Leislene Hendrickson

After having my second child, I was determined to lose the weight I had gained.  I remember getting an old set of dumb bells and going into an empty room at lunch time to workout.  After three months, I looked like a new person.  It was around that time that I started working with a young attorney that introduced me to running.  She said to me, if you practice for the Corporate Challenge (a race is given every year in Central Park), I will run with you.  I trained diligently every day, however, when race time came, she had to work late.  Fortunately for me, I ran the race anyway and loved it.  I challenged myself my doing a race once a month.  Then, I saw the NYC Marathon on television and knew I wanted to do it.  That following year, I ran; and also two more years afterwards.  During my time as a legal secretary, I started a Walk-at-Lunch Group and had the pleasure of training a secretary to not only feel comfortable walking one mile, but eventually she started running marathons too.  Even back then I was preparing for a new career as a fitness instructor (I just didn't know it!).  Fast forward to today.  I have three classes at NYHRC and teach one-on-one privately.  I love teaching and get excited watching people move and breathe.  Even though hula hooping (my class is called WindUp) is one of the best classes at the gym (or so I have been told); I enjoy teaching yoga and Pilates; and have on occasion, combined the three.  I travel at least 3-4 times a year and would love to teach in the Caribbean/West Indies. This would give me the opportunity to meet other people and continue to build my new career.