ByDelana - Simply Fit

I have always been very active and have enjoyed trying out many sports from surfing to horse riding to Aikido. In the mid 80's I became interested in bodybuilding and was fortunate enough to have access to the finest training and fitness facilities that the US Navy could offer. I was also lucky to have supportive sponsors for my competitions.

Despite my sporty past, like many women I found it very challenging to find time to workout once I became a mother. Being new to the Brussels area and very occupied with a toddler and a new born baby made it difficult to find time for myself and even more difficult to find a gym or fitness classes. I was eventually lucky enough to find out about some fitness classes on offer in a local sports hall. Better still these classes offered a crèche service! After some time regularly attending these classes I began to think that I'd like to be upfront teaching. I (timidly) approached the instructor and asked her how I would go about earning the qualifications necessary to teach fitness. She was so supportive! She told me that she thought I'd make a good instructor and she gave me a great deal of support throughout the process. Thanks Jo!

I hold NVQ Level II's (National Vocational Qualifications) in Group Exercise, Anatomy and Physiology. I hold an OCR Level II in Pilates. My training has been focused primarily in Pilates, Dance, Body Conditioning and Interval Training. I also hold a current Red Cross qualification in First Aid and CPR. And have trained as a American Red Cross First Aid and CPR instructor.

When I started the classes for the first time in April 1999 I had no idea how far they would go or how much they would mean. I met the most wonderful people through the classes. All sorts of people attended from a couple of really fit fire fighters and triathlon competitors looking for a challenge to people who had done very little sport and just wanted to get into shape. It was a boost for me when I realized how wide the range of class participants was and it was great to see the classes becoming not just a way to get some exercise but a real network and support system. We made friends, had a laugh and exercised! What a way to spend the morning!!

Nine years later not much has changed. We get our exercise and have a laugh and the classes are still a great way to make friends. I am confident in myself as an instructor and in my classes because of the great feedback I get from my clients. Basically people tell me that they keep coming to the classes because they work and they're fun.