Well, it looks like I will be taking a hiatus from teaching evening Zumba® Fitness classes for now. Unfortunately, my last class will have to be this Friday. My studio rate just increased this month, but the space is not large enough to support my class sizes – meaning less income, which equals not enough coming in to cover facility costs. Sometimes we take risks. Sometimes those risks pay off and sometimes they fail. I have learned to see the blessing in my failures. I always learn and grow through them. Zumba® Gold in the mornings at CVPA continues to roll strong. In fact, I will be celebrating my 2 year anniversary teaching Zumba® Gold in Castro Valley this June (woot! woot!). I am trying to work out a situation that will ensure my students get value for any unused portion of their class cards. I will post that solution soon. I am also contemplating early morning classes. Let me know if you would be up for Zumba® at 5:45 AM. God bless you and thank you for your support these last 2.5 years!

I have been amazed by all the calls and new class visitors who have been finding me recently on Yelp! It is a good starting point as it allows one to gain a little insight into what others are experiencing in my classes. Thank you to my wonderful students who have taken the time to share their feedback so that others can get a sense of what to expect in my class.

I really try my best to be consistent and my work ethic is to give my very best effort every time. Sure, I make mistakes every now and then, but we take it in stride – laugh and keep it moving. More than anything, I want people of all levels to have a safe, effective, and enjoyable workout.

My classes are drama free. Sure, folks have their favorite spots, but it is really a “get in where you fit in” environment. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been with me for over a year,  you are welcome in the front row, back row, or any row in between – it’s your call.

Since my classes are designed for ALL levels, I encourage you to modify any movements according to your personal fitness level and ability. I demonstrate high and low impact options, and other modifications as needed. I follow the intermittent training model, varying tempo and intensity to allow opportunities for recovery and focused attention on certain muscle groups or aspects of fitness (stability, strength, endurance, etc.). If at any time you feel the intensity is too high, modify your pace. The most important thing is to keep moving and have fun!

So again, I thank you for Yelping me and hope this post gives a little more insight into my teaching style.

Hope to see you soon!

Updating my look for Spring! I also have demos coming up in May and June! Stay tuned for updates!

Maria ‘Charito’ Martinez and M&M Fitness are graciously hosting a fundraiser to support my 50-mile ride in the Napa Valley Tour de Cure in support of the American Diabetes Association. You will enjoy 90-minutes of exhilarating Zumba® Fitness delivered by 8 local Zumba® fitness instructors. We’re going to have a blast while supporting a great cause. If you or someone you know is living with diabetes, this is an event you wont want to miss! If you are unable to attend, but would like to support the cause you can donate via my personal Tour de Cure web page at http://main.diabetes.org/goto/sharonridesagain.

Saturday, March 16, 2013
6pm – 7:45pm
Admission $10/at door

Thank you for your support! We hope to see you Saturday! See full details below.

Those of you who have been with me for some time know that it is very rare that I ever cancel a class. Yesterday, I was exposed to mold and had a very severe allergic response unlike anything I have ever experienced! WOW! It certainly laid me low. Fortunately, I was able to self-manage the episode and did not require a visit to the ER. It was amazing (albeit very uncomfortable) to observe my body’s innate response to rid the contaminant from my system. Hooray for antibodies!! LOL!!

“Antibodies: Specialized cells of the immune system which can recognize organisms that invade the body (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi). The antibodies are then able to set off a complex chain of events designed to kill these foreign invaders.” http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Antibodies

Physiology was one of my favorite courses, especially the study of the immune and lymphatic systems. So as I suffered with bouts of sneezing, coughing, and nasal congestion, I understood that these mechanisms are all a part of the body’s natural defense system. AND IT WORKED! I am all better today. No drugs. Just rest and water to help flush the toxins out of my system. The human body is simply amazing!

All classes are back on schedule! See you soon!

ZUMBA TONING CANCELLED TONIGHT! Wednesday, March 13th. Sorry for the short notice, but I am struggling with a major allergy attack and am having sneezing fits with nasal congestion every 5 minutes. I took a Zyrtec and hope to be better on Friday. Friday class is still on! Get your workout in with Norma Rene Everline-Norfleet at Dina Star Dancers at 7PM. Thank you for understanding.