Getting healthy is always better when it feels like a party. Sh’Bam, a dance fitness class offered throughout St. Louis, gets its students moving with a series of simple, repeated dance moves.
Maria Long is a professional athlete and coach who champions all things fitness as a studio manager for Cyclebar in Chesterfield. She also works as an instructor at Gold’s Gym in Ellisville, where she teaches Sh’Bam.
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Filled with an infectious passion for fitness, the schoolteacher-turned-fitness coach talked to us about working out, staying healthy, and more.
What is Sh’bam?
It’s 45 minutes of dance cardio. It’s fairly simple dance moves from all different genres—hip-hop, ballet, jazz, house, Latin, and a few other different formats. Each song is from a different genre and there are about three or four moves per song. It’s really simple, and participants feel like they are dancing by the end. It’s fun, laid back, and relaxed.
Is there a special regimen you do to get ready for classes?
I do mirror work and get on the bike, going through the rides to make sure everything is smooth. Before my own classes, I think about what I am going to be doing and practice the tracks I will be teaching.
What made you decide to get into coaching?
I was a schoolteacher for years, and instructing was a natural fit for me. Teaching has always been a part of who I am. In my current career it’s really cool for me, because I enable my students to go out and teach others. I love seeing that ripple effect.
What is the secret to developing and maintaining a good work out routine?
I think it involves trying different things and finding what you like. It’s good to have variety. You want to have some form of strength and cardio training, whether it is working with a personal trainer or getting into a class. But also you want to develop flexibility with your mind and body experience. A huge part of developing core strength is through balance and mentally finding a release.
How does St. Louis rank as a fit city?
Traveling as much as I do, there are definitely cities that are more in tune with fitness. But there are also a lot of areas that do not have nearly what we do. We are in a space now where we’re branching into some new things that I am really excited about.
Maria Long will teach Sh’Bam and other classes at St. Louis Magazine‘s second annual Be Well STL Boot Camp on June 17 at Westminster Christian Academy (800 Maryville Centre). Visit our website for tickets and more information on Be Well STL.
