working for you in Friskis&Svettis (F&S). You can read about Radmila Sakaliene, Sigrid Wurchpfennig, Cynthia Tavares and Marianne Burgman - all four elected to the Board of Friskis&Svettis Luxembourg in 2011. You can also read about F&S Luxembourg's President, Jenny Hällen Hedberg, Åsa Jacob, Barbell and Medium instructor, Sanna van Look-Peltonen who is a Basic Pulse, Ki Balance and Medium instructor, Niina Hämäläinen, who gives Medium and Dance sessions, Anna Fiteni who was the Host Team Leader 2008 and 2009, Emilia Niskanen who is a host and Cinzia Monteleone who is responsible for training in the Board.
Radmila Sakaliene was elected Treasurer of Friskis&Svettis in April 2011. She comes from Latvia but lived in the United States as a teenager. She speaks numerous languages – Latvian, English, Russian, French, German and she is also studying Swedish. With this background she naturally works in translation in the Translation centre for the Bodies of the European Union. Radmila has been a member in Friskis&Svettis Luxembourg since September 2010, when a friend brought her to a class. “I really like the non-commercial atmosphere in Friskis&Svettis,” she said. Apart from going to classes, hosting and now taking care of Friskis accounts, she likes to spend time with her daughter and husband, play tennis, do horseback riding, paint, read and work in the garden. (14 April 2011)
Sigrid Wurchpfennig was elected deputy member of the Board in April 2011. She a fan of Friskis&Svettis thanks to Lena Kolmodin (former Basic Instructor) who was also her Swedish teacher. At the time Sigrid had started jogging in order to improve her stamina and she had read a lot on the subject "jogging is not only about your legs, you also have to train the upper body" ... So in spring 2006, she went and tried one of Lena's Basic classes – and became addicted to the Friskis concept. Sigrid is German by origin, but French by citizenship. She speaks French, German, English as well as Swedish and she translates from Lithuanian and is learning Icelandic! Sigrid is a lawyer and works as lawyer linguist at the Court of Justice since 2000. In 2010 Sigrid volunteered as a host in order to contribute to making the organisation work and she has now stepped up her commitment by becoming a deputy member of the Board. Apart from working out at Friskis and hosting, Sigrid likes to mountain bike, read books, travel (mostly hiking) and cook – “most of all pastry”. (14 April 2011) Cynthia - "Friendly people and dedicated and professional instructors" Cynthia Tavares has been a member of Friskis&Svettis since 2006; she joined after going to one of the park classes. “What I really like about F&S is that the instructors are so dedicated and professional and the people are very friendly,” she said. Cynthia became a host in 2007, mainly helping with the outdoor sessions, jogging and nordic walking as well as viking hiking events. She became the Webmaster (and ajunct Board member) in April 2011 and full Board member in June 2011. Before that, she set-up the first website for Luxembourg Accueil Information. (6 September 2011) Marianne - "The friendly and cheerful atmosphere makes me look forward to the next class" Marianne joined Friskis in 2009, after a friend suggested she would come along to an Open Door class. At first she just went to the Start class on Fridays but soon started trying out other sessions. “At present I do a mix of Basic, Start, Dance and Afro, all depending on other commitments during any particular week,” she said. “The thing I like about Friskis is that there is such a friendly, cheerful atmosphere, so that I actually look forward to going to an exercise class. Other aspects I like are the lack of self-consciousness (e.g. you can come in your oldest outfit or wear something totally weird because you forgot to bring your kit and nobody will bat an eyelid) and the mix of nationalities,” she continued. She describes herself as a rather pragmatic person and a reasonable organiser – which will maker her very useful in Friskis Board, where she took a place in April 2011 as adjunct member. (14 April 2011)
When did you join F&S? I used to be an F&S member in Stockholm when I was a student, later on also in Paris when I lived there. This was at a time when F&S was quite different from what it is today, but I must say, it wasn’t a very passionate relationship, more just a sports activity as good as any other. And very cheap, oups sorry, I mean price worthy. What made you choose F&S over another sports club? I’ve been doing all kinds of sports, mainly aerobics and dancing. When my children were really small, and the nights usually too short, I took up running, which was actually a way of staying awake. I felt coming back to normal again. I tried F&S in Luxembourg a few times, but it wasn’t until I became an instructor myself that I really got hooked, both with the training and with the concept itself. Why did you become an instructor? The club asked me if I wanted to become an instructor. It was such a nice surprise! Having followed the excellent training at F&S Sweden Academy and really being soaked in the F&S spirit, and now still enjoying each session, I see it as a real gift having got this possibility. How is to be ‘in the middle’? Being in the middle of a bunch of smiling people is just great. And if they’re not smiling, I do my best to make them. All methods allowed... What I try to do is to be “there” as much as possible, and push people not only to do the move, but to do it 110%, feel and think about what they’re doing. You can join a session at Intensive level and not really “do it”, as you can join a Basic session with heart & body, and being completely exhausted afterwards. That’s the challenge for me. Which sessions do you have? I started with Medium jympa in 2006, and I still have the pleasure to do this session that I enjoy a lot, it would be really difficult for me to stop that, so much fun with nice people and a bit crazy music. I also have Strength Barbell since September when we introduced in F&S Luxembourg. For me, and I hope for the participants as well, it’s a nice contrast to the “jympa”. At Barbell, you’re focused on your own body and work it through, from top to toe, in a quite concentrated way, guided by the instructor. My role is to show, correct sometimes and especially to boost. I love it because the results can be seen immediately, and it’s a real trigger to see how the people who join regularly have developed in 3 months. I also think that Barbell responds well to people’s need today to build up strength and fight bad body postures. And the best of all: it fits all! You can be +60, a teenager, man, woman... the weights are adapted to your own capacities and we don’t complicate things with a lot of coordination in the moves when warming up. We think sporty, football, athletic, you can forget the chassés…everything that is there fills a purpose. But still fun! It sounds strange, you have to try it. What motivates you in your role as an F&S instructor? F&S is a meeting point for all kinds of different people with very different expectations. It’s motivating to see that we manage to create programmes that give everyone what they like. I also feel I’m part of an organisation who offers alternative workout. We’re the “organic gym” (but still fun!) in a world of artificial sport business where you’re told everyday to “burn” fat, get slim, get surgery, pay high membership fees to a gym etc. With F&S, it gets so easy to move, and almost every day of the week if you want to here in F&S Luxembourg. Anna - "After the first session I was addicted"
“I got to know Friskis&Svettis through a Swedish friend, who at the time was on the Board. I joined in 2006, out of the need to occupy my free time and to make some new friends. It took sometime to convince me to attend but after the first session I was addicted. I liked it immediately. The music was great and so was the atmosphere. I attended F&S sessions three or four times a week and realized that since I was working out nearly every evening I might as well help the organisation.” What do you do as the Host Team Leader? “My duties as Host Team Leader include the recruitment and training of new hosts and the organisation of the Host Team in general. Hosts play an important role in F&S. They are the first to greet our members and thus it is imperative that they leave a good impression. Hosting involves checking membership cards, informing members, helping out during the session help the instructor with the music and lights but above all portraying F&S as it should be: a lot of fun!“ What attracts you most with Friskis&Svettis Luxembourg? “I think what attracts me most to Friskis is the ease with which you can join in. You don't need fancy sportswear or be able to coordinate complex movements, but just go to have some good time. Though the exercises and sessions in principle follow a similar pattern, I find that each instructor marks them with their own style.” Cinzia - "Friskis – a synonym of good quality exercise"
What made you choose F&S over another sports club? Before moving to Luxembourg I lived for many years in Stockholm. There I discovered Friskis&Svettis, which in Sweden is much more than a chain of fitness gyms. It is a popular movement that has a big impact on the daily life of, now, more than half a million people. When I heard, a couple of years ago, that Friskis had started up in Luxembourg, I immediately checked the web site and subscribed for one year, without even trying a free session, because from my time in Sweden I knew Friskis as synonym of good quality exercise. What made you choose F&S over another sports club? Before moving to Luxembourg I lived for many years in Stockholm. There I discovered Friskis&Svettis, which in Sweden is much more than a chain of fitness gyms. It is a popular movement that has a big impact on the daily life of, now, more than half a million people. When I heard, a couple of years ago, that Friskis had started up in Luxembourg, I immediately checked the web site and subscribed for one year, without even trying a free session, because from my time in Sweden I knew Friskis as synonym of good quality exercise. What attracts you the most with F&S? Like many others I have a very sedentary job and spend around 8–10 hours a day in front of a screen. So, first of all I like the fact that a Friskis session, whatever the intensity and typology, is structured in such a way that allows me to exercise effectively every single part of my body. A Friskis hour is always well spent, while I sometimes had the feeling of wasting my time in other gyms in the city. I value the fact that, whichever the instructor, the quality level is high and the movements proposed are the result of experience and studies in the field of medicine and physiology. Last but not least, I like the contaminating enthusiasm of the instructors and the music chosen, every session puts me in a good mood. What do you do as a Board member? I joined the Board last year, but I do not have a fixed function, so I can offer my contribution on the basis of what needs to be done and what I am able to do. What motivates you in your role as a Board member? I am very much impressed by the ability, energy and determination of all the people who started Friskis in Luxembourg and made it grow from nothing to an entity that now occupies an important place in the Luxembourgish gym panorama. What motivates me is the enthusiasm of these people, the visible growth of Friskis and the positive feedback by the hundreds of training members.
Emilia - "When people are not paid but still do the same job, it means they enjoy what they are doing"
When did you join F&S? If I remember right, my first time in F&S was in 2006. I discovered the organisation via an advertisement in Finnish-Luxembourgish society's newsletter, but I had also heard the name when I was living in Finland. First I just participated in the sessions every now and then, but then I wanted to get more involved and put more discipline to my training, so I started to host the sessions in early 2007. What made you choose F&S over another sports club? I like the idea of voluntary participation and commitment of both instructors and hosts. When people are not paid but still do the same job, it means that they are really into it and enjoy what they are doing. This is reflected in the sessions as well. Also the Nordic origins of the organisation attracted me at first, but I discovered that there is a very international atmosphere in the sessions and it is even more fun. From pure sports point of view, F&S has always provided a good variety of sessions, which keeps increasing all the time with new sessions and instructors coming in, so training remains very interesting and motivating. How often do you host and what do you do as a host? Generally we're hosting once per week in the same session, which is determined according to our wishes and availability. We also help the other hosts when needed, and some sessions are hosted on a rota basis. As a host I assist the current and potential members before the sessions by providing them information about F&S, distributing membership cards and answering any questions they may have. During the session I help the instructor with music and lights. These are just examples as it also depends on the location, session and people - not all the weeks are the same. On my opinion, the most important role of a host is to be there for members. What motivates you in your role as a host? I enjoy sports, meeting new people and taking responsibility in organisations. Acting as a host in F&S allows me to combine all of this, which is certainly motivating - and fun! Also, when being more involved, it is easier to put more discipline to training and to work out with people you know.
Niina didn’t know anything about Friskis before 2005. After having had her second daughter she was looking for some activities in Luxembourg. “I danced salsa, which was great, but I was also looking for something tougher to do. My husband mentioned that a colleague of his was a Friskis instructor and I went to a to a medium session and I felt I flew... It was something I had searched for, for many years, but hadn’t found,” says Niina. Niina is a Medium instructor since February 2008 as well as an Afro, Dance and Fuego instructor. “Medium sessions are great. It gives me many possibilities to create my own program and it’s very flexible in regarding to the choice of music and movements”. Niina will also started leading Dance sessions in February 2010. “I love the different Dance sessions. Dancing is a good challenge not only for me but for participants. Something different, groovy and creative. I hope people will get more courage and express themselves in the Dance session,” she says. She is motivated in her F&S work by the people in the club, as well as by the participants. “It is a great feeling to see participants making an effort to exercise and perform. And their smiling faces during the session are fantastic. I find this the most important thing as an instructor. People make great sessions possible!” Niina finds F&S a good place to exercise and have fun at the same time. “F&S offers an attractive and efficient combination of music and moves. It is also very professional and takes itself serious, and I think this is what makes F&S’ quality so high.” “The most essential thing is that F&S is for everybody and makes people feel they can do it! And last but not least, as an instructor I find F&S the best one because it gives lots of room for my personal creativity”. Niina also finds F&S the most attractive sports club in Luxembourg, as it is for everyone: fit or not sportive at all. “You also feel welcome, it is easy to start and find because of central locations and good information on the web site.”
Sanna - "Nothing pays off more than a smile"
“A friend of mine told me about Friskis’ five-year celebration session in the park, but I ended up never going there. What I did, though, was to e-mail Friskis in order to become a host. That is how it all started back in 2005,” she said. “After half a year as a host I was head-hunted to become an instructor. Funnily enough I had never heard about F&S before 2005 and I did not even know the organisation existed in Finland. Since I joined Friskis&Svettis had had a snowball effect on me: From a non-aware participant, to a host, to a very active instructor and Board member! If you would ask my husband he would say that he can not even imagine a life without Friskis anymore.” “Nothing pays off more than a smile from a participant and really getting them going. I also like to see how people develop learning the movements during the term.” The schedule – a challenging task Until autumn 2010 she was the Team leader for the instructors. As such Sanna was responsible for organising the instructors and, the very challenging task, of putting together the schedule Sometimes I feel bad when we need to change sessions and the schedule as I know it will affect lots of people, but it is important to remember that there are lots of parameters that should fit together.” Sanna is attracted by the “come-as-you-are mentality” in Friskis&Svettis and that sessions are accessible to everyone. And fun. “The whole idea is that it is supposed to be fun, and even when I am practicing my new program in the living room at home – once I hear my music, I just smile! The same is true for those days when I do not feel like exercising at all. Once I come into the hall, see the people coming in, put on the music and start the session – I’m filled with energy.” A lifestyle Sanna used to be a member of a local sports club where she went to do step aerobics and to work out in the gym. However, she could not keep the motivation to go there. “I am not a gym person at all as I am quite impatient and get really quickly bored. In my eyes it was never really fun. F&S also has really a meaning behind the work out, which I like. I also think that the gyms here are overpriced for what you really get. Not sure whether paying a high price motivates people to move, but it definitely did not get me moving.” Sanna said that Friskis is great hobby and that it is more like a lifestyle for her. As an instructor she gets inspired by other instructors, from music, even TV commercials. She gets new ideas for new sessions from everywhere. “The great thing in Friskis is that although the structure of the sessions is so strict, there are not two similar sessions in the world. Everyone has their own style and way of doing the sessions. The variety is so big.” Sanna also served on Friskis&Svettis’ Board until 2011. “Being on board member is a role which is carried out more in the background. The Board consists of very different people, from different backgrounds but we all share the interest for Friskis. I like the fact that people come up with new ideas on how to improve the organisation and how we bounce ideas within the board, all with the aim to provide fantastic work out and events for our members.” Jenny - "The best sports club in the city"
What attracts you the most with F&S? I’m attracted by Friskis because it is the best sports club in the city. The quality is excellent, it offers a very efficient workout, that is to say that you get so much out of a session of 45 minutes: warm up, cardio, strength, stretching and even relaxation. Unbeatable! At the same time: great music, central locations, value for money - and a relaxed atmosphere where you meet lots of friends. Besides, the club offers a large variety of activities apart from workout: Ki-Yoga, Nordic Walking, Cross-Training etc. What made you choose F&S over another sports club? When I first moved to Luxemburg I was a member of a gym for a long time. It was OK, but I thought it was a bit unprofessional for the money I spent there. At lunch it always smelled of ham and cheese since they were cooking next to the gym hall, they always played the same music (for years) and if I was away for a while I lost my expensive membership. I just felt it was not good value for money. What motivates you in your role as a Board member? It is easy to get motivated in Friskis; even though - or maybe because of - the fact that your whole pay consists of a smile from another person. Coming to a session when the hosts are nice, the hall is great, the music fantastic and the instructor inspiring; then I think to myself - yes it is definitely worth all these hours of administration. Friskis Luxembourg is run by a team of great people - the people that you see as instructors and hosts, but also people that you do not see - the Board members. When people come up with great ideas - we try them and they work - that is inspiring. The future? My feeling is that we can grow forever in Luxembourg - the basic concept is perfect and then we can add so many other interesting activities around it. This year, we will reach our target of 500 members - which is excellent. We get a lot of support from the Cercle Sportif of the European Institutions, Ville de Luxembourg, Institute National de Sports and the European Court of Auditors. Our brand is becoming more and more recognised in Luxemburg. So the future looks bright and that is definitely inspiring!
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Åsa - "We're the organic gym in a world of artificial sport business"
Anna Fiteni was Friskis&Svettis Host Team Leader and Member of the F&S Luxembourg Board in 2008 and 2009. Anna is Maltese and moved to Luxembourg in October 2005. 
Cinzia Monteleone is Italian and has been on F&S Luxembourg's Board for a few years. She discovered Friskis&Svettis in Sweden and joined when she moved to Luxembourg.
Emilia Niskanen is a host and originally from Finland. She came to Luxembourg almost seven years ago. The initial purpose was just to complete her international university degree, but as it often happens, she found a job and decided to stay. Currently Emilia is working in a bank, and despite the challenging economic environment, she said that Luxembourg still seems to be a good place to work and live. 
Niina Hämäläinen is a Medium and F&S Luxembourg’s Dance, Afro and Fuego instructor. She is Finnish and has lived in Luxembourg for six years with her husband and two daughters. Niina is finishing her doctoral thesis on folklore and literature for a Finnish university and she and the family moved to Luxembourg because of her husband’s work in bank.
Sanna van Look-Peltonen is Finnish and has lived in Luxembourg for eight years. She is currently a Ki-Balance and Medium instructor, as well as a Board member. In fact she has tried all roles within Friskis&Svettis (F&S) Luxembourg, as she joined to become a host.
Jenny has been a member since the birth of F&S Luxembourg in 2000 and the President since 2003. She is the mother of three daughters and works as International Relations Manager at the University of Luxemburg. She is Swedish and has lived in Luxemburg for elven years. 
