Hi, I’m Matthew Ziegler and I love Zumba Fitness classes. The reason is simple: Every class feels like a party! 7 years ago my life changed in a big way. I lost 100 pounds! I love my new size and I know that to maintain my weight I need to exercise everyday. While I was on my weight loss journey I was incredibly motivated, however since losing the weight I struggled to find a way to keep my focus. Then I found Zumba Fitness! I fell in love with it from the start. During other fitness classes, I would find myself constantly looking at the clock waiting for it to be over. This is not the case with Zumba! I am constantly amazed to find an hour has passed so quickly. It is an amazing workout, but even if I do not feel like “working out” I always feel like dancing. It makes me happy, reduces all of my stress and has helped me keep the weight I worked so hard to loose from coming back. I became a Zumba instructor because I want to share this gift I have been given. Throughout my life as a heavy individual I would never have dreamed of taking a fitness class, let alone one that was based in Latin dance! I never wanted people to look at or notice me. I wanted to hide from life. I was not happy about how I looked and could never imagine dancing with or in front of people. Zumba changed all that for me. It changed my life. Slowly but surely I started to break out of my shell. My dance moves were goofy, but somewhere along the way, I realized I was having so much fun that I did not care. Every time I looked in the mirror I would crack myself up. This thing I had dreaded was now a source of joy. I had embraced my inner goofball. In my classes I strive to create an inclusive judgment free environment where everyone can be themselves Be as silly or serious as you want to be. Will I teach you to Samba like a Brazilian girl or teach you to Salsa so well that you will be then envy of everyone in the club? Probably not, but will you have a great time burning calories in a space you are comfortable in? ABSOLUTELY! For me that is what it is all about.