Story Published:
Jan 5, 2012 at 8:49 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Jan 17, 2012 at 9:16 AM CDT
Monika Hill seems to have the energy of four people, and is eager to share her secret. As New Year's Resolutions and renewed desires for healthier habits are on the mind of many, Monika's 2011 success may prove inspirational.
"The before picture (Monika is on the right in the wedding photo) was taken in March of 2011 at my best friend's wedding. I was her maid of honor, and while I never admitted it to anyone, I hated my weight and that these pictures would be looked at for the rest of their lives together... I started working as a server at Olive Garden the week after that picture was taken, and a little over 3 months later, I was taking my very first Zumba class with Piper! I heard about this Piper's class from a co-worker who was interested in a different take on exercising."
Monika, like many Zumba enthusiasts, says that she disliked exercise, but enjoyed dance. "It needs to be said that I've had an insatiable passion for dance since I was young. I only took formal lessons for a year when I was younger, but it was the spark I needed to ignite one of my favorite pastimes to date. When I'm asked what exactly Zumba is, I reply (maybe a bit too enthusiastically) that Zumba is a latin-based dance/aerobic class with sweat drenching cardio that's non-stop for an hour. I drop mainstream names such as Pitbull, Shakira, and Jennifer Lopez to help the listener understand the type of music that's played, but also make it a point to add that there are many other genres and traditional music as well that add to the mix. It's safe to say I can now, after nearly 6 months of dance routines, never turn a radio station for a decent amount of time before I run across a song that I have a Zumba dance to."
Monika's transformation has been impressive, but she's not alone. Says instructor Piper Landis, "What I love most is seeing it happen. Everyone changes. If they come at least a couple of times per week consistently for a few weeks, they'll see dramatic differences -- all over. They all do."
Says Monika, "Piper, my Zumba instructor, has been incredible throughout my transformation. Not only is she amazing at her job, but she's an inspiration every time I walk into her class. No matter what mood she's in that day, it all falls away the second that music starts, and it's impossible not to follow suit. She's all smiles and happy to see you every time you walk in the door. Aside from her regularly scheduled classes, she plans themed Zumba parties around the holidays, teaches formal dancing classes at local venues, and participates in flash mobs around the communities she teaches in. All of these are announced to her students, and everyone is encouraged and excited to participate whenever there's an opportunity."
What's the secret here? Well, it may be rooted in the fact that it's fun and keeps some coming back, or that the interval training that claims to burn 600-700 calories or that the moves create an all-over workout that tones the whole body. Many see transformations like Monika's, but others say the results extend to other areas as well. Says one regular, "I am completely off of my blood pressure medicine now. I never, ever exercised before, but I love this."
Monika agrees, "I anticipate letting everything go when I go to Zumba. It has melted the stress, helped me drop three dress sizes, given me more energy, boosted my confidence and helped me meet amazing women who have the same goal: work your butt off and have fun doing it. There's nothing that will pick me up faster in the middle of class than looking in the mirror and seeing all of the smiles through the sweat as we shake it to our favorite songs."
Piper Landis says that she's a dancer first, and believes that the dance influence is part of what keeps women coming back. "I don't count and talk through everything, because I want it to feel like dancing and to enjoy the beauty of that." From Ohio, Piper has experience as a competitive ballroom dancer and had an instructional dance studio there before moving to Cookeville.
Concerned that some might be intimidated, Piper is starting a new "beginner's" class this month and plans to begin a toning class with weights as well. "I want everyone to feel comfortable and work at their own pace. Part of the fun is learning new things." says Piper.
Monika agrees, "Don't expect to be perfect, just expect to have fun! I've never had more fun losing weight and getting healthy than I have dancing to the Latin beats of the world!"
Piper Landis has information about class times and her work on a facebook page called "Zumba with Piper."
