Since visiting strategic sales partners in Arizona, I feel a strong desire to acknowledge an incredible strategic partnership that is happening with The Dailey Method in Scottsdale, Arizona. Linda Nofer is the owner of this magical studio and was trained by the one and only Jill Dailey McIntosh.

The Scottsdale showroom team with Linda Nofer (third from the right).

Two Scottsdale Showroom rockstars, Linda Nofer and Gina.

When you meet Linda, you're instantly energized and ready to take on the world. Her energy and passion is so apparent, it’s actually intoxicating. Don’t let her delicate frame fool you: Linda is all muscle and will push you to your absolute limits. I dare you to take a break while in a pose and NOT have her call you out on it. There is such a sense of accomplishment when you walk out of her class that you’re thankful to have gotten out alive.

This is the only Dailey Method in Scottsdale and clients are hooked!! It’s not only because the results pay off, but also the instructor’s passion and enthusiasm for their craft is addictive. Linda is so welcoming when you walk through the door, greeting her loyal guests by name, and newbies immediately feel like they are part of the family. Linda is also an ambassador for the lululemon Scottsdale showroom. One of her most recent community efforts has been around getting more men into the Dailey Method.

Even though I’m back in Vancouver now, I still plan to support her in this goal by bringing my boyfriend to a Dailey Method class as soon as Vancouver’s own Dailey Method opens this fall!

I challenge anyone who is looking for an all over workout to try a barre-style fitness class such as the Dailey Method in your own community. And if you’re lucky enough to live in Scottsdale, don’t miss the chance to work out with the one and only Linda Nofer... Butt Kicker Extraordinaire!

For more details visit http://www.thedaileymethod.com/scottsdale.html.

When she moved here in 2005, Jocelyn's intention was to spend three months getting the core fusion program off the ground at Exhale Spa. She was the lead core fusion teacher and teacher trainer in Chicago, and she met our regional community leader, Brooke Johnson, at one of her classes. At that time no one in Chicago had really heard of lululemon. Brooke recognized Jocelyn as one of the best instructors in Chicago and product tested her a pink ujjayi tank and black groove pants. It didn’t take long before Jocelyn was hooked and decided to be one of the first ambassadors for the first lululemon store to open in Chicago on Halsted Street.

The year Jocelyn was an ambassador was a fundamental year in her development. She attended meet and greet events with other lululemon ambassadors, and participated in a function show, modeling some new luon at an art gallery where she broke out into booty dancing in front of the whole crowd!

Last year Jocelyn had a five-year goal to open her own fitness and dance studio, but she was forced to take action in early 2009. With help from her husband Ron, she made it all happen in only three months! Akemi Fitness Method opened this March in Evanston, the closest suburb north of the city of Chicago.

Akemi means “bright and beautiful” in the Japanese language, and it is an exact description of Jocelyn’s personality. She chose to name her business Akemi Fitness Method because she believes that "all people are bright and beautiful, and that is something [she] wants them to recognize."

The classes at Akemi were inspired by the Lotte Berk Method, which combines core exercises, dance, weights, Pilates and yoga. With classes like Akemi Barre, Abs, Arms & Booty, and Akemi Cardio Sport, Jocelyn teaches us to tone and sculpt our booties to the hottest jams. All of the educators on my team in Evanston consider ourselves lucky to be so close to Akemi. Jocelyn’s classes are always a blast, and we're constantly inspired by her immense beauty and joyfulness.

Check out her amazing studio here: http://www.akemifitness.com/index.php