A Passion for Dancing Her Way to Fitness

A Passion for Dancing Her Way to Fitness

  • 25 Oct 2016
  • Rheanna Mathews
  • Features

How a Kochi Mom-of-Three got her groove back: A conversation with Anju Antony of Passion The Fitness Studio

Words by Rheanna Mathews              Photographs from Passion The Fitness Studio

 

Anju Antony, of Passion The Fitness Studio, is a busy woman; a mother, teacher and a Zumba instructor. She laughs easily and sounds like she's simply bubbling with energy – just your everyday fitness fairy.

How did you get into fitness?

I gained a lot of weight after I had my third child and there were some health concerns involved. It was like a wake-up call for me. So at first, I started “gymming”. But it was so monotonous! And while I was looking for alternatives, I discovered Zumba.

What made you open your own studio?

I’m a teacher by profession. I teach kindergarten kids. So, as a teacher, it’s in my nature to share. I wanted to give to others what I had found.

What kind of response have you received?

Oh, the response has been great. When I started out, I began with five students, women in their 30s and 40s who had become conscious of their health and the need to get fit again. But now, I have around 300 students, of all ages. Zumba helps you get fit, yes, but you also have so much fun while doing it. And that draws people in.

And what kind of music do you use in your classes?

Zumba has Latin American roots. So we use a lot of music from that region, but mostly Latin, salsa, hip-hop, merengue, Cumbia, belly-dancing and Bollywood music. I try to keep the music varied and interesting. People with varied tastes come to attend the classes, so I try to have something for everyone.

Who, would you say, is your role model?

(Laughs) That would be… Shwetambari Shetty. I simply love her passion, her drive.

Do you think a diet is a necessary addendum to dance fitness?

Sometimes, people come to the studio with specific targets, like a wedding or some other function in the next month or two. So we analyze their body, their metabolism, etc and tailor a diet plan for them.

Diet never means starving oneself. That is the biggest misconception people have. When you do that, your body goes into shock, and when you can’t take it anymore, you just binge again. Really, all you need to do is eat healthy and live well.

What impact has your fitness studio had on your students? Do any particular instances stand out?

I’ve noticed that once they become mothers, women just tend to give up on their fitness. Coming here seems to have renewed their self-confidence. One of my students, an older lady, came to me as an acute diabetic. But Zumba has helped her positively, and she doesn’t need to get insulin shots anymore.

Another one of my students, a grandmother, never misses a class, because, she says, this is something that makes her happy.

When you’re fit, you just feel good about yourself and your body.

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