Hi, my name is Esther but I go by Doovagurl on the forum. I've been a T-Tapp Trainer for four years and I continue to discover new things from the same workout - the Basic/ Rehab Workout. You probably have the DVD or the book, "Fit and Fabulous," because that's where we basically start when we discover T-Tapp.

As a trainer, I guess you could say I know this workout pretty well. I've studied the health benefits, the philosophy, techniques, and the why's of each move, plus I teach it several times a week...but you know, every year when I go to Teresa's retreat, I come away with something new. I think that's pretty amazing.

This year was an incredible year of learning for me because for the first time, I went to a Certification/Retreat with a recurring back issue. For the past nine months, I couldn't get through a workout without getting a very sharp pain in my left lower back. It got to the point where I'd have to hobble and grab onto the nearest furniture to steady myself. When I taught class, I'd only do a part of the move and walk around to adjust people. I didn't want people to think that this workout was hurting me.

Deep inside, I knew that this "rehabilitative" workout could help me but I just didn't know what I was doing wrong. During Certification, I tried to do a class for one of the TnTs and I knew right away that I needed help if I wanted to do more than one workout that day. I walked over to Teresa and said, "Please, you have to help me. I'm in terrible pain." Teresa looked at me and said, "Yeah, I noticed that you were moving a little differently. I was going to talk to you about that later." FYI, if you ever T-Tapp with Teresa, not only will she remember your name and face, but she will remember how you T-Tapp. She has been known to comment years later, "Oh my, how you've progressed since I last saw you."

I planted myself in front of her so she could give me form pointers to alleviate my back pain. It started with flat back in Primary Back Stretch. She explained that as a trainer, we exaggerate our moves so our clients can see what we are talking about. For example, we say "arch butt to the ceiling" in flat back. This isn't wrong at all but after awhile, your butt muscles get so strong that arching butt to the ceiling to the max will overdevelop those muscles therefore creating a muscle imbalance in other areas. Inadvertently, I was building a major muscle imbalance and each time I taught, I was aggravating my back issue.

This year's retreat emphasized muscle activation and "curling" to achieve a tucked butt. Basically, it means to "press the lower back." If you own the Ladybug Workout, you are familiar with this term. The progressive nature of T-Tapp is so obvious here because Teresa introduced this concept two years ago and I finally got it at this year's retreat. I've been working on the "press lower back" ever since having my baby and true to what Teresa told me, it took a little time. But the best news is that after the adjustments Teresa gave me, I am totally pain free. I was able to do numerous workouts while in Florida and even after two weeks, I'm sitting pretty.

When you teach T-Tapp and share the rehabilitative benefits to your clients, it becomes that much more powerful when it actually happens to you. I'm a true re-believer in T-Tapp and its rehabilitative benefits. Thank you, Teresa for fixing my back!

Visit Esther's Trainer Page