Congratulations to our September Fitness Instructor of the Month, Sheri Palizzi!

Check out her story here:

I know it sounds crazy but I have always loved to exercise.  It’s part of who I am.  I played sports in high school and even though I wasn’t very good at any of them, I loved being part of a team.  Going to practice and being pushed/encouraged by my coaches made me want to stay healthy and strong.  After graduation, I worked an 8-5 job and went to college part-time in the evenings.  I did what I needed to do to stay in shape…an occasional hike, played co-ed softball, lifted a few weights, etc.  I never gave much thought about becoming a Fitness Instructor until after I had my first child.  I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom and the minute my daughter turned 6 months old, I joined a local gym.  I was there 5-6 days a week taking classes and lifting weights.  One day the owner approached me and asked if I had ever thought about becoming a fitness instructor. To which I replied with a sturdy “no.” She asked me to think about it.  The more I thought about it the more it sounded like a fun “part-time” job.  I would get paid to exercise!  That sounded great!  If I was going to pursue this, I needed to get my Group-Ex Certification.  In December of 1995 I received my ACE Group-Ex Certification and started teaching fitness classes at the local gym and eventually at the local Recreation Center.  As much as I loved teaching Group-Ex classes I felt a desire to do something more so, in April of 2007 I received my AFAA Personal Training Certification. Working more one-on-one with clients was just what I needed…or so I thought!  One day my boss at the Rec Center asked me if I would be interested in teaching SilverSneakers classes.  I had no idea what this was.  She said that it was a class specifically designed for adults 65 and over.  Teaching “older people” how to exercise sounded scary to me!  I definitely wasn’t sure about this.  Again, it required doing a training to get certified.  I did the training, received my certification and I was hooked!!  Of all the certifications I have received over the last 29 years, working with adults 65 and older has been the highlight of my fitness career.  I even worked for SilverSneakers as an Instructor Coordinator for several years.  This was a very rewarding position as it helped me to become a better instructor and trainer.   

Aging gracefully and getting and staying strong helps folks to be independent for as long as possible. This applies to every age group.  A healthy lifestyle is so very important…and that includes eating whole foods, strength training, cardiovascular training, flexibility training and having a good mindset.  Fitness should be fun!  We need to “play” with the equipment, not just work-out on it.  Being in an environment where wellness is a priority will help you to achieve that healthy lifestyle.  Having a coach to help guide you, whether it’s a Group-Ex Instructor, a Personal Trainer, or a work-out buddy, will help you stay on track.  We do not stop exercising because we grow old, we grow old because we stop exercising.