Hi guys! How was your day???
Mine was kinda AWESOME.
How could it not be amazeballs when I was surrounded by Zumbies all day?
On the way out the door this morning, I munched an oats and almond milk bowl (with Sun Warrior) and the pilot dropped me off at the hotel where the Mania Fitness convention is being held.
This hotel is HUGE and beautiful.. I’ll be ok hanging out here for the next few days 
(That pic was taken from the hotel lobby- it has a giant sunroof)
I checked in and jumped on the Wi-Fi to post our goofy video and then went to Zumba Basic Instructor Training.
I’m here at the conference because I’m renewing my group fitness cert—it expires at the end of July. In order to renew my cert I could have either taken a very expensive test (which I took two years ago), or come to Atlanta, pay less money and take a boatload of fitness classes and get transfer credits. No choice there (Note: For those of you who may be wondering about teaching group exercise classes, I have the AFAA group fitness cert which needs to be renewed every two years)
Zumba Basic Instructor training was ridiculous. We started off with an hour and a half Master Zumba class. I felt like I was in another world.. it was definitely party planet
After the Master Class, we changed (everyone was DRENCHED in sweat!) and grabbed a snack before lecture:
More dancing + a little lecture + booty shaking
then lunch.
A salad that’s been sitting in a deli case for who-knows-how-long with half an egg and some shrimpies:
With balsamic drizzled on top
+ about 2/3 of this smoothie
I loved the ingredients in this one—different types of fruit juice and flaxseed- but Odwallas are calorie bombs with very little protein (unless you get the whey protein ones and I don’t roll with whey), so I drank a little more than half and called it good.
Back to Zumba for dancing and booty shaking for 3 more hours. Crrrraaazzzzyyyy awesome
Now, I’m sipping water in a fancy glass:
And waiting for my pilot love to pick me up so I can get some FOOOOOOOD 
Whole Foods is very close and so is Trader Joe’s…
A lot of fun stuff is in store for tomorrow:
-Zumba Cardio Party
-Glutes, Guns and Guts
-Steplicious
-Flirty Girl Fitness
I’ll definitely share what I learn and will re-cap it for ya’ll… I also think I may be meeting my bloggy soulmate tomorrow
Have a fabulous night <3
Gina
Something to think:
"Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change." -Jim Rohn
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What a fun day!
I can’t wait for more recaps of your experience. Renewing your certification while taking fun classes must be a blast.
Wow girl, looks like you are having the BEST time
That place is perfect for you — I bet you could stay for a few weeks 
Can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back. Maybe I’ll even get over my Zumba anxiety (I have NO coordination for choreographed dance/wkouts) and *try* a class, hehe
XOXOX
oh my gosh, flirty girl fitness?!
Tell me how it goes, that looks SO fun:)
Sounds like a fantastic time! I can’t wait to hear more. Hubby and I have discussed getting certified for spin at some point and I wouldn’t mind taking the group fitness cert or maybe you have to get group certified to do spin..I dunno, guess I’ll have to research that.
the STEPLICIOUS sounds awesome to me… I used to teach step – my FAVORITE !!
your whole weekend sounds amazing! I still have not tried zumba – I want to, but don’t know if it’s too dancy for me to keep up!!
one of my friends teaches here now, so I need to go to his class… 
Have a FABULOUS weekend!!
The top picture reminds me of the improv group that just started dancing somewhere, like Grand Central or something like that. Totally what it looks like.
Improv Everywhere! I totally love those guys.
That Zumba class looks so fun! I used to do some every once in a while, but I am not very coordinated for such quick dance-type classes….
What a fun place. Yeah, hmmm, should I take a test or go dance/exercise for a few days?
I have heard of Flirty Girl Fitness and I can’t wait to see what you say about it!
Did the Pilot just hang out while you had this convention?
That looks like such a fun day! I’ve been meaning to try Zumba!!! It looks like a fun dance party.
Now that’s my kind of workout and vacay rolled up in one!
Definitely hit up TJs
WAY better choice than taking the exam! What did you think of the master Zumba class- harder than a normal class?
I’ve just started working towards my CPT through ACSM. Having industry experience, what are your thoughts on ACSM?
i’ve heard really good things about the organization
Wow, that looks like a blast! Can’t wait to see the next posts
That conference looks so fun! The classes aren’t open to non-instructors, are they? I’d totally take time off work to try something called Flirty Girl Fitness
They just stopped offering the Zumba class at my gym recently — so sad. If you’re in Atlanta till Saturday, for food there are also a couple of great farmer’s markets pretty close by (well, assuming the conference is somewhere downtown/midtown).
that quote is AMAZING…and i can’t imagine how great it will feel to exercise so much!!! sounds like a no-brainer to me
I love that hotel! I’ve had a couple of drinks at the bar there.
My day was awesome as well but clearly not as awesome as yours! =P Looks like an amazing time, can’t wait for the re-cap!
LOVE that quote! This zumba fitness recert seems like a fun time!
that sounds like a lot of fun! much better than an exam haha
I really love that quote. So true!
Looks like fun! Les Mills is having a major quarterly in Atlanta in August…I so wanted to go, all my friends are going! I get home from vacay the day before so it’s not likely
Have a blast! I can only imagine the electricity and excitement in that hotel, LOL
Looks like you’re seriously going to have a BLAST at this FitnessMania! I lurve the cool water glass too. Those would be fun to have, but a pain to keep in the cupboard!
Also, Odwallas being calorie bombs doesn’t surprise me. I was heartbroken to find out they are owned by Coke!
Odwalla didn’t start out that way, they use to be independently owned and operated, but I understand your frustration about them being owned by Coke. Especially with the purchasing power that Coke has I’m sure the mark up is huge. I didn’t mind as much paying more because it was a smaller company with a lower mark up.
Great quote.
Does Flirty Girl Fitness involve a stripping pole? I’m noticing a lot more of those kinds of classes nowadays, which is kind of cool – taking back something that most folks judge poorly and putting an empowered spin on it!
Oooh I love fitness conferences! I’m off to one from the 13th-15th (same weekend as the Healthy Living Summit unfortunately!) to renew my certs as well and I can’t wait! Enjoy the rest of your trip!
I thought you had B1 as you re a Zumba instructor already right? I took it twice too though…
yup i needed the afaa transfer certs to get my group fitness renewed. also, i wanted to join ZIN and did that yesterday, too
Looks like such fun!!! Have a great Whole Foods run.
Wow that sounds like it’s going to be a lot of working out. But it also sounds like a lot of fun.
This sounds like way more fun than writing a test! Too bad I don’t have alternatives like that to my university exams.
Great quote! Looking forward to the recaps.
umm..I’m super jealous! way fun! now i can’t wait to be a fitness instructor.
hey gina! i’m travelling to chicago and i wanted to share a great place for you to try while you’re there for the healthy living summit — its called the protein bar where you can customize drinks, bowls, wraps, etc not far from downtown/michigan ave area. They have a great selection –I think you’d love it!
http://www.proteinbarchicago.com/
that sounds AMAZING!
Oh, fun! And you are the pilot are so cute. And…speaking of protein (comment above)…I tried protein ice cream. No me gusta. I’ve got two brand-new xantham and guar gums if you or anyone else want them…not my thang! It seems sad to waste them, so someone can let me know if they want them.
I thought it was the SCW fitness mania you were talking about!
Sounds like an AMAZING time! Hope you get to teach Zumba elsewhere since the current place is being a bit jerky!
Hey I was wondering – which cert do you have for nutrition consulting? I’ve been thinking about supplementing my pt cert w/ the sports nutrition cert from SCW.
it is scw
i have an online cert for nutrition but wouldn’t recommend it.. check out INN
What a well-rounded trip! You have a great mix of time with the Pilot, working out & Whole Foods. Have a great time!!
I always wanted to try FLirty girl fitness…blog more about it
i definitely will!
that all sounds like so much fun!
whats out for the Zumbies!! ahhhh <3
watch*
This looks like so much fun! I hope you have a good time in Hotlanta!
whoa, who’s your bloggie soulmate?! and can’t wait for the meetup deets!
“but Odwallas are calorie bombs with very little protein (unless you get the whey protein ones and I don’t roll with whey)”–OMG I totally agree! I have never really understood the point of drinking those…they are sooo expensive and other than the free samples at WFs that I sometimes score for skylar, I never partake in those for that very reason. I prefer to chew my calories
I LOVE that you didnt take the easy way out, i.e. pay money and do a test. Not that that would have been “Easy” but it’s a very diff story from driving to ATL and meeting all these new ppl and taking REAL, LIVE fitness classes. That’s one issue I have with distance-courses for yoga…some is fine but nothing beats real live in the flesh classes/interaction w/ others!
have fun girl!!!!!!!!
Awesome post Gina! Do you have any sessions with Mindy Mlyrea or Keli Roberts? They are WONDERFUL to learn from!
i’m not sure– i’ll check and see!
That shrimp salad looks delish even if it has been around for awhile, lol.
Jenn
Oh my God. All day Zumba would be like my dream, How incredibly fun! I am so jealous.
omigosh! what fun!
I love hotels. Is that weird? Your water glass is pretty fancy! Hope you’re having a blast!!
i like hotels, too- not weird at all
My AFAA cert is up in February and I want to do the fitness convention route too!!!!
BTW I am going to get officially Zumba certified this fall!
The WF on W Paces Ferry Rd in Buckhead (which I’m guessing is the one that you’re going to) has 2/4 new Larabar flavors… chocolate chip cookie dough and carrot cake!
i got both of them!!! wahooooooo!!
You are definitely in your element. What’s the pilot doing while you’re “working”; hanging w/ the family?
yup he went shooting with his dad yesterday and today they’re going fishing. male bonding
Great quote Gina. It’s too often that I find people wishing things would get better, or be different, but they do nothing to help it along. I’m going to keep this one handy! So glad to hear you’re having a great time!
This looks like so much fun!
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