The shorter story of how I became a fitness instructor
Had you told me 20 years ago that I'd be a fitness instructor, I would've laughed! And so would've my Physical Education teacher, doctors, and family members.
I was an overweight child. I was 11 pounds when I was born so I was already on my way! ;) I grew to 211 pounds and I lost 60 pounds at the age of 18. However, I had already been exercising since I was 10 or so, pushed by my parents and the advice of doctors, I would work out daily in the boring gym (back then we didn't have zumba, belly dance, cardiokick, etc. :P) doing aerobics and weights for an hour, and spent another hour swimming. I never lost a pound. I learned about nutrition and portion control (through a well-known and advertised program) when I moved back to the US for college.
All this to say, that despite my hate of the gym when I was a child, it created a healthy habit in my life that I couldn't live without. After graduating college, I started taking martial arts, which led to yoga (vinyasa and kundalini), and then many other workouts created by the creative teams at the gyms in New York.
I stopped practicing karate after an unrelated back injury which impeded my sparring, so I started taking cardiokickbox. I've been lucky to follow great instructors for years, especially those ex-marines, Angel Ortiz and Antonio Tomahawk who pushed me beyond my own limitations, but were also sticklers for form. So if you take a class from me and think I'm too intense, remember, you can thank them! :)
I got into belly dance after visiting Egypt in the summer of 1998 and falling in love with the music, the culture, the people, and the country. It had been my dream to go there, and surpassed my expectations in every way! Following the trip I started taking classes with plenty of teachers at plenty of places. I was invited to join Reyna Alcala's troupe and was honored to dance with them for a couple of years. In terms of the fitness portion of the dance, I can thank Mimi Fontana for the wonderful way she taught me to dance muscularly, not just beautifully, to ensure my joints stay healthy for the long run.
Latin Dance was a cardio favorite and I followed lovely Oscar Gonzalez for years, it was the sense of party that now the trademarked Zumba does for others. It's the same music mix we dance to at South American parties, everything and anything! Oh on that, I could not dance to save my life before I started going out after graduating college. Going out every weekend, especially since I don't really drink, was a fantastic way to learn to dance. However at the gym, you don't have to worry about the shoes, the makeup, etc. ;)
Throughout, I realized if you do something you love, you will do it more often, and so it becomes a healthy habit, and I love transmitting this to others.
So finally how did I decide to become an instructor? In 2006, I wanted to volunteer doing something I loved, so I completed the 13 week aerobics instructor training with City Parks and Recreation. I was to teach for 6 months at Asser Levy, coincidentally where I learned karate (thanks Sensei David). However, I had to find a sub after 2 weeks since I got an unrelated injury. For the time I taught, I loved my experience teaching, so with my newfound time and openness after I quit my office job, I took the test and became an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor, and looked for jobs, and here I am, honored to share my energy with you!
Funny story, I also said I would never teach yoga because it seemed too much to remember but mostly because it was so beautifully sacred to me. Then, an encouraging friend needed me to take over one of her classes. In August 2011, I completed a 200hr Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher Training. And by now I'm an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, which means I've taught more than 1000 hours of Yoga!
I'd also like to mention some of my best teachers now. I have to thank Michele Bastos for her excellent Pilates teaching, which is just one of her formats, but through her variety of challenging flow my teaching of this format improved tremendously, and has made me more sought after. I consider taking her classes some of my informal Continuing Ed.
I also have to thank Jamie Drye, from the first time I took a dance class with him I learned by his example to occupy my whole energy space, and move more freely. This has moved me to expand in so many other ways, even if it may make others or myself uncomfortable.
If you wonder why I mention so many people, it's because none of us are great alone, and I believe in honoring your teachers. I also thank all my students, colleagues, and people with whom I take classes. Everyone has taught me or motivated me to grow further.
Life is always surprising us! Keep moving! Stay Inspired & Motivated! Stay Inspiring & Motivating! :)
I was an overweight child. I was 11 pounds when I was born so I was already on my way! ;) I grew to 211 pounds and I lost 60 pounds at the age of 18. However, I had already been exercising since I was 10 or so, pushed by my parents and the advice of doctors, I would work out daily in the boring gym (back then we didn't have zumba, belly dance, cardiokick, etc. :P) doing aerobics and weights for an hour, and spent another hour swimming. I never lost a pound. I learned about nutrition and portion control (through a well-known and advertised program) when I moved back to the US for college.
All this to say, that despite my hate of the gym when I was a child, it created a healthy habit in my life that I couldn't live without. After graduating college, I started taking martial arts, which led to yoga (vinyasa and kundalini), and then many other workouts created by the creative teams at the gyms in New York.
I stopped practicing karate after an unrelated back injury which impeded my sparring, so I started taking cardiokickbox. I've been lucky to follow great instructors for years, especially those ex-marines, Angel Ortiz and Antonio Tomahawk who pushed me beyond my own limitations, but were also sticklers for form. So if you take a class from me and think I'm too intense, remember, you can thank them! :)
I got into belly dance after visiting Egypt in the summer of 1998 and falling in love with the music, the culture, the people, and the country. It had been my dream to go there, and surpassed my expectations in every way! Following the trip I started taking classes with plenty of teachers at plenty of places. I was invited to join Reyna Alcala's troupe and was honored to dance with them for a couple of years. In terms of the fitness portion of the dance, I can thank Mimi Fontana for the wonderful way she taught me to dance muscularly, not just beautifully, to ensure my joints stay healthy for the long run.
Latin Dance was a cardio favorite and I followed lovely Oscar Gonzalez for years, it was the sense of party that now the trademarked Zumba does for others. It's the same music mix we dance to at South American parties, everything and anything! Oh on that, I could not dance to save my life before I started going out after graduating college. Going out every weekend, especially since I don't really drink, was a fantastic way to learn to dance. However at the gym, you don't have to worry about the shoes, the makeup, etc. ;)
Throughout, I realized if you do something you love, you will do it more often, and so it becomes a healthy habit, and I love transmitting this to others.
So finally how did I decide to become an instructor? In 2006, I wanted to volunteer doing something I loved, so I completed the 13 week aerobics instructor training with City Parks and Recreation. I was to teach for 6 months at Asser Levy, coincidentally where I learned karate (thanks Sensei David). However, I had to find a sub after 2 weeks since I got an unrelated injury. For the time I taught, I loved my experience teaching, so with my newfound time and openness after I quit my office job, I took the test and became an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor, and looked for jobs, and here I am, honored to share my energy with you!
Funny story, I also said I would never teach yoga because it seemed too much to remember but mostly because it was so beautifully sacred to me. Then, an encouraging friend needed me to take over one of her classes. In August 2011, I completed a 200hr Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher Training. And by now I'm an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, which means I've taught more than 1000 hours of Yoga!
I'd also like to mention some of my best teachers now. I have to thank Michele Bastos for her excellent Pilates teaching, which is just one of her formats, but through her variety of challenging flow my teaching of this format improved tremendously, and has made me more sought after. I consider taking her classes some of my informal Continuing Ed.
I also have to thank Jamie Drye, from the first time I took a dance class with him I learned by his example to occupy my whole energy space, and move more freely. This has moved me to expand in so many other ways, even if it may make others or myself uncomfortable.
If you wonder why I mention so many people, it's because none of us are great alone, and I believe in honoring your teachers. I also thank all my students, colleagues, and people with whom I take classes. Everyone has taught me or motivated me to grow further.
Life is always surprising us! Keep moving! Stay Inspired & Motivated! Stay Inspiring & Motivating! :)
©2021 by Katherine Illescas. All Rights Reserved
