Admit it. The New Year’s resolutions have probably faded by now, haven’t they? As a fitness instructor, January is always so exciting. We see many new faces in our classes and the energy is buzzing. But in the spring, the number starts to dwindle and many of those new people never seem to return. But why? Many people who vow to start a new diet or exercise routine at the start of a new year have gotten frustrated with lack of results at this point and quit. It can be very overwhelming to jump into a new routine, especially if you have limited or no experience with exercise. You may be worried ..read more

Anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with the Enneagram Test. I think it’s so helpful for learning about people’s individual personalities, desires and challenges. If you’re looking to start or switch up your fitness routine, finding something that aligns with your Enneagram type might be a great place to start. Of course, the workout format that you enjoy and keeps you consistent is the best for you, so these are just fun suggestions. Enneagram 1 (The Reformer): PilatesThis type is known for being principled, purposeful, self-controlled and perfectionistic. Pilates has a lot of targeted c ..read more

I’ve been really intentional about not stepping on the scale in 2023, and I plan to continue that in 2024. It’s been so good for my mental health to not be constantly worrying about a number that really doesn’t say anything about my health. I do, however, have some health goals for the near year, but they’re focused more on the long-term rather than just the here and now. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to drop some pounds if it you think it’ll improve your life, but if you’re looking for other non-aesthetic goals for 2024, consider these: Drink more water. I’m the worst at staying hydrat ..read more

I was chatting with a friend the other day and she started talking about how she wanted to lose weight. She paused and apologized: “I know you don’t like talking about this.” It made me realize I need to clarify with all of you that I’m not against weight loss; I’m for whatever you want to do for your body. However, I will continue to remind you that weight is just one piece of the puzzle. I’ve known people who’ve had dramatic weight loss, and it drastically changed their life for the better. They’re happier, more confident and living an overall healthier life now. But I’ve also known people w ..read more

No one sets a goal with the intention of reaching it and then subsequently losing all that progress. We want to make sustainable change. The best kind of goals, the ones that will actually stick for the long term, follow the SMART formula. That stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Each of those is an important element, but I’d say the one that matters most is realistic. Without that, you’ll never be able to follow through with your goals. Let’s break down each of the letters: S - Specific Most goals fail because they’re way too broad. They don’t get enough into th ..read more

As a mom of 2, I understand how crazy the summer schedule gets. School’s out, the kids are in various summer camps, you’re in and out of town for vacation. It can be really hard to stay on track with your exercise routine during the summer months. And while the toxic gym culture will tell you “NO EXCUSES,” I’m here to remind you that sometimes life does get in the way and it’s not your fault. You do the best you can with what you’re given. I always say that consistency is more important than perfection, so if your routine isn’t what it used to be, that’s ok. With some strategy, there are ways ..read more

I DID IT. I trained for 6 months and I’m proud to say I successfully finished my first 10k. I’ve never considered myself a runner — and still wouldn’t. But it felt so good to accomplish my goal for this year. In the past, I’ve done a few 5k races and those were extremely challenging for me, but my friend Deanna convinced me that, with training, I could do 6.2 miles. Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot and I’d like to share more about it in case it may encourage you. Consistency is better than perfection. I’ve said this so many times, but it’s really true. Good runners are always trainin ..read more

You’ve probably heard the term a bunch of times, or even seen shoes marketed as good for “cross training.” But what exactly is it, and should you be doing it? Cross training simply means doing different types of exercise vs. sticking to the same thing all the time. At the beginning of my fitness journey, I only did Zumba multiple times a week. And sure, it helped me lose some weight and get into a rhythm, but eventually I hit a plateau and I couldn’t figure out why. It was because my body needed other things, outside of just cardio. And that’s when I started to branch out and explore other typ ..read more

Are you getting fitness advice from an expert? I mean a true expert, someone who has the credentials and the experience to back up what they’re sharing. Sure, anyone can give fitness advice, but there are people like myself who have gone through trainings, earned advanced degrees and put in countless hours of studying to refine their skills. I became a licensed Zumba instructor in 2011, and while you may think it’s “just dancing,” there’s a lot that goes into it that you may not realize. In addition to an 8-hour course, I receive access to new music, choreography and trainings to help me stay ..read more

As 2022 comes to a close, many of us are taking the time to reflect on the last year. Some of you may be looking back with pride at all you were able to accomplish, while others may be feeling disappointed and discouraged. I really wanted to do X this year, but just didn’t have the time is something I hear over and over. No matter what, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do everything we need and want to do. Something always gets pushed to the back burner, and, unfortunately, that’s usually our own health. If you had big hopes for 2022 and it just didn’t work out, I’d ventu ..read more