How many kids do you each have and what are their ages?
I have one son, Dillon Jax, who is 19 months old.
What is your favorite family activity in Stamford?
Our favorite family activity is walking on the boardwalk together at Harbor Point. We push Dillon around in a little blue car and he just has a blast seeing all the boats, dogs and other kids!
What do you like about living in Stamford?
I like living in Stamford for so many reasons! We love being by the water but still having that city feel that reminds us of New York City. The restaurants are fantastic and there are also so many activities for families!
Tell us about your career.
I discovered fitness and dance cardio in quite an unusual way – I was diagnosed with fibroids about ten years ago and had to undergo a pretty serious abdominal surgery to treat them. The recovery from this surgery was quite involved (and took over 6 months!) and I stumbled on dance cardio as a way to slowly regain my strength, especially in my core. I trained under some of the top celebrity trainers and eventually became a stretch coach and NASM certified nutrition coach as well. From there I wanted to create a class that helped other women feel their best – whether that was by finding confidence through movement, by letting loose with their girlfriends or by getting in the best shape of their lives. From that, the ETK Workout was born!
What is your inspiration behind the ETK Workout?
My inspiration for creating the ETK Workout was the need I saw for a dance cardio class that was fun, not intimidating and a killer workout. There’s nothing like it, especially out here in Fairfield County, so I’m so excited to share the class and the experience!
What makes the workout unique?
When you walk into a class for the ETK Workout you instantly feel the excitement and energy – the lights are low with fun pink touches and the music is pumping! You feel like you’re out with your girlfriends rather than about to do a challenging workout. We make sure the playlist is a heart-pumping mix of throwbacks and top 40 hits that have the entire class ready to move.
The workout is a unique mix of follow-along dance cardio, choreographed sculpting (abs, arms and booty) and 1 signature dance that we learn step by step. We structure class to slowly teach the choreography – by the end of class everyone is a pro, no matter what their dance experience is. Our grand finale is all dancing out the signature dance to the song it was choreographed for – there’s just nothing like it!
What is your #1 fitness tip for moms?
My #1 fitness tip for moms is progress over perfection. Small tweaks that become long-term habits outweigh short-term fixes every time. Start with one small change a week – master that and then build on your progress!
How do you juggle work and mommyhood?
There’s never a perfect balance when juggling work and mommyhood but there are a few things that have helped me along the way. Giving up multitasking for monotasking was a game changer for me. I focus all my attention and energy on only one thing at a time, even if it’s for 5-minute increments. I also don’t let myself say, “I don’t have time.” Instead I say, “This is not a priority for me right now.” This helps remind me that I have the power and am in control of my day. We can’t do everything so it’s so important to decide for yourself throughout the day what’s matters most.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
The best piece of advice I’ve received from another mom is this: When you’re having a tough parenting moment, picture that it’s 30 years from now and your kids are all grown up. You’re able to travel back in time and have this moment again with your little one, but only for a minute. For me, this helps put things into perspective so quickly and makes me so grateful for the time I have with my family exactly where we are!