Soaringwords + Zumba Fitness - We Did It!

On Tuesday, we saw a huge goal come into fruition: Soaringwords + Zumba Fitness at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital!

Tiff, Linda, Adrienne, Sarah, and Nancy
Our Soaringwords Selfie!

Soaringwords is a New York-based non-profit organization that has been collaborating with Zumba Fitness since 2012. It's mission? To embrace hospitalized children, families and staff, encouraging positive health and healing. 

ZIN Linda Woodin

Since the partnership began, free Zumba Fitness classes have been offered in children's hospitals across the country. At our annual Zumba Instructor Convention, we were asked to help them bring the program to even more locations.

ZIN Nancy Neuin

And this is where things get exciting! Licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor Linda Woodin and I met with hospital staffers Sarah Miller and Ashley Kane back in November (read about our initial meeting HERE). We worked out the logistics including location, number of instructors, class length, AND (the biggie) the date for our first class - Tuesday, January 13, 2015. 

Time flew, and before we knew it, we were ready to shake, wiggle, and giggle with the kiddos at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. 

Nancy Neuin completed our team of three, and we took turns leading songs and interacting with patients, and their families. Here are a few of my favorite songs from our playlist: 

Nancy, Sarah, and Adrienne

• I Like To Move It, Madagascar 5
• Walk the Dinosaur, Was (Not Was) 
• Rockin' Robin, Bobby Day
• Smiles For Life, Alex Boye (The Soaringwords theme song!) 

The class format was very flexible. Kids would join in as they felt comfortable. Some would dance, some would tap toes, and some would just watch and enjoy the music.

No one wants to be in a hospital (not even hospitals with super cool light shows in the elevator and wheelchairs that look like race cars).  But Zumba's collaboration with Soaringwords now gives us an amazing tool to bring JOY to kiddos and their families while they are healing.

My favorite part of the class? Seeing SMILES from kids, families, and even unsuspecting hospital staff! I'm already counting down the days until our next visit!

Want to start a Soaringwords + Zumba Fitness program in your area? If you are a licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor, you can learn more at www.soaringwords.org/zumba/. 

#zumba #soaringwords #hershey #bethechange #zumbalove

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