by on

This year’s International Dance Day landed on a Monday when I only teach STRONG by Zumba and not Zumba.  So with the new #ZumbaBreaks campaign, I decided to do just that… break into a Zumba song in the middle of their workout!  They had no idea so it was a surprise.

Mind you, I have learned that those who love STRONG by Zumba are not fond of Zumba.  They are not dance lovers, but more HIIT lovers (High Intensity Interval Training) so you can only imagine what they felt when they heard that we were going to dance. I’m sure some wanted to kill me… but one song won’t kill them!

Thanks everyone for being such great sports. ❤️

by on

During the day, I am a realtor who helps clients buy, sell and even rent homes.  Working with so many different personalities, it can become a bit stressful.  I find that ending my day with a workout helps me get my mind off of work and back to myself and my health.  I also find that I am not alone.

I also teach fitness classes at night (STRONG by Zumba & Zumba) and have learned that many of my students have their own kind of stress.  Some are college students, some work in an office all day, some may have been laid off, have their own problems at work/home, and some are super moms and dads who play every role a human can play and more. The variety of stress levels are endless, but the one thing we have in common is that we choose fitness to deal with our stress.

Whatever your day may look like, whatever problems you may have, whatever negative feelings you are feeling… taking a fitness class helps make the stress go away during that one-hour you dedicate to yourself.  Once you finish your workout, your endorphins kicks in and you begin to feel good about yourself naturally.  It’s a win-win situation.

Remember, the harder the workout is, the more you feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete it.  End result, self-esteem goes up, mood is positive and you leave feeling like you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way because your stress level went back down again.  This is how you deal with stress the fit way.

ZZ of SoFlo

by on

 

✨The most magnificent experience I ever had, where instead of making a wish, I prayed… and as soon as we continued our hike down the mountain, a rainbow appeared in the middle of the sacred valley. Coincidence? Maybe… but for me, it was a response and a sign from above. 🌈

Have you ever experience something similar?  Comment below and share your story!  I would love to hear it ☺️

 

by on

When I look back at all the amazing stuff that has happened in 2018, it reminds me how much I have grown since I started working on my own.  I remember I was scared, timid, shy, afraid of failing, and just about every insecure feeling you could think of.  But something told me to do it, to keep going and don’t stop.  I prayed a lot and learned to walk blindly in faith and believing that everything was going to be ok.  And it was ok.

Now, I’m the opposite.  I’ve grown to be confident, smarter, stronger, more assertive and everything I only dreamed about when I was a child.  Ask me to speak in front of a crowded room of strangers and I have no fear.  I know what I like, what I don’t like, what is right for me and what is wrong.  And when in doubt, I pray and ask for guidance and put it in God’s hands.  I ultimately learned to let go and let God.

2018… thanks for all the memories.  2019… I’m ready!

by on

Wow, what an amazing month! What can I say but except that I am surrounded by wonderful friends, colleagues and an even more amazing Zumba community that helped raise money to give to Hogar San Pedro, an organization located in Chosica, Peru who are dedicated in helping children and adults of all ages with special needs and who have been abandoned by their caretakers.  All the residents and staff members were so happy and thankful for the good works we all participated in.

First and foremost, the event was a big success!  Special thanks to Kathy Fontaine who opened up her studio for us to dance in and burn up a sweat.  All the instructors (Alisa, Sandra, Janina, Gabriela, Aryan, Javier and Tamara) did an amazing job and showcased all their different styles and genres that kept the party going for 2 hours.  I seriously could not have done it without this team.  And a very special thanks to all the participants who donated and made my birthday celebration an event to remember.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Now for Hogar San Pedro.  Located in Chosica, Peru which turned out to be a 2.5 hour drive from Lima, Peru.  My cousin Tito (who is more like my brother) and his wife, Susana, along with my niece, Xiomara, and 6 month old nephew, Luigi, drove us in the heat and traffic to our final destination.  Once we arrived, we were greeted by the staff members who have dedicated over 30 years of their lives in helping and taking care of its residents.

After a delicious lunch (Spaghetti & Meat Sauce along with Papa a la Huancaina, a Peruvian staple), the staff introduced us to all the residents.  I honestly thought I would be crying the whole time, but every face I met smiled no matter what condition they suffered.  I realized my husband and I were there to make them smile, to love them and give them hugs.  With hardly no family to visit them, the fact that visitors from the United States came to visit was exciting and something for them to look forward to.  They all have a special place in my heart now and think about all of them since my return home.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Thank you again to all who made this long-time dream of mine happen.  I do plan on continuing to hold events and raise money for this organization and hopefully visit again.  With about 20 adults and 9 children, this organization will need help to continue providing for the rest of their lives.  Let’s see what the future has in store ❤️

by on

What is STRONG by Zumba? Well, it definitely isn’t a dance class. It is a High Intensity Interval Training workout also known in the fitness world as HIIT. Where does Zumba fit into the equation? Zumba reverse-engineered each song to match the moves and intensity to help push you through each squat, lunge, burpee and even pushups.

Why do I love it?  Let me tell you, it’s intense.  I consider myself an active person, but always had trouble losing my baby fat, especially around my waist.  It’s challenging and sometimes my heart-rate is through the ceiling, but the results have been amazing.  Because I am so active, STRONG by Zumba forces me to take my fitness to the next level with no way around it.  I’ll post my before & after photo soon, but so far this has been the only workout where I see the changes in my body and feel stronger at the same time.  So if you want to take your fitness to the next level and really challenge yourself, I highly suggest taking a class and see if it’s the right workout for your fitness goals.

If you would like more information about STRONg by Zumba and to find a class near you, go to http://www.strongbyzumba.com

by on

You are cordially invited to my birthday celebration on Friday, September 21st starting at 7 pm at JK Dance Fitness Studio in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Join me along with my amazing fellow instructors Kathy Alba Fontaine, Alisha Caesar, Aryan Demaret, Vallejo Javier, Janina Johnson, Gabriela Alegre & Sandra Fuller.

I’m also happy to announce our Special Guest Instructor of the night, Tamara Roy from Miami, owner of Nago Academy Miami LLC and former Miami Heat dancer, dancing with us for the 1st time at JK Dance Fitness Studio.

MONEY RAISED WILL BE DONATED TO HOGAR SAN PEDRO IN LIMA, PERU (My husband and I will be hand-delivering the funds to the organization)

ABOUT HOGAR SAN PEDRO:
Hogar San Pedro is a non-profit charitable work of the dedicated to the care and recovery of children and adults with limited economic resources, special needs and severe health conditions who have been abandoned by their caretakers.

For more information, please visit their website: Hogar San Pedro Facebook Page

Pre-Sale Tickets $15
$20 at the door
PAYPAL ONLY to zule@zzevallos.com
PAYPAL LINK >>>> https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z6BBCNQZWE7C4

Hope to see you there!

 

by on

I had the pleasure in being part of Zumba instructor, Kathy Fontaine’s Birthday Bash at JK Dance Fitness in Fort Lauderdale, along with outstanding ZIN instructors, Gabriela Alegre and Aryan Demaret.

Zumba is a great way to get moving, dance to a wide-variety of music genres, make new friends & create a community of health conscious individuals.  Add a couple of energetic instructors in one class and you have a 90 minute fitness party.  And that’s what we did to celebrate Kathy’s birthday.

If you live in the area, or visiting Fort lauderdale to get away from the northern cold, make sure to visit JK Dance Fitness.  Located in Fort Lauderdale’s art district called MASS District (short for Music & Arts South of Sunrise), it’s a great way to burn some calories, meet some locals all while having fun.

For more information, visit JK Dance Fitness’ website for a list of classes available (http://www.jkdancefitness.com/)

PHOTO GALLERY

Kathys Birthday Zumba Bash ZZ of SoFlo 2
Kathys Birthday Zumba Bash ZZ of SoFlo 2
Kathys Birthday Zumba Bash Group Pic
Kathys Birthday Zumba Bash Group Pic
Kathys Birthday Zumba Bash ZZ of SoFlo
Kathys Birthday Zumba Bash ZZ of SoFlo

ZUMBA WITH ZZ VIDEO

by on

When I first heard this song, I couldn’t wait to add it to my playlist for my Zumba® class. Sure Zumba® can be high-energy and a non-stop exhilarating hour-long workout, but it’s also good to bring the heart rate down after it’s been up for a couple of energetic songs.  It helps the heart become stronger and build it’s endurance.

Plus, I enjoy when my students can actually learn some dance moves and then add their own flavor to it.  I want my students to dance with me and feel like they can master learning choreo so they can practice it on their own.  No one wants to feel lost all the time, at least I don’t like to.  Once you learn the choreo and hear the song in class, you can dance to it and feel good that you got the choreo down packed.  Then it’s time for a new song, new choreo, and new dance moves to learn.  Learning never stops. Dancing to new rhythms should never stop as well.

I wonder what style of dance or genre of music will be next.  I guess you have to stick around to find out 🙂

To find out my class schedule, go to my Zumba website for all the details!  Hope to see you soon!

ZZ

by on

For the first time ever, Fly Girl with Lisa Marie is coming to Miami, Friday, February 23rd at Nago Academy in Miami.

What is Fly Girl?  Who remembers watching “In Living Color” on TV wishing you were one of the dancers who called themselves the Fly Girls.  And let’s face it, the hip hop music they danced to, til this day, is your favorite style of hip hop to get down to.  This is where Jennifer Lopez got her big break as a professional dancer and still the fly-est girl we know in the entertainment industry.

Lisa Marie brings your inner Fly Girl and breaks down dance moves that takes you back to the 90s and beyond.  All the music we sang and danced to what made the 90s such an amazing era in street dance.

And the best news is that you don’t have to be a professional to enjoy this event! Lisa Marie is known to make dance moves simple, easy and fun while working up a sweat.  So grab your girlfriends, and even your guy friends (who said guys weren’t fly?) and don’t miss Fly Girl with Lisa Marie in Miami!

Fly Girl with Lisa Marie – Miami:

When:  Friday, February 23, 2018

Time:  7:00 pm Registration/ 730-9:00 pm Class/ 9:00-9:30 pm Meet & Greet

Where: Nago Academy Miami, 2556 NE 189th Terrace, Miami, FL 3318 (http://www.nagomiami.com/)

Cost: Presale $25/ Door $30
VIP tickets $35 – includes Fly Girl tee-shirt ($25 value), early admission, front row access, and exclusive pics!

Lisa Marie Website: http://www.lisamarie.tv/