Today we’d like to introduce you to Sally Rodriguez.
Hi Sally, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I teach Zumba classes at The Fitness Connection gyms in Garland and Allen. I started out subbing for instructors who needed their classes covered and it grew to having my own classes. Sounds cliche but I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember. As soon as the music started I would not stop. When I was around 11 , my mom found a Zumba class at the Garland recreation center, we went every week, religiously. I danced and danced, followed the instructors’ every move, and when I was old enough to work, which back then was 14yrs of age, I signed up to get Zumba certified. I was so excited to teach my own classes, I started with small classes here and there but it was only a hobby. Couldn’t be happier. Then around the age of 17 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and as she fought, I fell into a deep depression, and stopped doing what I loved. Thankfully she made a full recovery and is still here with us today, my #1 fan, always the 1st in my class ready to dance. I’m glad I got re-certified because here I am, dancing like no one is watching💃.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not as smooth as i would have liked but you know, you live and you learn.
My late teens were not so nice, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and my parents were going through a divorce, I fell into a deep depression, started hanging with the wrong crowd and experimented with drugs. I began to isolate from my friends and family. I thought I could hide it but it caught up with me, mentally, financially, emotionally and physically. I knew I wanted more, I knew I had to change. So I got clean began to work on myself and got recertified. I fell in love and after that everything has been falling right into place.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love to sing, dance and work with animals. My boyfriend and I are training a total of 7 dogs in hopes of finding them their forever homes. I hope to open up my own rescue one day.
Dance has always been with me. So much that when the time came for my quinceañera, I choreographed the whole thing. I loved it so much that I went on to choreograph multiple quinceañeras and sweet 16s. I use that same creativity in my classes. A lot of my classes include dances that have been choreographed by me. Being a Zumba instructor gives me the freedom to express my inner self, It’s more than a workout.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Zumba apps help my creativity, Spotify helps keep my music organized, instagram and facebook help me promote my classes. YouTube with Bailey Sarian helps me destress
Pricing:
- Gym Fees
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyyy.rod
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CxENFjBAa/
