Stepping into 2018

Eva Guillory teaches aerobics, yoga and cardio, step, and ball at the Wellness Center
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Every year around this time amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, people start making New Year’s Resolutions. Some of the more popular resolutions are to lose weight and to save money. One retired educator, who leads aerobics classes at the Wellness Center, wants people to consider the idea of getting into shape during the new year.
“I hope to inspire people to begin their new year with a resolution and stick to it for the rest of the year,” said Eva Guillory.
“My classes are free to members of the Wellness Center,” she continued. “If a person is not a member, they can purchase a card and come to the classes. Men and women alike are invited to come. We don’t exclude anyone. We hope that we inspire new people to come and join us.”
Guillory first began teaching her classes at the Wellness Center back in the 1980s when it first opened. “I taught water aerobics at that time, and I taught for a number of years,” she stated. “Then I left and started teaching at the Civic Center. I taught there a number of years, and then I came back to the Wellness Center in 2006.”
“I teach water aerobics, yoga and cardio, step, ball, and many things,” she continued. “I find it helps me. It keeps me flexible and young and healthy.”
She then explained what sets her classes apart from other workout sessions. “We like to do something different everyday so that we don’t get bored with the same old thing,” Guillory said.
Beside keeping the workouts interesting, Guillory finds the most important thing is consistency. “Consistency in your workouts is going to get results,” she said. “People need to come a minimum of three days a week for 30 minutes a day.”
According to Guillory, her students range in ages from young to old. “Leanna (Guillory) is probably my oldest student, and she inspires all of us,” said Eva Guillory. “Jamie (Vidrine) is one of the younger ones, and she inspires us as well. Everybody has a special talent that they bring to the group.”
All of the class members agreed how special “Mrs. Eva” is to them. “Eva is one of the best aerboics teachers I have ever had,” said Leanna Guillory. “It’s so important to exercise, too. That’s one of the best things you can do for yourself.”
According to Pam Young, “(Eva) teaches us to our levels that she knows we can meet. It’s not up and not down. She knows our levels, and she teaches us to meet our levels. That’s a great thing to know.”
Beth Morein agreed about the levels of the workouts. “We are all at different levels in this room, but we manage to do what we can because she shows us how,” she said. “This is actually therapy for my aches and pains.”
For Eva Guillory, her students have become like family. “Some of us have been together here for many years, and we have become like family,” she said. “That’s how I look upon it.”
Leanna Guillory chimed in and told Eva, “You’re our momma. Although I’m older than you, you’re still my momma.”