SUNDAY, JANUARY 1ST 1:00p - 3:30p

Zumba "I'm Ready" Class w/ Dorie Wexler

FREE EVENT

1220 Valley Street Studio SIGN UP NOW

Join Dorie and her success story team to get motivated, charged up and inspired to claim your prize! Dorie has lost 70 lbs and kept it off for years!  What started out as an "I want to... boy, do I wish...I want to wear...if only I could look like..." turned into a decade journey of finding her rhythm for change and making it happen.  Was it easy? NO!  Was it overnight? NO!  Was it enjoyable? YES!  because she found Zumba Fitness and a food pattern that worked for her.  

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Where does it all begin...

My mom gave birth to me at only 6 months into her pregnancy...as an infant my mother made it her business to make sure that I stayed alive.  That's a strong thought, no?  I was born at 3lbs and I fit in a shoe box!  go figure! 

Like I said, my mom's role at that time was to make sure I stayed alive and well nourished.  It was way back when (no, I will not tell you my age)...and my parents lived in Brooklyn NY with very little income, no mode of transportation and a new bundle of joy that had to live the first 4 months of her life hospitalized in an incubator.  When I think of the life struggles my parents endured just to see me everyday... they had to get on the trains and buses along with my sister and travel for hours to get to the hospital in Long Island NY. 

My heart becomes heavy...

I look back at my mom's journals of my weight, my diet, my measurements...I see pictures of a tiny Dorie who could barely hold her own head up...small eyes...incredibly pale skin...under developed...

Again my heart is heavy...

I'm not quite sure at what point I started to go from under weight to over weight...but what I do know is that my childhood was spent being made fun of by others...  I was 100% Puerto Rican with pale skin, brown hair, premi features and I developed in all the wrong places way too early.  I spent alot of time with my family, listening to music and watching TV.  I had the most horrible pre-teen eating habits...part of my regular diet were things like Creamy Deluxe Frosting (yes, the whole tub), TV Dinners (the Hungry Man kind), and Puerto Rican fried foods known as "cuchifritos".  I continued to eat this way into my adult life. 

You name it...I dieted it... 

--->from the many programs out there to the quick fix 21 day plans

--->then there are the pills, patches and magic potions

--->ah, and let's not forget the tricks of the trade...the famous "chew and spit", grocery shopping abstinence as a way to induce fasting

--->only now I had my very own journals of my weight, my diets, my measurements

I just have to laugh at myself and the tactics!  Of course I can say that now, because I'm older and wiser (no, I still won't tell you my age)

Then something clicked...or should I say something came crumbling down...

It was the morning of 9/11. 

1.  At the time I was the US Operations Manager for North and South America (sounds fancy schmancy right) for an international company. 

2.  My role required me to travel both nationally and internationally. 

3.  I had a title!  I was making bank!  I was the "Jefe" (that's boss... for my americano friends)! 

As I prepared my breakfast (yes, I was on some type of diet) and planned to eat at my desk my building actually moved.  This was super strange since I was in a corporate skyscraper way up high... but when a building moves and you hear a scream, you don't mess around with that.  Let me set it straight... NO, I was not in the World Trade Center, however what occurred that morning was so severe my building felt it, a few miles away.  Co-workers and I looked out of the glass walls because in direct sight of our conference room were the towers...as well as the smoke and other things I emotionally cannot bear to recall.  And in a matter of moments the towers were down...everything was happening so very fast... and we needed to evacuate.  Getting home that day, many New Yorkers will tell you...was a nightmare but not nearly the nightmare that the families suffered from.

For a period of two weeks following this tragedy, I am completely blank.  I stayed home while my building renovated its systems to increase security.  I stayed in bed because I was paralyzed with fear and overwhelmed with sadness for the families.  My brother who travelled thru the towers daily for his work...called in sick that day.  Again, my heart is heavy...

Following this tragic day, I processed so many feelings, fears and freakin' escape plans...in case that happened in my building.  Now, let me tell you of a common condition I have called PLS, Paranoid Latina Syndrome.  A self created disease... I diagnose myself, I research illnesses, I freak out when I have symptoms.  I am a worrier... there I said it.  WOW, that is the first time I've declared myself an official worrier!  ~feels liberating in a sense... (ok, back to the story).  So, I actually planned to purchased parachutes to store in my desk in case something like that happened...I would have an escape route...crazy right?

What happens next is a timeline where my company decided to relocate its offices to Virginia, offering to relocate me as well.  What that means is my company had another promotion for me, an all expenses paid move to another state... how can someone pass that up, right?  Well, someone did...

You see, ever since I was a child my spirit of emotion has always been strong.  I am not talking about in a "cry baby" kind of way.   My nature was that of quite, compassionate and intuitive, even as a child.  Another kid sitting by themselves?... I was the one who would break the ice and take them in.   get it? 

I passed up the big corporate world because I felt in my gut that I was supposed to be doing something else that used my personality in a different way.  All I knew back then was the corporate life...my comfort zone dealt with concepts like "black and white / right and wrong / to get it done or not / words and phrases that kept everything under control."  What I now realize is that I was supposed to be using my gifts in a different way and style to fulfill a career that both brings me and others joy. 

I embarked on a Yogic lifestyle journey to find peace in my mind and body.  Still searching for a weight loss solution I joined yet another program to help get some things under control (it's ok to do that, nobody's tryin' to be a hero here).  Leading a sedentary life, I blew off the dust on some old DVDs and decided to push play.  I quickly remembered why they were on the shelf...can you say BORING!  Even though I loved my Zumba DVD, I could only do 10 minutes both because of my lack of conditioning and the need for mental stimulation.  Some time had passed, and I decided to take Salsa lessons...oh my gosh! I was obsessed with how those Salsa girls looked and danced.  They were sleek, sexy and sparkly... I was fat, frumpy and failing in everything I tried.  With the guidance of my Salsa teachers and one in particular, Kelly (who is now my BFF) I continued my Salsa lessons and training.  During that time I found a live Zumba class and WOW my prayers were answered!  It was incredible.     Through this time frame I learned the art of communication, barter and trade, soft spoken words that packed power, motivating moves and the power of accountability.  Every time I wanted to quit Salsa, Kelly chased me down!  And, when my lack of finances got in the way of Yoga classes, my Yoga guru introduced me to SEVA work..I used my corporate skill set to help the Yoga studio and in return I took Yoga classes.   My new job was commission based...there I added more layers to my already hard-working mentality.  I had a complete shift...and when I needed more money to pay for more fitness and dance related stuff...guess what?  I worked harder!  period end of story...  my results were too good to just throw away because I couldn't afford it...

WHY AM I TELLING YOU ALL THIS...

It is very rare to see inside someone's soul...but I am ok with that...

I want you to believe in yourself. 

I want you to believe that you can beat the odds. 

I want you to believe that despite your many attempts, you can pass the finish line. 

There is but only one thing you can bank on... and that is YOUR SPIRIT.  Is my life all peachy keen?  Heck no...just last year someone who worked for me, said she could not respect me because I was a FAT instructor...things like this make it so easy for someone to flashback in time.  By way of action, I know who I am and I have to believe in the strength and power that comes with being me.  I have to believe that no matter what odds are out there to pull me away from a healthy lifestyle that I am still living in victory.  I live knowing that every race...I will finish...not one...every! 

---------Each season, has a different theme. 

---------Each month, has a different set of challenges. 

---------Each week, has a different goal. 

---------Each day, has a different promise.

For those that don't know me...

My name is Dorie Wexler.  I am part owner of Springs Salsa and Dance Fitness Studios.  A former 198lb junk food junkie. 

These days mentioned above are part of my history...  From nothing, I worked my way up to the present day...

---------I am DRIVEN

---------I will never stop working hard...

---------I started as a Zumba student...

---------I received my Zumba license to teach ...on a broken ankle with crutches...

---------In 2010, Zumba Fitness LLC, chose me to be amongst the first set of authorized Zumba Jammers, in the world

---------Like you, I was designed to succeed in a fallen world

---------And together, we finish the race!

---------I believe I was called to serve you, by way of the dance floor