About WiggleIt - my journey
Pictured left: WiggleIt founder, Teresa Tansell
About me: I'm a 50-something year old crazy dance chick. I've been dancing for as long as I can remember - mainly ballroom and latin, with the occasional foray into other styles. I've also always been a bit of a fitness junkie, but not so much that I ever thought I'd end up as a fitness instructor.
But then I don't personally see what I do as typical fitness classes. Yes, they certainly have fitness benefits but that's a fantastic plus side of a pastime that I thoroughly enjoy. And yes, it's a pastime - something this much fun really doesn't feel like work.
I discovered Zumba in 2009, when it was first being advertised in Australia as infomercials on TV. Back then it was mainly something that people were doing at home - buying the DVDs and discovering a whole new way to work out. I was mesmerised and immediately looked for classes near me, but there were none! At the time I was running an IT business. It was my husband who said 'well why don't YOU teach it?!". Initially I thought this was ridiculous. I had taught dance but never anything like this. But I was so excited about it I decided to give it a go and before I knew it, I was booked to go to Brisbane to train in January 2010.
I launched my first Zumba Fitness class in February 2010 while still running the business. I also trained in various other Zumba specialties, including Gold, Kids and Aqua. This ticked along until 2019 when the business was sold. I decided to take 6 months off and just do a few more classes. Well, I never went back to 'work'!
In 2023, I discovered another dance fitness format called SHiNE and fell in love again! Something very different from Zumba - based in jazz, ballet and hip hop with current pop music. I became a SHiNE instructor in 2023 and subsequently an UPLIFT instructor (SHiNE's strength training program).
One of my goals is to inspire people who may lack the confidence or self-belief that they can dance. I don't care what you look like when you do my classes, you just need to be enjoying yourself. SHiNE has a lovely motto - "Connection over Perfection" and that's something I strive to promote in all my classes. It's about wanting to go to class, not feeling like you should, or you have to, and about missing it when you can't go.
I hope I see you on the 'dance floor' soon :-)