The Collector Store

Zuga Fitness is an accepting Zumba studio for everyone

Zuga+Fitness+is+an+accepting+Zumba+studio+for+everyone

Zuga Fitness was opened in 2013 by entrepreneur, Valerie Gibson. She wanted to open a studio that offers a different type of exercise. Rather than running on treadmills or pedaling on bike machines, students dance to music or use various small weights and exercises that work on individual parts of the body, all while creating a safe and loving environment.

“We’ve grown a lot throughout the years,” Fitness instructor Paige Giancola said. “We’ve had people that have been with us since day one of it’s opening, which says a lot about our connection with people and what Zuga brings to people’s lives. It’s become a second home.”

Zuga Fitness offers six classes, all working with different areas of fitness. Their classes consist of Zumba, Hip Hop, Yoga, AcroYoga, Core and Sculpt. Each class offers something different for everyone, whether that is dancing in their Zumba class or working upper body strength in their Sculpt class.

“It’s a really comfortable environment,” Gibson said. “We have so many walks of life with age and fitness range. We do progressions and modifications for everything, but our biggest thing is just about making it fun.”

The same routine people show up to the classes. Each person grows a connection to each other by attending classes together up to seven times a week. After six years of attending classes, they have each grown closely to one another, calling themselves a family.  They often say, “We love our Zuga family.”

“It just started as a summer thing,” student Stephanie Walton said.  “I’m hooked now. Everybody here is just really nice. It feels like a second family. It’s made me really love fitness.”

Zuga Fitness prides itself on having instructors and students who refrain from judgment. They encourage everyone to join no matter your age, gender or physical abilities. They offer a comfortable environment where you can go at your own pace and alter moves so that they are more comfortable for you.

“It’s a group of people that are so nice and non-judgmental that are all there for a similar goal,” Giancola said. “We just kind of relate to one another. We found our Zuga tribe. We all became really close and found true friendships in this where you don’t see in other studios.”