“I wouldn’t even call this retirement—most people would say I’m over-scheduled.”

 

With that Lena Allison opened the conversation about her current passion in life. A native of Michigan, Lena spent a career working for Ford in HR, L&D and Communications before formal retirement came calling. Having relocated to Ibis this self-confessed “workout junkie” found a new calling as a group fitness instructor.

 

“I used to say my work got in the way of working out,” Lena’s energy comes through in every conversation with her, but especially when she’s talking about her personal enthusiasms.  “I was always a gym rat and the trainers that I knew encouraged me to be a fitness instructor. I never thought that would be possible; that’s a whole different ball game than being a member [at a gym]. During COVID I ended up taking the Group Fitness Instructor training, passing the test, and getting certified. During the pandemic I was literally teaching classes outside in my backyard to give people a safe environment to work out in and to build my own experience. In Michigan, my niche was Strength Training and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).   When I came to Florida, I noticed that Aqua Exercise classes were clearly in demand. So, I started learning that modality and now I teach at three different clubs six times a week.” With a laugh, she concluded, “This was supposed to be for fun, this was literally for fun. Pre-retirement, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that after 30 years in an office, I would have a second life working in an area I am so passionate about as a Group Fitness Instructor (GFI).”

In addition to fulfilling her own love of exercise, working as a GFI has allowed Lena to connect with the community while making many fun memories to boot. These memorable moments include “having a whole pool dancing to the YMCA” and watching everyone in the pool synchronized and singing karaoke to the playlist!  Nothing is more gratifying than being asked to offer more classes and share with me how much they enjoy it and feel great!  Making life better for the folks she works with is what keeps Lena so engaged and passionate about her new gig. “I really enjoy making people feel great about themselves, giving them a good workout so they can go forward with the rest of their day feeling healthier and stronger.  Lena tells us that fitness classes hold many potential benefits. “The powerful ingredient to taking group fitness classes is that it holds you accountable vs working out by yourself. You make friends who motivate you to go to class. It's more sociable and you get a good workout. What you put in is what you get out, so you’ve got to push yourself and allow your fitness instructor to help you push yourself. The extra effort you make will make the difference in how you feel in the end.  It’s about a state of mind, healthy living and gaining a sense of accomplishment.  A lot of positivity comes out of it!”

Her husband, Jamie, shares her fitness passions—he’s a triathlete and Ironman competitor—and their adult daughter, Sydney, is a former high school state swimmer and now lifts weights. Lena and Jamie are both active around Ibis—and many other places as well—so if you’re looking for a workout partner or just new friends, make sure to say hello when you see them.