How did you find Springs
Salsa and Dance Fitness?
I
was lucky enough to meet Mark at the Zumba® Convention in
October 2008, where we both happened to be taking the Zumba
Gold® Certification. The next month, I found out my husband
was being reassigned by the military to Colorado Springs,
and Dorie and I began emailing back and forth. The studio
has an amazing reputation in the dance fitness world, and I
knew when I made the move out here that there was no place
I'd rather teach. I love to teach, and I wanted to be around
a group of like-minded people who really love what they are
doing, and that is definitely SSDF!
Why do you like the studio?
There are so many reasons! First, the students and
instructors are so talented and passionate about teaching
and learning. Second, SSDF offers so many ways to grow as an
instructor and student through Master Classes, diverse
classes (Zumba®, Masala Bhangra, Yoga Booty Ballet, Hip Hop
Hustle, etc.) and involvement in the community. Finally,
have you seen their studios? They are a dancer's dream!
Great ambiance, cool effects, rockin' stereo systems!!
What's your story?
I
think my story is so familiar to many women out there. I
have always struggled with my weight and the self esteem
issues that brings. I was a "pudgy" adolescent and as I grew
into adulthood I continued to struggle with a few extra here
and there. My outlet growing up was my dance lessons
(ballet, jazz) and musical theatre. In my 20's, I loved to
go to the clubs and dance, but for some reason as I got
older I never found time to fit that in anymore. Then I had
children and it got worse! I stopped working, sort of lost
myself, stayed home, ate, put on pounds, and got depressed!
In November 2007, I went to visit family in Pittsburgh and
was introduced to the Zumba® fitness program by my step-mom, a
Zumba® Instructor
who, at age 55, teaches 15 classes a week and is in the best
shape of her life. I was there for a week and took classes
every day. We also ate like crazy, and when I got home I
found I had still lost a pound! But that wasn't even what
impressed me the most- I actually LOVED what I was doing and
couldn't believe how quickly the hour went by.
And the SWEAT!! You have to respect a workout where you
sweat that much! I was certified to teach Zumba® classes in June
2008, Zumba Gold® and Level 2 in October 2008, AFAA Group
Fitness Instructor in December 2008, and The Masala Bhangra
Workout in February 2009. I have fallen in love with being a
dance fitness instructor! Like everyone else, I am still
working on my personal fitness goals but with a combination
of diet and exercise, I have lost 30 pounds and counting.
More importantly, I have found myself again, and once again
consider myself a sexy, vibrant woman!
About you...
I
was born in Southern California but moved to Idaho when I
was eight, where I lived for 10 years. Since the age of 18,
I haven't lived in any one place more than 3 years! I have
lived in California, Idaho, New York, Texas, Florida,
Washington, Mississippi, Iceland, Italy, Crete, England, and
now Colorado. I did my undergrad work at Washington State
University, grad work at University of Oklahoma and spent
almost 10 years in the Air Force before leaving to raise my
twin sons and daughter. I am married, and we have two
Labrador Retrievers and a mutt cat. I enjoy dancing,
running, and just finished my first triathlon last year,
which I loved. I also still love to eat great food, but now
I've found a way to work it off and love every minute of it.
