Toula Kelikian

I am a nursing professor who has been a fitness aficionado for decades. Presently, I teach Pediatric and Mental Health Nursing, and use an Academic Coaching approach with all of my students. Early in my career, I learned that the best way for me to bring my best nurse self each day was to remain as physically active as possible. By keeping my body active, my mind stayed clear, calm and curious. I also learned that my workouts had to be a joy and pleasure to do!

I have enjoyed every bit of the mental and physical astuteness that nursing requires, and have earned my PhD in Integrative Mental Health/Mind-Body Medicine. One fascinating area of study that I focused on during my PhD program was movement modalities as a way of improving mood, strength, resilience and good mental health!

I have engaged in many different facets of fitness; Swimming, biking, rollerblading, SUPing, BOXING, all forms of dance, hiking, skiing and anything thing else I come across!  I have recently become a licensed Zumba Instructor and very soon an Aqua Zumba instructor. I have been a Zumba fan for decades, and feel like I have been teaching for years.  As a young wife and mother of three small children in the ‘90s, I remember when Zumba came to the local family club that we belonged to - I could not wait to try it out and dance! I was present at the first class and have not stopped since! It has been a wonderful stress reliever and energy booster for my mind and soul while raising my family and pursuing my academics and teaching career. Zumba remains dear to my heart (and body), and I am enthusiastic to integrate all I have learned and experienced in my nursing and fitness worlds into Zumba classes…creating the kind of funky buzzy elated feeling that I LOVE!