Teaching Zumba classes at the Kerrisdale Community Centre for 12 years, Tanya Hillson draws deeply from both her Caribbean heritage and Latin dance background.
“My family comes from Trinidad and Tobago, which is the birthplace of soca and calypso music, the steel drum and limbo, and home to the world’s largest Caribbean carnival,” says Hillson, who was born and raised in Vancouver but frequently visited Trinidad as a child and teen. “Latin dance is also popular on the island, which is what originally sparked my interest in learning salsa, merengue and other Latin dances.”
A BCRPA-registered fitness leader since 2003, Hillson aims to create a safe space for self expression in her classes while also helping students realize that “life is not so serious and that achieving a vibrant and powerful fitness level can feel joyful and playful.”
Her favourite thing about teaching Zumba? The sense of freedom and creative expression inherent with the dance-based workout. “It’s an opportunity for people to shake off stress and get lost in the music. It’s also such a treat to see people spanning from teenage years all the way into their 70s and 80s, people of different backgrounds and fitness levels, all together laughing and sweating,” says Hillson, who adds that her biggest achievement is seeing her classes consistently fill up and hearing how they’ve had a positive impact on her students’ lives.
Also a CIRCL Mobility instructor, certified holistic health coach and EFT practitioner, Hillson still finds time to enjoy cooking and trying new foods, taking walks in nature and dipping her feet in the ocean.
Check out the energetic Hillson in teaching action here, then drop in or purchase a 10-visit Group Fitness pass for her current (see below) and upcoming classes (see our Summer 2024 Guide):
• Group Fitness – Zumba (Mondays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
• Group Fitness – Zumba (Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
• Group Fitness – Zumba (Saturdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m.)
• Group Fitness – Zumba Toning (Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m.)
• Group Fitness – Zumba Toning (Thursdays, Noon-1 p.m.)
• Group Fitness – Zumba + CIRCL Mobility (Fridays, Noon-1 p.m.)
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