Marissa Evans

My name is Marissa, and I got kicked out of my first Zumba class.... YES! And wait….yoga too! My first experience was nerve-wracking and when I'm nervous, sometimes, I laugh. In this class, I was laughing at myself. I was having fun and not getting any of the moves! This class was packed FULL! Because of my laughing, I was asked to leave. I remember how it made me feel. I remember people not even asking my name. A few years past, my husband bought a gym where we first met and I later became the fitness director. The area was considered a low income community, but with a lot of heart- and a lot of fitness and health needs. Through the help of their insurance (and sometimes payments in the form of meals for me), I never forgot how they made me feel…. VALIDATED that I am doing the right thing. It was my job to not just make sure they got a good workout with what they could do or what they needed to modify so they could make it for themselves, but I made it my mission to remember their names- because they felt it important to remember mine. By showing up, I was able to do the same for them. The gratitude and heartfelt relationships I still have today, will always remain in the forefront of my journey. Fast forward to today, I now own my own studio where I make it my priority to make sure everyone who walks through my doors has their own personal and best experience. I became licensed because I wanted to do things differently in my own class someday. I want folks to laugh and to follow my queuing and to be a part of this amazing community. I wanted them to feel not only good about themselves in the class and the experience, but if it was their first experience entirely- I wanted it to be a good one. I was that girl in the back who was easily forgotten about, now it is my mission to show folks that fitness is NOT getting kicked out of a class because you're nervous, but rather a party where you can let loose and empower yourselves to empower and uplift others. A place where any baked BODY, whether upright or wheeled in, feels SAFE and therefore able to do good for themselves. If anyone can be in their journey, and allow me to play a small part, I am humbled and honored to do so.  If you're that person in the back- I see you. My classes are unique, diverse and welcoming. I am and offer space that will always foster diverse and level ground for which all of us are able to be. We all have the same goal; to better ourselves. (Myself included). I hope to make fitness fun and a part of everyone’s lifestyle whom I get the honor of meeting (and sweating with!).  I hope you enjoy and I can't wait to meet you!
Fit-Fully Yours,
Riss