Instructor inspires dancing divas with the joy of fitness | News
It takes just one person to inspire others and make a great impact on the community.
At the Chino Senior Center, Zumba instructor Gwen Jones, 56, has built a network that exceeds the boundaries of her physical classroom, and even crosses state lines.
Ms. Jones, a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor for over 20 years, began teaching at the Senior Center in 2010, and now has a dedicated team of women ages 50 and up who are exercising and dancing along with her.
Ms. Jones became interested in physical exercise as a young woman while being involved in sports and dance as a teenager.
This love for fitness inspired her to start her own business, Treasured Footsteps, in 2005 where she provided in-home fitness exercises and classes for seniors.
When she finally moved her classes to the Senior Center, a community of women quickly sprouted.
Lupe Solorio, a longtime Chino resident who worked for over 20 years in the California Department of Corrections, began taking classes with Ms. Jones over a decade ago.
Mrs. Solorio said that Ms. Jones has developed a close relationship with many of her clients, and calls to check in on clients who are ill.
The COVID pandemic forced Ms. Jones to switch gears and figure out how to engage the senior community online through Zoom.
Navigating internet connection issues and the lack of in-person conversation was challenging at times.
The pandemic both separated the community and brought them closer as many of her clients lost siblings or children due to COVID.
Ms. Jones, who lives in San Bernardino, formed a prayer group with some of her clients during this time to provide support to the ladies and anyone else in their classes.
She still hosts Zoom classes for those who cannot attend in person or wish to continue social distancing. Continuing virtual classes has allowed her clients to invite their out-of-state friends and family to participate, she said.
Ruth Beaugh, a Chino resident who joined the Zumba class about 10 years ago, said the online classes provided the ladies with interaction and humor during lockdown.
“There were lot of funny times with her learning Zoom,” she said. “There were times that she’d be dancing, and we couldn’t hear the music.”
Because her clients are of different age ranges and capabilities, she provides a challenge through other activities too.
“We have a group of ladies who walk flat, to the park, and then we have a group of ladies who want a little more challenge and they might walk the Eucalyptus trail in Chino Hills,” she said. “Then we always eat at Bravo Burger.”
Ms. Jones said she tries to plan two events a month, including outdoor walks, fitness workshops, and holiday parties. Her Zumba Gold class performs at local events, such as the Multicultural Festival in Chino Hills in April and Chino Days in March.
Carmen Polak, a Chino Hills resident, has taken classes with Ms. Jones for eight years, and attends her outdoor cardio blast class on Saturdays in Aguiar Square on Sixth Street. After retiring, Mrs. Polak attended a local gym, but realized she did not like exercising by herself.
“I instantly loved the class, I just loved the way she was teaching us,” said Mrs. Polak. “There were about 20 ladies all around my age.”
A typical class involves warm up exercises, 15 to 20 minutes of cardio, weight training exercises, four or more Zumba dance numbers, and cool down stretches, but Ms. Jones adjusts to different clients’ capabilities, said Mrs. Polak.
Since beginning classes at the Senior Center in 2010, the community has experienced deaths, births of grandchildren and other life changes, but Ms. Jones will stay with them even as the group evolves.
“I drive to Chino four or five times a week because I have built a clientele there with my ladies, and I will never leave them.”
