Deb Matthews, Zumba/Zumba Gold Instructor, ACE-CPT

The seeds for my career in fitness were planted in May of 2004 when I first began working with a personal trainer. As I embarked on my own (continuing) journey to improved health and fitness, I became more and more fascinated at the positive changes and transformation the human body can undergo when combined with intention, self-motivation and conviction.

I became certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) in May of 2005. I saw this as a career where not only could I continue learning what amazing changes the body is capable of, but where I could also help others achieve their own goals of improved health and fitness.

I have always loved dance, starting as a little girl watching the Lawrence Welk show with my grandmother, all the while dreaming I was Cissy of the Bobby/Cissy fame or, better yet, Cinderella! However, it would be years before I would dance as I wanted because while I was growing up, ballroom wasn't exactly prevalent here in Vermont.

In 2001 I found myself with the opportunity of taking ballroom dance lessons from a local instructor who allowed me to feel every bit like Cinderella waltzing around the floor, and my childhood dreams of dancing were not only realized but enhanced. At the same time I was also introduced to the fun and passion of the Latin dances, and those dances quickly became my favorites. Life was good!

As good as life was, an important part of life is transition, and in 2006 I found myself right in the middle of it, not only from an age standpoint (something about turning 50!), but from the personal standpoint of going through a divorce. My career of choice never waivered from fitness, although practically all of my friends kept saying it was too bad I couldn't do something with dance, because my love of it was so strong.

I was at a ballroom dance weekend in 2006 where someone was teaching Zumba, and I checked out the class. As I suspected, it was a BLAST! I returned from the weekend and immediately went to Zumba's website. I realized Zumba would greatly complement my career as a personal trainer, and since many of my personal training clients considered themselves "active seniors" , I signed up for the very first Zumba Gold workshop Zumba offered. It was there, in Florida, that I was introduced to the incredible Zumba family.

The fun and enthusiasm at the workshop was unbelievable, and the sense of oneness and support among all the instructors was unlike anything I had ever experienced. My excitement over the whole experience lasted well after I returned home to Vermont.

I immediately signed up for a regular Zumba workshop back in Florida for the end of December and jumped at the chance to also sign up for the 2-day workshop in Ohio with Beto. I started teaching here in Vermont on January 3, 2007. It's amazing to teach a class where people tell me it's FUN and doesn't feel like "work", yet they reach their target heart rate, become more fit, have a blast, and leave class with a smile on their face that wasn't there before class... Zumba truly is a "feel happy" workout!!

Not only am I thrilled, but I am honored, to be able to bring Zumba to you.

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