It's 4:50 p.m. on a Monday afternoon. People are starting to file into the gymnasium at the local YMCA in Hilo. Mostly working women, they range in age from the late 20's to mid-70's. From every corner of the city, they come to exercise via Zumba. Over the next hour, they'll get the endorphin rush that comes with vigorous exercise, but they come for more than just the workout.
At 5 p.m. sharp, our instructor, Kanani De Sa, takes the stage and after some brief announcements and an opening prayer, the music starts pumping and room is bouncing to salsa rhythms and meringue beats. Our normal class of 40-50, has swelled to as many as 80 since the beginning of the year as people hustle to fulfill their New Year's Resolutions. Statistically, by February 1st, 30% of people who started a new diet or exercise program have given up. By March 1, nearly 80% have lost the belief that they can make any of the significant changes they committed to on January 1st. But that's not the case in Kanani De Sa's class.
Like every great teacher, Kanani connects with her students at a level that is beyond the subject matter. They come for the exercise and fellowship, but what keeps them there is the environment that Kanani creates where all are seen as precious and whole. A deeply religious woman, she sees Zumba as her "personal ministry." A fitness instructor for years, Kanani has a loyal following of women that have followed her through Tae Bo, Jazzercise and cardio kick-boxing.
"Everyone is special and we need to inspire and treat them that way. It's all about loving people "where they are at" regardless of what they're trying to achieve physically. God gave us bodies to experience life and we have to take care of ourselves." says Kanani.
One person she inspired is 59-year old Smith Kaleohana (pictured with Kanani above) who lost nearly 100 pounds since taking up Zumba 18 months ago. While most people are content to exercise 2-3 times a week, "Smitty"goes seven days a week, encouraged by Kanani to learn from other instructors on days she doesn't offer a class.
"When I first came, I could barely move," says Smitty. "But Kanani kept encouraging me to stick with it, so I started coming more often as I got stronger. It's changed my whole life."
For Smitty and dozens of others who come to class each week, Kanani is more than just a fitness instructor. She is the "holder of their belief" that they could be more than they currently are, she gives us the canvas that allows us to paint our dreams and keeps the light of faith shining on us when we're close to giving up on ourselves.
At every critical turning point in our lives, there was a great teacher that "held the belief" for us when we couldn't see it ourselves. The greatest gift we can give anyone is to believe in them and you don't have to be a classroom teacher or Zumba instructor. Each person we love is empowered and strengthend by our belief in them, and in that way, we connect at a very deep and influential level where our belief becomes their inspiration. Every great achievement in our lives starts with inspiration.
A the beginning of Zumba class, I line up next to Smitty (we're generally the only two men in the class) and we exchange a handshake or a fist bump to signify that we're both glad to be there. The music starts and we look up to see Kanani's smiling face and boundless energy. It's enough to break us through the fatigue we feel at the end of a long day, but in a split second we see the reason we're there.
Her belief in us becomes our inspiration.
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