Movement and fitness have been part of my entire life. As a young child, I studied dance. I continued dancing through high school as a member of a competition team. In college I was part of a Modern Tour group. Additionally, I worked out in a gym with a trainer. While in college, I started my own dance company, which I managed for ten years. I taught classes and also lead a competitive group. I graduated from the University of California at Riverside with a Bachelor’s Degree where I received one of two Undergraduate Chancellor Awards for Dance Research Work.
I decided to close the dance business after college when I was given the opportunity to teach high school dance. I taught at the high school level for three years while organizing and directing the school dance team. As the dance program was eliminated from the high school, I made a decision to focus more on my own fitness. I began taking Zumba, Step, Yoga, Body Pump, and Spin classes while continuing to train with a personal trainer. Many peers told me they would follow me instead of the class instructor, and they suggested I should teach. I decided to get certified. Several of my fitness instructors also encouraged me to train to teach.
