Marlena Bowman

I began my fitness journey in February 2011.  I was extremely overweight, had pain in my back and knees, ate terribly and had trouble going up and down stairs without losing my breath or experiencing pain.  I joined both Weight Watchers and the YMCA and started on the road to health and wellness.  I began taking Zumba classes and eating properly and within nine months, I had lost 50lbs.  I received so much support by the instructors and staff at the Y, I decided I wanted to become a licenced Zumba instructor so I could give back to the Y by showing members that if I could achieve my goals, they could too.  I became licenced to teach Zumba in March 2012 and started out by subbing classes.  By June, 2012, I started teaching my own class.  My class sizes grew and I began teaching more days a week.  By the fall of 2012, I became familiar with many of the members and their limitations and ailments, most of which involved knee and back pain.  I decided to look into Aqua fitness as a means to help these members.  In December 2012, I became licensed in Aqua Zumba and began teaching classes within two weeks.  The program has grown in the past 16 months from a handful of students to double digits.  

Throughout the time I have been teaching, I continued my weight loss journey, graduating to boot camps, cross fit, running, etc.  To date, I have lost 90 pounds and have kept it off for over a year.  Strength training has had such a profound change in my attitude and my physical appearance.  I oftentimes would be approached after my Zumba classes by members who wanted to know "how did you get your arms to look like that?".  I explained that I started strength training, but many of the members are reluctant to lift weights.  I decided to pursue a Zumba Toning license so that I would be able to show the members that weights are not scary and that every bit helps.  I have been teaching a toning class once a week for the last 7 months and attendance has grown to almost capacity during some weeks.

I also decided that my experiences with weight loss and strength training have allowed me to completely change my mindset regarding exercise and eating well.  I wanted to expand my knowledge and registered for AFAA's Group Fitness Exercise certification in December 2013.  In January 2014, I received my Group Exercise Certification, and recently began teaching a Total Body (HIIT) class at my local gym