Melinda Walker

I have struggled with my weight my entire life, was always the heaviest kid in my classes, and let myself feel inadequate because of that for a long, long time.  I have always enjoyed being active but never was a dancer, let alone an exerciser, until I turned 30 and discovered Tae Bo and finally saw how exercise can not only help physical fitness, but mental health as well, as my heaviness created a vicious cycle for me with depression also.  Moving to LG 10 years ago, I joined the gym and I discovered running (3 half-marathons!), spinning, and multiple other group exercise classes, and constantly was trying to find something to challenge myself to create real change in my body and then TADA-   The magic of Ms. Olivia and her FANTASTIC classes and I was addicted to Zumba!  Now I am so excited to be able to share my health/fitness journey with other people that may identify with me.  As the mother of two awesome young men (Nick - 21 and Ben - 16), I hope to be able to get ‘the other half’ also excited about what this amazing class can do for their personal health and you will see me demonstrating a little more masculine type of dance.

My other main passion is being an independent insurance & investment advisor, along with my husband, at Walker & Associates, with offices in LG and Hermiston.  We consider ourselves so blessed to be able to work with great people around the Pacific NW, providing advice and planning services for retirement, and I would be happy to provide a free consultation for any of you great Z. students.

 I also enjoy volunteering with the Soroptimist LG group of great women, gardening, my 2 sweet dogs, and living in this fantastic little corner of the world.  I am grateful to Liv for the opportunity to share myself with all of you and look forward to continuing to ‘sweat & smile’!- ZUMBA LOVE, Melinda.