Zumba classes ‘changed my life’

By Community Reporter Rianna Newman

Knowle West fitness instructor Kelly Skuse decided to take up Zumba after “looking into a class window and seeing everyone having fun”.

This prompted the mother-of-four to attend her first session in the Latin-inspired dance-aerobics craze the following week.

Kelly (33) recalls: “Although I didn’t know the moves, it was easy to follow and I was officially hooked.”

Following a year of classes, she decided to train as an instructor, and qualified in September 2013 – now running weekly sessions at Filwood Community Centre.

She explains: “I wanted to teach because Zumba helped me to gain confidence and lose weight whilst having fun, so I wanted to help people that were in the same boat as me when I first started.”

To date, Kelly has lost more than eight stone and says Zumba has been ‘completely life changing’.

Before taking up the exercise, she describes herself as “depressed, overweight and with very low self-esteem”, only occasionally using the gym. She now takes a range of regular fitness classes and considers herself “so much healthier…”

She says Zumba is suitable for all ages and abilities – although recommends consulting a GP beforehand if you have an illness, injury or disability.

Classes run every Wednesday from 6-7pm at Filwood Community Centre and people are welcome to just turn up. For further information contact Kelly on 0741 552 6901.