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1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am from Lindenhurst, New York. My favorite hobbies include working out, dancing, shoe shopping and going to the beach! I am an instructor, trainer, Zumba instructor and dance teacher! I have been a dancer my whole life and it is a strong part of who I am.
2. How did you end up working at Lucille Roberts?
I ended up working at Lucille Roberts because I was a member there starting when I was in high school. When I started college going to the gym became less frequent. I gained some weight when I was dating someone who was a bad influence on my food choices & sleeping habits. I also didn’t dance as much as I had in high school and the freshman fifteen came to life!
I was frustrated so I started taking classes regularly and really enjoyed them. Then I saw a sign for an “instructor training” with Donna from Lucille Roberts Massapequa. It was an excellent opportunity to learn how to teach a class. Once I had my group fitness instructor certification, I ventured into the world of Zumba. I received my license in Zumba and started teaching at Massapequa two days a week! All of this influenced my choice to go to school for Exercise Science at Hofstra University.
Once I had my bachelors degree in Exercise Science I felt confident in taking my ACSM personal training certification test. Everything built on each other and made me able to have a variety of things to teach! I am currently teaching BodyBox Bootcamp, Triple Fat Burner, LR Cross Training, Chickboxing. I am also a trainer for small group training and I have personal training clients. Whenever I am at Lucille Roberts in Massapequa I feel like I am home.
3. What are some of your personal fitness goals and how do you achieve them?
My own personal fitness goals include pushing myself to try new things, competing in fitness bikini competitions, and being a role model for my students. In order to try new things I will test out just about anything to get my heart pumping. Rock climbing, running, yoga etc. I will try anything once and if I like it I keep it in my workout circulation so that I don’t become bored.
Competing in a fitness bikini competition was a big goal for me and I DID IT! I competed in the “bikini debut” division and I won my division! It still feels like a dream to me but I put a lot of dedication into it and it really payed off! I am planning on competing again in the fall. And last but not least being a role model for my students is something that is very important to me. I teach every age level, including teen girls, and I feel like it makes a huge difference when they have positive enforcement from their teacher. I practice what I preach by keeping myself healthy and not just TELLING them what they should do but by SHOWING them that if I can do it, they can do it too!!!
4. What is the best thing about Lucille Roberts?
The best thing about Lucille Roberts is the classes! I LOVE the variety that is offered. There is a class for every personality. I always tell someone who is intimidated by a class that they have to find the right class that works for them. My favorites are Pilates and Chickboxing!
5. What advice do you have for women who are trying to achieve their fitness goals?
My advice is that YOU ARE SO MUCH STRONGER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE! The mind is a powerful thing and too often I see women who say to themselves “I can’t do that.” Why not?! The biggest thing I see this with is weight training. Weights are your friend! When you build muscle you burn more fat! Don’t be afraid of heavy weights. It is physically impossible for a woman to become “bulky.” My other advice is to become friends with your body. It drives me crazy when a woman says “I wish I had her legs/stomach/arms/etc.” Think of what YOU have that someone else wants. Instead of berating yourself for not looking like someone else, use it as motivation in your workouts. A healthy body image and a strong sense of determination go a long way!
