Dyan has been passionate about exercise since she was ten. She recalls, “I remember gym class and my teacher telling us, ‘If you do calisthenics three times a week, you’ll never need a girdle.’ That stuck with me. I didn’t even know what a girdle was back then, but I sure didn’t want one! I’d come home, do my routine every day, and I always felt amazing. What I love most now is passing that feeling along to others, helping them feel stronger, more confident, happier, and healthier. If I can do that for people, I’ll keep doing this as long as I possibly can.”

How did Dynamic Walking Fitness get its start? “I really started this journey about ten years ago when I was working at Tringali Rec Center in Charlotte County,” Dyan explains. “I’ve actually been certified as a fitness trainer since the ‘90s. Don’t ask for the exact year, because I’m not giving it up! The truth is that exercise keeps me sharp. My body feels better, and my mind is clearer. I always tell people; fitness isn’t just about the physical results; it’s as much about what it does for your mental health.”

Dyan hears the same comments all the time from class members: “My memory’s better, my balance is better.”

“One woman just today told me she’s improved so much,” Dyan says. “In the class, I get everyone from 40 to 94. That’s the complete range. As someone with over thirty years’ experience as a personal trainer, I can tell you this works.”

When Dyan started teaching at the county, they asked her to develop a walking class for people with arthritis. She said, “Absolutely!” But there was a catch: they couldn’t give her the gym because they had pickleball, and it was packed. So Dyan took the class outside, but the weather was an issue: uneven pavement, and trying to keep everyone together when people walked at such different speeds. The group never grew much, only about eight at a time.

That’s when Dyan went back and struck a deal. She remembers, “I asked them to give me the gym for a month. If I don’t bring in over 50 people, you can have it back. The first week, we had 20. The next week, 80. By the end of the month, almost 200 people were walking with us.”

Dyan received the gym, and people quickly learned about it. People felt safer indoors, especially those on medication. 

“If you’re in your twenties and you want to jog outside, great,” she explains. “But for my group, mostly middle aged and up, the gym is best. We did that for a while, and then I realized I’d built something special. People kept telling me, ‘Wherever you go, I’ll follow you.’ That gave me the push to break off and start my own classes at Englewood Sports Complex. It’s been seven or eight years now.”

COVID made things tough. A lot of folks stopped coming, and then Hurricane Ian didn’t help. Many people lost their homes and moved away. Still, during the season, Dyan has 50 to 60 people in a class, and off-season it’s 30 or 40.

Today, Dyan’s classes are thriving. Along with Dynamic Walking Fitness, she also teaches a stretching class at Tringali. “I just started that up recently. It’s focused on balance and stretching, only 45 minutes, but people love it. I throw in a bit of yoga, a bit of Pilates, and I switch things up often, so no one gets bored.”

For many people, getting started can be tough. Dyan has tips for staying healthy and keeping your mind sharp. She promises it is much easier than you think. 

“The hardest part is just showing up,” she says with a laugh. “Once you’re there, you only do what you can. If you need modifications, I’ve got you covered; march in place, work out from a chair, lift your legs, twist gently. No one should feel embarrassed. In my classes, the slower walkers go near the wall; faster folks take the inner lanes. We play different music every day, too: The Beatles, Supremes, you name it! If you want to dance, dance! Just move your body.”

Dyan has had calls from people who ask if they can use a cane. Dyan says, “Of course. I have a 90-year-old woman who’s there every week with her cane, plus couples in their 90s who do the entire class, and have for years. Recently, someone told me their blood pressure and sugar levels were down after coming. Someone else said, ‘I can get in and out of a kayak now without falling!’ These stories keep me going. I know I’m helping people live longer and better lives.”

It’s not just beneficial for the body; Dyan’s classes are good for your brain health. “Mentally, we do memory sequences. I’ll add simple choreography, like ‘heel out, heel out, tap back, side to side,’ and then ask them to remember the next step. It’s small, but it’s powerful for keeping your mind sharp. As we age, memory gets dodgy, but movement triggers those mental circuits. I’m also an author, and honestly, my mind is so much sharper since I started teaching these classes. There’s nothing like the clarity you get after moving your body and releasing all those endorphins.”

And the music helps, too. Dyan plays old favorites from the 60s, 70s, and 80s; they put everyone in a good mood. The classes are co-ed, and even the men who start off shy end up dancing like nobody’s watching. 

One of the biggest benefits is the social component. “The friendships are like a club all on their own,” Dyan says. “Some people tell me it’s like being in high school again; half the fun is seeing your friends. We’ve got people in their 40s, people retired early, talking with folks in their 70s or 80s, trading stories. Everyone looks out for each other, and I love seeing those connections grow.”

But for Dyan, she admits the number one reason to stay active is mental health. “I’m constantly telling folks with sore knees, canes, or bad backs, ‘We’ll modify the movement. Do what feels right and safe, even if you skip the weights and just use your own body resistance.’ There are no excuses. You’ll be shocked at what you can do if you just keep at it. You’ll improve your balance, your agility, your memory, even your attitude. And if you can’t make it in person, I have videos on YouTube you can do at home. Try at least two or three times a week for both your body and mind.”

Dyan says the most important thing is just don’t give up. “That’s my number one motto. Do what you can, even if it’s just ten laps around the gym. One mile is seventeen laps, and we aim for one to three miles when we can. If you’re not there yet, set it as a goal. Just keep moving. Anything is better than sitting at home doing nothing. That’s what matters most, to keep moving.”

The big question is: was Dyan’s gym teacher right? Did she ever have to wear that dreaded girdle?

“Never!” she says with a laugh. “And I still don’t. So it really does work.”

For more information check out Dynamic Walking Fitness on Facebook or call Dyan at 941-626-2399.

The post A Step in the Right Direction: Dynamic Walking Fitness Class Offers Music, Friends, and Zero Girdles appeared first on Englewood Review.