Zumba Birthday

Tomorrow is March 8th, 2013.  One year ago tomorrow, on March 8th, 2012, I went to Diva Den in Tigard at 8:00 in the morning to get licensed to teach Zumba.  It was probably the best decision I've ever made.

One year ago tomorrow, I completed a full-day training that changed my life forever.  I will never be the me I was before March 8th of last year, and I couldn't be happier about that.  

The highlights of my first year of Zumba instructing include:
~Teaching alongside my teacher, C, at East Portland Community Center.  There still is almost no place I would rather be than teaching side-by-side with C, my first Zumba teacher.  She's my "Zumba Mommy."  
~Choreographing my first Zumba routine.  Thank you, Nicki Minaj.  "Starships" was the first song I ever choreographed all by myself.  To this day, I smile when I hear it on the radio.
~C tearing up when she first saw me leading Starships alone.  I know how she felt. When I saw my "Zumba baby" first lead a song on her own, I felt Mama-Birdish myself. 
~Attending 2 Jam Sessions with the fabulous MW!  MW is a well-known local Jammer and I am privileged to have been able to go to TWO of her Jam Sessions (one with another awesome Jammer MM!)
~Meeting one of my best friends, A.  You meet the most amazing people when you pursue what you're passionate about.  (Love you A! xo!)
~Dancing onstage with AC, doing Mamba Negra.  Mamba Negra is a song I took from C, who got it from AC, and I used it on almost every audition I've ever gone on.  At Zumba In The Park last August I met AC for the first time and told her that I do Mamba Negra a lot.  She invited me onto the stage to dance Mamba Negra with her.  I almost fainted!
~Going to the 2013 L.A. Zumba Instructor Conference.  Never in my life have I been so tired, but I wouldn't take it back for anything.  An amazing weekend.
~Meeting Beto, the creator of Zumba.  A and I joke that he's Zumba God.  Lol!
~Having people ask for me by name.
~Being told I make a difference.

I've come a long way in one year.  I've accomplished a lot.  I've learned a lot about myself and others.  I've met some amazing people and done some things that I never thought I could do.  

I'm ready for year #2.  Bring it on!

"When it doubt, tap it out!"
XOXO