Tim Poole

I took my first Zumba class on Thanksgiving Day of 2014 and I will truly be forever thankful for that day.  From the moment I walked into that gym, I knew I had found something that was meant to be a part of my life.  The welcome I received from the instructor and her regulars, the upbeat music that was already playing, the movement and energy of the class, and the inclusive, supportive spirit of the Zumba community not only drew me in but kept me coming back.  Ultimately I was moved to become an instructor myself to help bring this experience to others.  I was licensed to teach Zumba in the fall of 2018 – at 54 years old – and have been teaching actively since 2019.  I even managed to maintain a practice of online and outdoor classes through the Covid shutdown period.  I have since added Strong Nation, Zumba Gold and Zumba Toning licenses to my resume, and attended my first Zincon in 2024. One of my greatest accomplishments to date was bringing together the various instructors who mentored me in my journey in a Zumbathon for Ukraine in November of 2023.  And my greatest delight is the surprise I see in my students (and myself) that this middle-aged man “has the moves”!