Labels:
fitness
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Zumba
Maria is a certified Zumba instructor and has had her own journey to becoming physically fit. Here is her story.
Growing up in the 1990’s I will never forget many of my school
girlfriends having babies and growing up much faster than I. Prior to becoming an Elizabeth High School
Varsity Cheerleader, I was in Dance school and we’d travel every year to dance
competitions throughout New Jersey. I
had a busy active schedule, and while my friends were raising their babies and
being grown ups I went on to college and other things and now here we are …
A little about myself, after all the high’s and low’s of
LIFE I managed to get an Associate’s Degree in the late 90’s from what is now
known as DeVry University in Computer Information Systems. A woman in the Information Technology field
in the start of the millennium was rare but at the time I thought I loved my
job. As I mentioned earlier growing up I
had a very active lifestyle, however in my twenties that was pretty much put to
the side – I wanted to be FREE and enjoy life, before I knew it I was in my
thirties and without having any children found myself unhappy with my sudden
increase in weight. What was happening
to me? Where did this weight come from? We
all know that with age come many changes and boy do we ladies experience some
changes – to my teen readers, I don’t want to bore you but just know that what
you do for yourself today will pay off for better healthy tomorrow’s!
To make a long story short I spent my thirties trying every
diet known to man, going to the gym and growing increasingly bored and
aggravated with the mini step instructor yelling at the top of her lungs like
the cheerleader I once was. It was no FUN, but I knew I had to do
something. So here’s my story and how I
found the LOVE of FITNESS. In early 2008 I went to the gym because I received a
newsletter from my local YMCA that they will be offering Zumba®
– the Latin inspired “dance” Party – with the huge slogan “Ditch the workout,
Join the Party!” I thought to myself, “hmm… I hate workouts and I love parties,
let’s see what this is all about”. I
remember that day so clearly because since it was a NEW class and the
attendance in numbers wasn’t sufficient to hold class in their larger group
exercise rooms, the girl at the front desk directed me upstairs to their
employee “coffee” room. I recall hearing
the music at the top of the stairs, being Latina; of course I am drawn to the
Salsa rhythms playing in the distance as I make my way up the stairs to this so
called “Latin FITNESS Party”
This is where my passion began. I was in every single class
after that day. It brought me back to my
years of dance each and every song was exhilarating and moving. I didn’t even care if anybody else was
watching, matter of fact I don’t think anyone else in the class cared
either. I fell in LOVE with Zumba®, soon after my initial class and losing my first 18 lbs I
looked into instructor training fast forward to today, three years later I
offer my own classes in my community.
Zumba® has opened my eyes to so many other fun
fitness programs that I would have probably never known about today.
As you can see Maria is a determined women. I'm glad to say that she will have more information and advice for us in the near future.
As you can see Maria is a determined women. I'm glad to say that she will have more information and advice for us in the near future.
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