Merle Laud: trainer of the week from Rakvere
Merle Laud is a trainer with roots in Rakvere for whom movement has never been just a job. This is her story: from dance school to group fitness classes, from competitions to the Queen of Aerobics 2007 title, and why a good class should leave you with more than a sweaty shirt.
Merle Laud and her beginnings in Rakvere
It all began on 19.10.1982. I’m a Rakvere girl, although I was born in Kohtla-Järve. After my first year at school, my parents and I moved just outside Rakvere. I still look back fondly on that time. Honestly, I could hardly have asked for a better childhood.
Along the way, I studied dance instruction at the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy. It gave me a broader perspective on dance: how to teach movement, how to keep a group engaged and how to help people understand what they are doing with their bodies, rather than simply copying steps. Later, I returned to my hometown. In a way, it felt natural to come full circle.
For the past three years, I’ve been teaching dance at the School of Aesthetics and Dance in Rakvere. I know the school from the other side too, as I’m a graduate myself. I teach group fitness classes at MyFitness in Tallinn and LNT Sport in Rakvere. I like the variety. Each place has its own energy.
I enjoy what I do. Like many trainers, my work is my hobby and my hobby is my work. It sounds like a cliché, but it really does hold true in this job. If you don’t believe in the class you’re teaching, people quickly pick up on it.
What makes Merle Laud stand out as a trainer
I caught the teaching bug while I was still in basic school. My former class teacher once suggested that I could teach dance to the 5th-grade girls. I was only a few school years ahead of them myself. Looking back, it was a small thing, but that was where I first began to realize how much I enjoyed getting other people moving.
I’ve always enjoyed being active. At school, I took part in various sports, although I wasn’t training in any particular sport with the idea of making it my main focus. My PE teacher sent me to every competition they could. That gave me quite a wide range of experience.
I also remember going to ski training, though I wasn’t particularly keen to enter competitions. Competing itself isn’t something I enjoy. At the same time, competition makes you work harder and push beyond your limits. The simple truth is that there are two sides to it.
I took part in the FitGirl contests once held as part of EAF and reached the final twice. Those experiences taught me stage presence, confidence and how to stay calm under pressure. Winning the Queen of Aerobics 2007 title was a huge, welcome and positive surprise. Moments like that don’t make anyone a ready-made trainer, but they do give you more courage.
How Merle Laud structures her workouts
A good workout is more than a series of exercises. It’s about the feeling, the pace and a clear purpose. You need to understand why you’re doing something. In a dance class, that means rhythm and the logic behind the movement. In a group fitness class, it means a training load that is challenging enough without making you lose confidence in yourself just half an hour in.
I’m always looking for fresh ideas, including in the classes I teach. Monotony dulls. That doesn’t mean every class has to be completely new. Sometimes a familiar exercise is exactly what you need, because the body learns through repetition. But a small change in the music, pace or combination can breathe fresh life into a class.
So what really matters? For me, it’s important that you leave a class feeling better than when you came in. Not just tired, but with a clearer head too. The greatest joy in being a trainer is knowing I’ve given my clients a positive experience.
It’s an even greater joy when people come up and thank me. That’s a moment that stays with you. A trainer can plan a routine, choose the music and keep the pace going, but ultimately, a good class is something you create together. You give energy and get it back.
A practical look at a trainer’s work
From the outside, a trainer’s job often looks like fun: the music plays, people move, the class ends and everyone smiles. In reality, a lot of observation goes on behind it all. Who’s tired today? Who needs encouragement? Who’s doing a movement incorrectly but doesn’t want to be the center of attention? Those little things determine whether a class simply gets people moving or is truly good.
Every group includes people at different levels. Some come to a workout after a long day at work. Some want to challenge themselves. Some simply want to feel good. A trainer needs to keep everyone moving to a shared rhythm without anyone feeling left out. That’s a skill that develops over time.
If I’m not enjoying what I do, my clients can sense it too. Fortunately, everything has gone well so far :). I’m always open to new experiences, because they’re what keep me on my toes. Wishing everyone a little sunshine every day 🙂
FAQ: Merle Laud
Who is Merle Laud?
Our trainer of the week is a dance and group fitness instructor with roots in Rakvere who studied dance instruction at the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy and has taught classes in both Rakvere and Tallinn.
Where does Merle Laud teach classes?
According to the original article, she teaches dance at the School of Aesthetics and Dance in Rakvere and group fitness classes at MyFitness in Tallinn and LNT Sport in Rakvere.
Which experiences did Merle Laud highlight?
She took part in the FitGirl contests held as part of EAF, reached the final twice and won the Queen of Aerobics 2007 title.
Author: Rakvere trainer
Source: Turg.Fitness.ee
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