Dancing to hip hop to get healthy
Shake into Shape Hip Hop Dance Workout infuses basic aerobics steps with the latest hip hop songs and dance moves. More than a dozen people participat-ed in the first course held at Wilson Park Training Facility.
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
This summer an aerobics course unlike any other is being offered at the Wilson Park Training Facility in Clemmons.
Shake into Shape is a workout program that infuses basic and intermediate aerobics steps with the latest hip-hop songs and dance moves. The total body workout burns fat, tones the entire body, and strengthens the cardiovascular system.
The course was designed by Abriana Kimbrough and Alexis Moore, who lost a combined 80 pounds by following a similar workout routine and adopting a healthier diet. Before the start of the first course held on Saturday, June 25, Kimbrough said in the black community, we need to under-stand that our mental, physical, and emotional health all need to be intact.
While a lot of people find it difficult to lose weight or to stay fit, Kimbrough noted it really just takes the determination to get it done. She said she was also inspired by her father, who is a well-known athletic trainer throughout the city.
“I wanted to find a way to encourage people to get out and get fit,” she said. “So I decided to take something we all like to do – dancing – and turn it into a fitness program.”
Moore said when her friend asked for her help, she was excited about the challenge of helping create the fitness program from scratch. She said she also shows people that being fit isn’t just about going to the gym and lifting weights.
“You can do other things to stay fit,” said Moore. “You can also do fun things like dancing to burn calories as well.”
During the 50-minute session, more than a dozen women of all ages burned calories while listening to upbeat songs like “Controlla” by Drake. Following the session, it was announced that the women had burned more than 300 calories.
Tawanna Kimbrough Johnson said although she was tired, it didn’t feel like she had just finished a workout.
“It felt like I was just having a good time with the girls,” smiled Johnson. “I really enjoyed it.”
After completing the workout, Shona Gilmore from Atlanta, Ga. encouraged others to come out and participate. She said the course is a great edition to the fit-ness scene in Clemmons and Winston-Salem.
In coming weeks, more Shake into Shape workout sessions will be held at the Wilson Park Training Facility, located at 7505 Topsider Dr. in Clemmons. For more information on Shake into Shape, contact Abri Kimbrough at www.abrianakim-brough@gmail.com.
