Shellane Demarest

As a child, I was overweight. In high school, I played sports like soccer and softball in hopes of staying healthy and losing weight but Mom's fried chicken and white rice was keeping that weight on. Then I joined the US ARMY. I struggled with weight then. I pass my Physical Fitness Tests, but I always ended up getting my measurements taped because of my weight. To keep me from being over weight, it was recommended that I be enrolled in remedial physical training. That actually sparked my interest in teaching others. I learned so much and I wanted to help others. After I got out of the military in 1992, I was no longer getting up at 5:00am to workout. Unfortunately, old habits came back and I started to pack on the weight again.  I was too embarrassed to attend a gym, so I bought Taebo tapes. The weight started to come off. I became confident enough to join a gym. In 1999, I went to a kickboxing class and my life has never been the same. I loved being in class and asked the the instructor who was also the Director how I can become an Instructor. She gave me AFAA's website and I attended the APEX that year to receive my Primary Group Fitness Instructor's certification. I taught various freestyle classes from Kickboxing, BOOTCAMPS, Hip Hop, and body sculpting classes. It wasn't until I got certified in BODYPUMP in 2006 that I truly felt confident in my teaching. Now empowered with both freestyle education through AFAA and continuing education with Les Mills I feel like I have the best of both worlds as I give back to society. I love teaching and helping others. I became a Group Exercise Director in 2009 and I use this position to help other instructors further their career, the same way that my Director and friend Arlene did for me.