Brenda brings Zumba to Watkins Glen

Always perfect form!

Brenda Fitch has been an aerobics/fitness instructor and trainer in Watkins Glen, NY for decades and like many fitness instructors, made the leap to Zumba. And she's loving it.

I first met Brenda right after she had gotten her certification and I brought her songs and routines from California and Mexico. And Brenda shoved me up in front of the class and made me lead some routines, helping me get my confidence to believe I wasn't too old or too anything to be able to do this.

Last year Brenda was on the road teaching five days a week in three different communities --- in addition to working full time. Then she dropped to four days a week so she could go back to school. Seriously high energy person!

You can tell that she has a lifetime of fitness experience when she teaches --- she is responsive to different individual's level of fitness, constantly showing Zumba students how to modify routines. And if there is a glitch in the music or the system, she just moves right on and the class still gets a great workout, has fun.

You can catch Brenda and her routines at the Watkins Glen Community Center on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30, the Hector Firehouse on Tuesdays at 5:30, and Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. at Exercise Enterprise, back in Watkins Glen. She still shoves me up to the front to lead a few songs when I'm in town and we have a blast! Hope to see y'all there!

Taking Beach Zumba to the Hector Wine Company

We started our seasonal Beach Zumba class today at the Hector Wine Company with plans to move down to the beach on the east side of Seneca Lake, New York,  as soon as the weather consistently cooperates.

Our first Beach Zumba class at the Hector Wine Co.

Somehow this morning's group --- the Hearty Hector Warrior Women --- would normally be categorized as Zumba Gold candidates because of their ages --- many in the 60s and 70s.

But this group is not the 'On Golden Pond' crowd. They have spent a lifetime of walking, doing yoga, working in their gardens, and boy oh boy, has it paid off. Physically fit, able to move, dance, follow routines and still remember to HAVE FUN! Because that's the Zumba deal for me. Dance, have fun, get or stay physically fit, have a few laughs. What more could we ask for?

Setting up class at the wine bar

The Hector Wine Company, located on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail,  is perfect --- lots of room, good floor, lots of natural light. And a bonus --- the wonderfully friendly Luna, a huge Great Pyrenees/Irish Wolfhound is delighted to keep us company while we work out.

We'll meet back up at HWC on Friday morning for another workout and keep checking the weather until it's time for Beach Zumba to head down to the beach.