MixxedFit Masterclass Getting Kittanning in Shape Saturday
More than a dozen Richard G. Snyder YMCA members follow the lead of Fitness Director Hillary Brown and Instructor Carly Rice during Tuesday’s MixxedFit class.
by Jonathan Weaver
MixxedFit, the dance-crazed workout taking over the Richard G. Snyder YMCA, will be available to members and non-members this Saturday morning during a special class.
Fitness Director Hillary Brown will teach the class, along with Carly Rice and Dana Mantini, from 9-10:30AM to raise money for the YMCA’s annual campaign.
“MixxedFit is a people-inspired dance/fitness program, with a mix of boot camp toning and explosive dancing,” Brown said. “It’s very repetitive dancing, repetitive moves so you can put a lot more into it. It’s a lot of fun.
“We’re all about what our participants want. Lot of fun – great workout.”
During the hour, participants from teenagers to senior citizens work out their entire body, with plenty of cardio exercises – all without any equipment.
This Saturday, for $10, interested local residents or those visiting the area due to the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival in Kittanning are welcome to try out the workout.
“It’s very new to the east coast – it’s huge on the west coast (after) it started in Seattle – so we’re trying to kind-of bring it here,” Brown said. “It’s my job as a master educator and national trainer to spread it in (Pennsylvania).”
Brown said this Saturday’s outdoor class on one of the YMCA soccer fields will also be open to all ages.
“Basically, just come as you are. Wear comfy clothes, ready to work out. It’s a 90-minute class, but that does not mean you have to go all 90 minutes – if (you) have to ease up a little, sit out a song, that’s totally fine. We just want people to come and spread the love.
“A lot of people try it out for the first time and they love it.”
In place of an indoor sound system, Kittanning DJ Mike Totos will be available to provide high-energy music – perhaps the Ariana Grande, Jason DeRulo and Selena Gomez hip-hop mixes played at Tuesday’s workout.
“I’ve done a lot of stuff at the Y – mainly for the kids. I’m excited about (Saturday),” Totos said. “It’ll be high-energy and make you sweat.”
Brown, of West Kittanning, started teaching MixxedFit in February after a workshop in December brought interest to the local area. She also teaches Cardio Kick (formerly known as Body Combat), Zumba and Boot Camp.
During the week, Brown teaches MixxedFit at 7:15PM Monday, 5PM Tuesday and Thursday and at 9:45AM Saturday. Classes Tuesday and Thursday are usually the busiest, with about 20-25 members.
“The classroom is usually pretty full – we started with the Tuesday/Thursday and it became so popular, we then added Saturday and then we added it Monday, too,” Brown said.
Rice was one of Brown’s Zumba students. A dancer since she was four years old, Rice began as a Wellness Attendant at the Richard G. Snyder YMCA until Brown recruited her.
“Hillary told me all about it, and it sounded like something I’d really be interested in,” Rice said. “I like to dance, and I hate running – anything that involves treadmills – so it’s a great way to exercise and continue to dance.”
Rice, of Kittanning, is also a law student at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
“The people that come to our class are crazy about it – they seriously love it,” Rice said. “You can see about everyday somebody post after class ‘great workout today, had so much fun’ or ‘getting there’s always the hard part, but so glad I came.’
“I’m always shocked by how many people out there are like ‘c’mon friends, you’ve got to check this out.’
Two of Brown’s students in other YMCA classes transitioned to MixxedFit.
Casey Gilbertsen, of Ford City, was drenched with sweat, but still had a smile on her face following Tuesday’s class.
“I’ve been doing aerobics classes with Hillary for years now – she’s my favorite instructor. She brought this here, and I’ve been dancing since I was a cheerleader at Ford City,” Gilbertsen said.
Breezlin Lash, of Kittanning, is one of the youngest members of the class and will be a sophomore at Armstrong Junior-Senior High this Fall. She also has met several friends through the class.
She has also been part of the MixxedFit class since it started, after also following Brown from the Zumba classes.
“Its good exercise – I do it three times a week,” Lash said.
Proceeds from raffle baskets at the masterclass will also go toward the YMCA campaign.
Local News | jweaver July 29, 2015
