The creator of Zumba, Alberto "Beto" Perez like many had a dream and went for it. Although he grew up in a single parent home and had to work three jobs to provide for this family, he knew that he could not let his current circumstances define his future. Beto later developed several fitness videos combining a mixture of fast and slow tempo beats with salsa, meringue, and cumbia dances** making several trips from Colombia (his native country) to Miami to show them to America. Since he did not speak English too well however, these trips continued to be unsuccessful. Finally in 1999 his big break came when a gym manager asked to simply "Teach Me." More and more people trickled into this impromptu class and the rest is history.
Years later the term Zumba has become increasingly more and more popular. With video games, a ZumbaWear clothing line, and being scheduled in practically every gym's group fitness program, its very hard to miss. Deemed by Jordin Sparks as one of her "favorite ways to stay active" and also attributed to her 50 lb. weight loss, I'd have to agree that it is one of my favorites also and that I have met and am a student of the best Zumba instructor ever!
** Zumba is a group fitness class fusing together salsa, meringue, and cumbia dance styles with just about any other types desired (hip hop, disco, etc.) The music accompanied is typically fast paced with down times with slower paced music.**
Yolanda "Yoyo" Lopez, who was born in Inglewood, CA. along with her two younger siblings Donovan and Derek. Life at home in Inglewood was peaceful and happy but during her teenage years the violence that continued to grow while attending public school was enough for the Lopez family to relocate, settling down in Nashville, TN.
BF4U: How was the transition from California to Tennessee?
Yoyo: It was very difficult. I was the only Latina in my school. People were constantly asking me questions, "are you in a gang" or "does your grandmother own a gun" which resulted in me constantly having to defend myself.
Despite this, Yoyo being the boisterous and witty person that she is, showed all of them. Not only with actions but also with her dance skills. Heavily influenced from the musical inspiration from her fathers side and dance from her mothers side, Yoyo had been given a gift and was not afraid to show it off.
Yoyo danced with every opportunity given and as she transferred to McGavock High School, found herself amongst many other ethnicity's including other Latinas making her no longer the jokingly less than one percentile. She later danced at Tennessee State University for the TSU Gems where someone soon proved to be more important than dance, her son Devin.
Devin was born with autism, a condition in which developmental and social skills are impaired. Being a new mother and while learning about autism and its spectrum, Yoyo eventually spun into a monotonous cycle excluding dance in which she describes as a period of "hitting a wall." This cycle continued for many years until Yoyo's aunt introduced her to Zumba. A little reluctant at first, Yoyo attended class and rediscovered her passion deciding to become a licensed Zumba instructor the same day!
BF4U: What does Zumba mean to you?
Yoyo: "Sanity, Love, and Health.....to sum it all up EVERYTHING!"
BF4U: The word FIT with this blog is used as an acronym for Finding Inner Truth, what does that mean to you?
Yoyo: I think that in order to be successful in anything, you have to know who you are and be comfortable with who you are. It means everything because you have to have inner peace and be content with who you are. I don't think it is ever too late to make a change in life because change is good.
BF4U: Being that you have two brothers who also teach class with you how important is that to you?
Yoyo: My brothers are literally like my children and although we have different interests we have a chance to get united and then reunited through Zumba. I can see in peoples' faces how excited they get when they see us and how amazing it is for us to do this together.
"I couldn't be more blessed, they're an attachment of me and there is no one else I'd rather be next to."
I would not have been able to complete this interview without the input of Yoyo's siblings Donovan and Derek, as they add a family aspect to Yoyo's Zumba classes.
BF4U: What does Zumba mean to you?
Derek: Well, for me being the youngest of three, I have been heavily influenced from my brother playing sports. I learned how to be dedicated, and I owe that to him. As far as dancing I was motivated through the both of them [Yoyo and Donovan] to pursue dance.
"We wouldn't be here today without me sister. She helped us find something that we wanted to do."
BF4U: What does Zumba mean to you?
Donovan: I want to first give thanks to God because without him none of this would be possible. Having the opportunity to dance with them [Yoyo and Derek] is a blessing because they are very talented. I think that our parents are responsible for our success because they have always given us great morals to live by.
''In order for your family to be together you have to start from the beginning, you have to set your roots"
What I admired most about these siblings is not only the common interest of Zumba and fitness, but also the support that they give one another. As Donovan and Derek gave Yoyo credit for her accomplishments and for giving them steps to follow in, Yoyo returned the laudatory comments with accomplishments that they themselves had done. This to me showed the epitome of how a brother and sister relationship can flourish and grow stronger throughout the years.
I personally wanted to commend Mr. and Mrs. Lopez on their parenting techniques that are continuously illustrated to/through their children as well as their grandson, Devin. The love that they have for one other was strong enough to uproot their children from one state to another while, as the Lopez siblings agree, never once was seen fighting or arguing.
I first started attending Yoyo's class earlier this year and was blown away by the energy and variety that she offers in her classes. She is an inspiration to all because she herself has struggled with her weight but is seeing the benefits of being healthy and also eating healthy as she has now teamed up with
Herbalife to pair up healthy eating with her Zumba. She is also a genuinely kind person who is sure to lift anyone's spirits. Yoyo, Donovan, and Derek sat down with me and shared their lives and I am ever so appreciative of that.
I know in my heart that these siblings are truly blessed and are going to be successful in everything that they pursue!!!
