JeannieFit: The Mom Who Transformed Mental Health Through Dance | Therapists Unhinged Ep.11

In this episode of Therapists Unhinged, we had the incredible opportunity to chat with JeannieFit, a dynamic hip hop instructor and the founder of myHipHopFit. Jeannie shared her inspiring journey from her childhood in Colombia, where she faced language barriers and body image issues, to becoming a successful fitness entrepreneur dedicated to changing lives through dance and wellness.

We delved into the vital connection between mental and physical health, with Jeannie emphasizing that they go hand in hand. She passionately believes that engaging in physical fitness not only enhances our physical well-being but also significantly boosts our mental health. Jeannie’s classes are all about having fun while getting fit, and she encourages everyone to embrace movement as a form of self-care.

Throughout our conversation, Jeannie opened up about her personal struggles with body image and her journey to reclaim her health after becoming a mother of four boys. She offered valuable insights for parents, highlighting the importance of prioritizing self-care to be the best version of themselves for their children.

Jeannie’s infectious energy and passion for dance truly shone through, reminding us all that it’s never too late to start moving and to choose ourselves. We hope you enjoy this uplifting and empowering conversation as much as we did!

Transcript

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When we moved to the States, I do remember not knowing the language and feeling very insecure. And then I saw somebody dancing. I'm like, what is that? I want to do that. I battled body image issues. And I didn't know who I was because I wanted to be a ballerina, but I just did not have that ballerina body. And also I did not have the lifestyle to even pursue, have the confidence. I had dance dreams So today on episode 11, we have Miss Jeannie from Jeannie Fit with us here at Bella. And Jeannie is a hip hop instructor and many, many more things. I know you do other things also. I just want to know how excited we are to have you here to share some physical fitness with us, because we're all about mental health and physical. But we are all about the mental health, getting our clients at that point where they care about their mental health. But and what I've realized is physical health is just as important as mental health. They kind of hold hands. They're first cousins and they need to be present in our lives like every day. We're glad you're here so that you can talk to us about that. And, you know, I just want to say I met Jeannie in the hip hop class at EOS. I absolutely love it. I appreciate how patient you are. Because I've never done hip hop before. I've always just, you know, just did my own little thing. But I like the way you serve, you know, the people that come to class. And so I'm proud to be a part of that. And I'll just let you go ahead and get started with what Yeah, we met at US. I do have my own thing going on. It's up. The company is GenieFit, but the website is MyHipHopFit.com and it is an online classroom where I literally just want to change lives through hip hop fitness and wellness. I've been doing this, well, I've had GenieFit since 2009. And I took it online right around like 2018. So it was really cool because the pandemic hit in 2020 and I felt already prepared. You know, it has been evolving and I upgrade and get better every year. And I'm, you know, just leveling up. And then also, I love serving my community. So, of course, I'm going to teach at our amazing gyms. I always like to be surrounded with the best. And Eos, you know, when they approach me, it's I'm down. I want to be around the best. So that so that's so that's what, you know, why I teach at Eos and then also my online classroom that I do. And I have I run studio space and then we stream online. Yeah. I feel super blessed to share my love of dance and change lives doing it. I love getting people fit, having fun doing it. Like that's really the motto. Get the people fit and have fun doing it. Dancing. And I take it really seriously. She does. And I hear, and I have to say, I haven't attended your class yet because I'm a morning workout girl. So And I do teach in the morning at 1020 on Mondays. Oh, I'm going to try that one. Yeah. But I know that they're telling, they've been telling me, they're like, oh my gosh, we're going to go get, go get fit with Jeannie. But And we will bring her. Nella's coming. Yeah, she'll come one day. She'll Dead at the end of the day, but I will probably just suck You just have to be in there. Like literally it is. And I'm going to say this little, like, you know, what do they say? Like dynamite comes in small packages. This one right here. And she teaches a spin class right before that. So she literally goes from spin goes in and like, you know, sweaty, you know, and she goes like it and we're just I have to ask. I'm sure our listeners will want I came to the US when I was four. And I am from Colombia, Bogota. So when we moved to the States, I couldn't speak the language. I don't really remember any of this, but you know, this is my mom and my family's take on it. So I do remember not knowing the language and feeling very insecure. And then I saw somebody dancing in a performance. I'm like, what is that? I want to do that. And I told my parents, like I was four, I'm like, I want to do that. Sign me up for whatever that thing is that they're doing on the stage. And they were like, Dancing? I'm like, yeah. So I started doing ballet. I took ballet classes and I did that. I really, really trained to like be in New York City ballet. I very intensive ballerina like that was my whole life. And then in my dance studio, you know, in the dance studio world, then you start taking other classes. And I did tap and jazz and all the things. Right. But ballet was always my focus. And then at 16, we had the coolest hip hop teacher come in from New York and teach us hip hop for like a semester. And I was like, what is this? I want that. This is what I, I love this. What I loved about ballet is that it, you know, I could express myself and stuff, but it was very structured. And I felt like hip hop was exactly like ballet, but on the other end, where you are moving your body and you're dancing and you're expressing yourself, but it was like not structured. There's structure in hip hop, but whereas ballet, you have to do your positions and arms. And it was very, it's very strict. And hip hop was free. And I'm like, free, freedom is like a huge core value. So I'm like, I love the freedom and, you know, and then also, yeah, just all about it. I was just, I want to do that. And so then I just started taking a hip hop class and I'm like, okay, I'm going to be on the dance team. They do hip hop. I want to do hip hop when I go to college, that's what I'm going to do. And, you know, I did cheerleading in high school and there was no dance team in my high school. So I started the dance team. And with very little knowledge of hip hop, I tried to like, you know, look at videos and put some things together and actually it was really successful. So then I went on in college and I was then at USF, I was a Sundol and just continued my, you know, learning journey and so on and so forth. But then I really got into hip hop fitness because I was a Sundol at USF and we wear very little clothes. And we're, we're dancing all the time. And so you have to be fit. And I had no idea about health. You know, I just wanted to like be fit and look good on the football, you know, at Raymond James Stadium or on the basketball field. And I had no idea how to eat. I mean, nothing, you know, like I had no idea. I was, I was a sick I actually grew up a very sick kid and like I ate really bad. We didn't know how to eat, you know, we just came from another country and like McDonald's and checkers were the thing to eat, you know, kind of like every night, let's go to checkers, let's have ice cream. And so that really got me on actually the health journey was being on the dance team and teaching came into my life when the director of fitness was like, you're here all the time. You're either at practice or you're working out. Why don't you just teach one of a hip hop class? Because we need that. People are asking for it. And it was college. I'm like, okay, I'll give it a whirl. And she took me under her wing and taught me everything. And she was getting her PhD. So I literally almost got like a PhD in fitness. And I brought the dance aspect. I just applied the dance aspect of it. And it was a really unique mixture. And my classes grew when they were getting out of hand, too many people, all these kinds of things. And every time I got pregnant or moved, I would have to teach people how to teach my class because there was such a demand for it. And so therein lied how I started the instructor training program and how GenieFit came about because people wanted it. People want to do it. And I had to teach them how to do it and keep it going. So I've been on So you almost like became like, you just fell into becoming like, not only a teacher, but you helped other people, you know, with their health journey and their fitness. And then you also created new things. So like an entrepreneurial spirit. It's great when you open and you can and you I know you have your own perspective like when you open your own thing because of something you're passionate about it just happens to be because that wasn't like your probably original goal and just happen to fall that way and you're like oh Yes. And it's so fun. I know but you would love it if you enjoy it. And it happened super organically. And I feel like I was I've been very, I've just been led, you know, with my heart. And that's, you know, I trust God. And I just feel like I'm always in the right place at the right time. And it's been amazing. And it has been very fulfilling. And I feel super blessed. So yeah, I have all the things, you know, running a business is hard. I've learned so many life skills, Is it hard? Or is it like sometimes impossible? Sometimes you want to jump off a bridge. I mean, don't You have four boys. I have four boys. That's right. Yeah. I have like the gamut of, I have a 20 year old, a 17, 11, and an 8. So I've been having kids for 20 years. Literally. Oh my God. And that's the other thing I love about what I do is I have the flexibility to be with them. I mean, what's the point of working if you're like, you know, if you're, The work you do is what? To support your family, and then if you're not there for your family, then why are you doing it? That to me has always been a priority. At nine, I wanted to be a mom and I wanted to be a dancer. Those are the two things. Dreams fulfilled. Yeah, exactly. A wife. I wanted to have a family, a really healthy family, and I wanted to always be a dancer. And you know, and that's always been the tug too. The blessing has always been the, well, you can't have both. You got to pick one or the other. Definitely battled with that a lot in my life, but somehow I made it all happen and I continue making it all happen. And if you love it and you're passionate, Absolutely. And I had to ask you, so like being pregnant and then also like taking breaks in between and like still trying to run your business, still being you, like what advice would you give to like moms and like, you know, that are trying to fulfill their dreams and fulfill their own happiness, but at the same time, like Yeah, I would say that you can absolutely do it all. Don't ever get in your mind that you pick one or the other, okay? And it's just a matter of prioritizing your time. This time will be for, I'm going to do this. And obviously, when you're pregnant and after you have your baby, you got to give that time for that. And it's such a precious time. And when you look back on it, everyone who's a mom knows that went by so quick. And it's like, I never get that time. You'll never get that time back. I was psycho, especially after my third kid. I was a sick kid, and I had a lot of health issues. When I say sick, I had a lot of health issues. After my third child, I had gotten in really amazing shape. I understood what health was. I mean, I really turned my life and health around. And I got in the leanest I'd ever been. I don't know. I was 10% body fat. I was just... Just all through dancing. I wasn't trying to do anything. I've done fitness, bodybuilding competitions, bikini competitions. And I wasn't even as lean in those as I was right before I got pregnant with my third child. And I remember I had a home water birth with him and I came out of the tub. And I was so psychotic about just seeing my abs. that I got out of the tub and I'm looking in the mirror to see my, like, I just gave birth to this human. Robin, I'm sure you understand this. Please tell me. You have no idea. Oh This is unhinged, right? Okay. So this is how crazy, like body image is and the whole, you can go down the spiral. I bring that up because my focus wasn't, of course it was my baby. And also I was like, I need my body back But I mean like where did that come from like to where like or do you remember like a time where it was like Okay, you were still like hyper focus I'm on my body image image And um, well, I do think a lot of it stemmed from being on the dance team in college you're you're in front of you know, a stadium of 30 40,000 people and not that everyone's looking at you, but you know, you are in a in the limelight and you have to look good and you are kind of you're really focused on on the vanity of yourself you know that with that being said I also think society you know girls and this like there's a there's a lot of elements going on in that when I got out of the tub and I gave, it's just that moment, that moment, that birth was very, very amazing for me because I had been as a kid and my very first child was a C-section emergency in the hospital when I was 22. And I felt like I was dying. My child was not well. He was premature. It was like all the things, right? And then by the time I had my third child at home and it happened, so like you're like, oh, this is how you give birth. Like you're supposed to do this. Like God made our bodies to do this. Wow. And when I held him and I was just so proud, like I felt like My ancestors were there. Every woman who was ever given birth was there. Everyone was pushing with me and holding me. And so when he came out, he was under the water for a while, and he was just looking at me. You have the umbilical cord, so he's under the water, and he's blue, but he's alive. And you're like, but he's blue. And you're trying to get him out. And the midwife was like, it's OK. He hasn't taken his first breath. Yeah, you can leave him under the water for a while, for as long as you want. And I was like, okay, I just literally, I don't know. I would have Well, like in six weeks. So I took him out and then, you know, I just felt so proud. And then to come out of the tub and be like, okay, and now I want, my abs to see them that would be another crowd moment and i'm breastfeeding and i'm doing all the things and is it so even in the birth there were moments for all for all the things that were important to me that is what i'm what i'm trying to say i didn't try to try to say i was psycho about I had to see my abs. I was just like, okay, this is part of who I am. This is important for me. And then I always took the six weeks off after every kid, but I was ready to go after a week and a half. Like I'm like, I'm ready to work out. I'm ready to go, you know, run or do something or dance or, you know, but I did give my time, my body the time it needed because it's important. It's important. I mean, I look back at those times and they're so precious. And I just try to fill every moment, be present in the little things and the big things when I'm teaching or when I'm with the boys. Make the moments count, but be fully present. When I was a younger mom with the first two, I was trying to do my business and be a mom. So it was like I was doing both at the same time. And it was very conflicting. I'd be on the phone and I'd be like, You know, it was just, it was really rough, really rough. But fortunately I learned that and right after my second child and things have been so great ever since that I can do everything. So my advice is make the time, make the time. Make the time. And focus. And focus. And also have that energy because damn. I mean, that's what I'm saying. She's like my little spirit animal, you know, my little, my little, you know, like put her in my pocket. But no, it is so funny when she goes back to and you said something and I love that you said this because And I know we, you know, we come in here and we talk about being different things and they know I'm an athlete and I was a dancer also and did a lot of things for the dancers because I was always one of the tallest, biggest dancers. You know, I was a gymnast. And so it was always body image. And so but I even tell, you know, my dancers that were either with the Magic or, you know, with USF or UCF or whoever it is that listen, you're putting yourself out there. You're putting yourself out there. You better know who you are because people are coming at you. And even way back before social media, you know, if anything, oh, well, she looks like she's gain weight or, oh, what's going on with her or what's happening? I mean, you hear it all the time, all the time. And it's funny because even coming back, you know, I'm like alumni panel, you know, as a former like magic girl and going back, that was always like first thing is, Better be training, better be training because these girls are going to be looking because it's just this weird, like unspoken. And also like elite level, like, you know, performance wise. Yeah, yeah, definitely there. I will say I battled body image issues. I love that you say that. That's so huge. And I didn't know who I was, but I felt because I wanted to be a ballerina, but I had glutes and legs. I mean, you know what I'm saying? My legs and glutes. You are a cool man. they did not look like the rest of the girls. And I'm like, and also I was eating checkers and McDonald's and soda and Mountain Dew, you know, four times a day, like, you know, all that. I really wanted to be a ballerina, but I just did not have that ballerina body. And also I did not have the lifestyle to even like pursue, have the confidence. I didn't have the health. That was another huge regret as a child is because I didn't have health and my parents didn't have, you know, optimal health. I was like, I can't pursue my dance dreams. I had dance dreams and I couldn't pursue them because what's what's the point if you're not healthy? And I'm sure a lot of people are like, I'm not going to go to hip hop fitness class. I'm not going to go to the gym. What's the point? I'm not going to even try to dance. Stop talking about me, Jeannie. I'm not, I'm not talking about you, but I do understand, you know, like you give up before you even start because you don't feel like you're even healthy enough to do it. Right. I want to invite everyone. Like if you're in that spot, I have been in that spot. I understand that. And just come, just come, just dance because it's like a movement meditation. You are there like everything leaves your brain and you're just trying to dance and you're following it. I've been doing it for 20 years I don't want to say i'm the best but I really do think i'm like the best At what I do because i've been doing it for so long and I train and I take it very seriously so I just want everyone to like Really change your life in the Have a blast doing it. Get healthy. And I will say, and I agree with that because, you know, I shared I've joined like gyms, maybe a couple of them in the past, and I never showed up because I was always I felt so intimidated by everybody and they're doing a thing. And it's like you get to the gym and it's like, well, I don't know what they're doing. Well, I can't do that. It's been such a journey since I started doing the hip hop with you by way of Robin, who, of course, said, oh, you need to do this. And actually just being in the gym with her, I don't think I'd change it now. I'm like, why didn't you do that before? But that's okay, because you got to start somewhere. But I'm just grateful for that because I just said the other day, I choose me. And that's what you have to do, especially with you talking about being a sick kid and you're saying, well, I can't do that, because your mindset was there. It's a shift in your mindset. Right. And focus and then choosing yourself, knowing, you know, what you want. If you want the best for yourself, you choose the best for yourself. And then you continue. And, you know, hopefully you will, you know, begin to embrace the motivation to continue. Because sometimes it's hard. Sometimes like I'm not going today. Yeah. I go, I choose to go where you're close in the car. Go get them. I'm like, I choose me. I choose me. And so I think that's where it starts, like choosing yourself and knowing that It's worth it. You're worth it. Yeah. And I think that's a great point, too, because when you're choosing yourself and your mom or, you know, a dad, you're a parent. Choosing yourself means you're choosing your kids, too, because if you put yourself first, your kids, and I know you probably, number one, you say this, like they see how much mom has strive to get healthy, you know, build her own business on just passion. You're fit, you're teaching others, you're helping others, you're inspiring others. So you put yourself first and therefore you became a better parent. And that's why I try to tell other parents is like we have this whole idea or so many people have this idea that in order to be a good parent or the best parent, you have to put your kids 100% of the time first. And it's like, yes and no, because you have to put yourself first in order to take care of them and be the best person showing up, which means if you're not feeling good on the outside or the inside, if you're unhealthy inside and outside and mentally, you Tell us how you look at mental health and physical health at the same time. What is your view on that? And how do I love that question because I know that they go hand in hand for me. They straight up go hand in hand. I'm such a mind, body, soul person. I also feel very spiritual. To be honest with you, I look at all the obstacles I've had in my life, and I've had a lot. The thing that got me through them is my mindset. Once you have that mental, I want to say, I'm going to say mental toughness, but you don't have to be tough. It's almost like trusting in yourself and knowing who you are. And it takes a minute to get to understand that, but there is a trusting and you are guided kind of thing. So the mindset shifts that I've had in my life allowed so much amazingness, but I don't think I could have gotten to the mindset shifts had I not had the physical aspect, because I want to be a great dancer. or I want to live for a long time, or I wanna be able to play with my kids, and I have boys, so they're not just gonna sit around. They are running, they are active, they are throwing, they are, you know? So I'm like, okay, if these are the things that I want, I need to do the physical stuff. but it took a mindset shift. So that's why I say hand-in-hand because you have to have the mindset shift to be able to do the physical thing. And the physical thing also caused the mindset shift that I needed. So they super go hand-in-hand. I don't care which way you enter it. Maybe it's mindset first and then physical or physical first and then mindset. But just know that it's going to happen. In my class, if you come to my class and you take my class, it's an hour. I'm going to challenge you. I'm going to push you and make you uncomfortable. I'm going to be inviting and I'm going to make it as easy as possible. But we're not just going to flop around and just kind of do things. You know, I'm always like, do it like you mean it. And then you probably are going to have to drink a water. You're going to have to hydrate. You're probably not going to want to choose the pizza when you go home because you you don't your body is like, I She literally has one of her songs that is incorporated and it's, I love myself. And I mean, she's like, I want to hear you say it. And you, you look, and it's so cute because we actually chatted a little bit yesterday. And then I actually saw her at the gym last night. We, I got to meet one of her boys and she met Reagan. And it was cute because it was so like, took me a minute because I'm so used to her being there. And I turned around and I'm thinking, I went, oh, hi, like it was like genie. Cause you know, it's like when you see a teacher and they're But you know, and I told her, I said, it was funny. I said, because, you know, I did go to the first one and I love dance and I had been out of dance for a while and then just moving to, you know, different places and not really knowing anybody. And TJ, for some reason, couldn't go with me that first time. And I almost didn't go. I told her this the other day, I said, I almost didn't go. And I said, and I went, you know what I mean? And then I get there and I'm seeing this cause you know, it's like, and again, you know, but it's like being a dancer, you're kind of like, Oh, this will be cute. It'll be fun. And all of a sudden I was like, damn, this girl's good. Y'all like this, I was like, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, I was like, TJ, TJ. No, I said, no joke. I said, this little baby can dance. But it wasn't even about that. It was, welcoming, engaging everybody. And it's funny because, you know, I know we had said something yesterday and she's like, I know, like, I wanted to teach this combination because we stayed out for the other day and did a little combination. And she goes, but I don't know. I said, I said, I'm out there. We're out there. And she's got all ages, all body types, men, women, young, old, And they are just so into it and so loving it. And nobody leaves. Nobody like everybody. And sometimes, you know, get water here, get water there. And she's bouncing around like the little rabbit squirrel, you know, but I mean. I'm like, don't worry about that, you know, and because they're all just, they're doing their thing, but it's, it is you. It really is. And that's that whole, like we said, we work on that so much here. Just, you know, Belle Mattel, just from the moment you walk in the door, you know, we want you. feeling And you feel it when you walk in here. Wow, this place is amazing. It's so inviting. I love you guys are so inviting. I'm like, Oh, that's And I want us to be all passionate for what we do. Like he's hearing you like, I've never been a dancer. So I have a daughter who's 18 tomorrow, actually. Happy birthday, Naya. And she is a passionate cheerleader. So she does a competitive all-star cheer and she's done it all for life. And she and I'm going to have her as a guest on here once because she'll briefly has talked about it. This was her last season. She graduated high school and she was hysterical because she says if it wasn't for cheer and the team and in the dancing, she also did hip hop for competitive world. She's amazing. I'll have Actually, actually I'll bring her because she wouldn't love it. She's a hip-hop dancer. But she says like, if it wasn't for cheer and bands like her mental health, she's like, I don't know where I would be mentally because it's been a part of the way she's expressed herself being around people and like she coaches to the little ones. So like all that same passion. But I can't, I've always been a sports girl. I was a tomboy. So I've never done that. But like, to hear the passion that comes through, like, I just, I don't know, I just love people who are passionate about what they do and they help others in ways that, you know, it's not just a gym class, it's not just a hip-hop class, it is people, like, figuring out who they are and how to move their body, appreciate their body, I don't care what size you are, appreciating your body, and like you said before, it's a start. Whether it's the mind or whether it's your physical first, like, I've been there too, I've been extremely overweight before and, like, health reasons and things like that and, It's true. It's hard. And I am T.J. You struggled. It's like, I don't even want to go. I don't want to put on the gym clothes. I've been all I've done is like embarrass. And it's like, you know what? Once you put yourself first and you're like, you know what? Yeah, you're the third person. Yep. Yep. She's getting a little waste. Yeah. I told her today in there. I'm one hip hop dance away from being fine. Yes, she's already What do you say about like even starting like so you said you How did you shift from like that? That mindset of like, OK, I got That was probably the the biggest life change is that I was a victim. I really was a victim. And I went from victim to victor mindset. That's the best way I can put it. I was like, Oh, I'm sick. I'm this. I would get a headache and my mom would give me something called no adhena, which is like Tylenol. And I would have a cough. Oh, here, take this cough syrup. Oh, I don't, you know, like it was always like, especially You know, in Latin America, you know, Spanish people, we always have like a little remedy, a little something. Let me give you a little something for that. You know, it's never like, oh, well, your body's going to heal itself. That idea is not even there. Like you have to take something for you to be healed. That's the mentality. So the problem with that is that you're a victim. You're like, where's the thing that I need? The one thing, where's that thing? And it's, And that's how I mean, that's programmed in me and probably for generations and ancestrally, we all felt that way, right? That was the problem. I was a victim like, oh, things are happening to me. I mean, I had kidney stones when I was 14. I had like this blue mole that was cancerous, removed when I was 10. I had appendicitis. I've had like 10 surgeries before the age of 18. And I was like, oh, the one thing is that surgery I needed. Oh, I need that one surgery so I can be all whole again. And it was psycho because you're always a victim, right? You're like, oh, poor me. And I'm not gonna lie, I kind of even liked it. Because if I was in the hospital or I didn't feel good in my family gave me a lot of love You know, so it's like a spiral of victimhood where you know, you're a victim and it feels good because you get the attention So why get out of it? And then I met my husband he was like, oh I was like, no, I'm a sick person. You don't want to be with me. I'm gonna be saying he was laughing He's like, you have so much energy. You're crazy. You're awesome. You're going to live forever. And I'm like, really? And he was the first person to really tell me that. Like, you're going to live a really long time. And honestly, your body heals itself. And I was like, shut up. I don't even know what that means. And then I somehow started getting my power back through that message. I reprogrammed I mean, obviously I married him. I was like, I don't know who you are, but I want to marry you because it feels good to understand that. I was able to gain control and power of my health. I always felt like health was outside of me, right? I need the shot. I need the pill. I need this. I need the surgery. And then when I'm like, oh, wait, I can do it. Oh, it's going to happen. And like God gave me all the things like my body will heal. You know, and you also feel crazy a lot. And you're like, Oh, you're you're crazy. You have all these crazy thoughts and you're going 100 miles an hour. And, you know, when I was a kid, it's like, be quiet, be, you know, still stop talking, you know. And so gaining your power back and becoming a victor versus a victim, that changes the game. And you apply that in any aspect, it really changed the game. But in health, especially, You know, because when you're like, oh, I don't even want to get started. I don't want to go to the gym. And I, you know, I'm whatever. I'm overweight or I'm tired or I had a long day. You know, it feels so good to be in your power and be like, I love myself. And here I am. And I would say, like, did you like start small? Like start like at least like, OK, I'm going to eliminate. No, no, no, no. You see, you Robin understands. Well, with working out, you mean? No, I meant like with food, like when you started to like change my mindset. It was an evolving process, of course, of course. And I didn't set out. This is what I'm trying to say is that I didn't set out to eat healthy. That wasn't a goal. I set out to like be a mom and do my business and dance. And then I noticed, okay, well, when I teach a lot of people, it doesn't feel good to have the checkers and the McDonald's afterwards. Like I feel my stomach hurts. You know what felt better? Green juice. Oh, this feels better. And you know, oh, yeah, this again, organically happening. So it was a slow process because it happened organically. And also in college, I took a class. I'm actually I have my degree in sociology. And one of my professors is a medical sociologist. And we went in depth. on nutrition. And I actually ended up doing my thesis on the social construction of diets. So I dove like deep into diets and how to eat and all the things. And then it was through my study of the different diets that we've had over the like, the course of 100 years that I realized, oh, we just need to eat like life foods like what God gave, you know, the apple, the you know, the protein and then and then I have evolved from then also because I wanted to more muscle. So it's been an evolving process. So yes, it's been slow, but it's been organic. And it really, a lot of it was based on I just want to feel good. You know, you will feel so much better if you put down the checkers, you go to class, and then you come home and you're having your green juice, you're having your eggs, you're having your life foods, your greens, you know, you just feel so much better. And I can agree with you there, too, because it's been evolving, you know, for me and my health journey, too. It's been, you know, I had a lot of struggles and, yeah, changing your mindset and, like, starting slow and giving yourself some grace, too. You know, like, if, you know, you're doing really well and stuff and you're, like, stuck, you're in between baseball games and travel ball or whatever you're trying to do and You know, you have the only thing that's there is McDonald's. It's like, OK, well, I'm going to give myself some grace to and go pick up that cheeseburger. But you know what? Instead of the cheeseburger, I'm going to get a double cheeseburger when I'm take off the bun today. Like, you know, like, yeah, I just want to improvise a little bit and say, OK, and that's one thing I try to always teach, you know, my kids, too, is it's it is it's about giving yourself some brazen. This is all I have to offer. OK, I'm going to do something else to try and eliminate something. And it's true. And But you know that's important that you said that too, Nella, because as you talked about that, I thought about that all or nothing mentality. And sometimes you think you have to have it all right then or you can't do anything. So you can start small. You can start with, like you said, if that's all you have, then start eliminating some stuff, you know. So, I love progress over perfection. That's huge because I am an all or nothing girl. Robyn, listen, Robyn's hardcore. She's an amazing dancer. Like when she came to my class, I was like, what? Who's that? Okay, she Or especially when, you know, and here's one of the best things, and I was a little upset that she didn't come in with it. Because, you know, one of our things is that Jeannie and I love our little ball caps. But not allowed to wear a ball cap anymore. And so, you know, I asked if she would wear her ball cap because sometimes you don't understand every podcast, like it's always about trying to just get Nella, like one of these days she's going to punch me in the face. Like she just is, you know, because I've been like holding onto this one because, you know, I was like, Jeannie, where's your ball cap? Where's your ball cap? So she went down. And so, yeah, we dance a lot better when we have our ball cap, but I'm also making sure that- I identify as a barrette. Barrette? So I'm not really a ball cap. So I'm still within our guidelines of elemental health of not wearing a ball cap because I identify as a barrette, but that's a big barrette. Robin see she's oh my god you have yours too i didn't even see oh my god i made her go get it i made her go get it but that is it's so cute because i was like i literally was almost like this word because i went back to go get my hat this was just for you Nella because Here's the thing, here's the thing, because, no, and I will tell you that, you know, we talk about self-esteem, and Nella's very good about, yes, I am very different, and I think that's why, like, the first day I was like, oh, this, I, yeah, mm-hmm, you know, because it's like when you said, it is, it's the authenticity and it's the passion, and this girl was all over the place, and it was so cute because yesterday we were talking and she goes, yeah, but you know, Robin, like, I'm a lot. I go, I'm twice you. I could put you in my pocket, so your lot, I'm a whole lot. I love that. I love that. But even with that, there is a time and a place, you know, and even being able to bring that in. And that's why they know I'm always so, you know, thankful that, you know, because it is a lot of times and for all of us, you know, different things. It's like we do have to be like small and it's to accommodate other people. And even like coming through, you know, all of our journeys, she's not small. She's like four foot two, but she is like eight foot nine when she's teaching. And it's just because she's the product, you know? And that's why I know, like, we always talk about in here, like, yes, you can go to a therapist, you can do this, you know, you can do this, but it's like, you're the product, you know what I mean? And so when it is really who you are and, you know, and I will tell you, she had me dancing again the other night and I was like, I haven't done this in a while. And then she was like, girl. And I was like, Oh Lord, But then my I was like, I go, yeah, there was my hair follicles were sore. You go, you're like, I'm going to stay back because Jeannie and I, I'm like, well, see you later. We did it for hours. I don't think we left till like 9.45 at night. I'm going to tell you something. I had to crawl out. too much of a good thing is also not good. So I have to ask, like, are your kids into the fall too? That's a good question. So all the boys dance. I mean, they really don't have option with me as their mom. Like we do dance parties and we and also I'm Colombian. So we dance as in our culture, like every we We like to party. Let's put it that way. So we're always dancing all the time. And my family's big, but we're all really close. So the boys absolutely dance. I have taught them like the foundations of dance and all the things, but I never push them or make them. And also in a group fitness, I really like to teach adults or older people anything, you know, anybody over 16, let's say 17, 18. because I am with them. I am a mom. I've been a mom of little kids for 20 years. I'm still in it and still in the weeds. So I love teachers. I'm like, I don't know how you guys do it. You have kids and you teach little kids. I can't do that. That's too much. That's way too much. You know, I just love when somebody who can't dance gets the movement or someone who can dance levels up their movement. I'm No. TJ did not dance professionally is what I'm saying. And Honestly, I thought I could dance until I started. No, she can. And I realized I absolutely cannot. I like this because it's more like, because I do dance, but I just do my own thing. But I like this because it's, you know, I'm following you. Well, at least I'm trying. And you're instructing and I'm following. So, yeah, And I'm really like also very authentic hip hop because I've trained a lot. I still train. I still have my teachers. One of my teachers is she was the choreographer for Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope Tour and a million other things. Duh, exactly. She did, she was like associate director for Magic Mike, for all the movies and all the, like, yes, she's done everything. I just have always loved her and looked up to her and I like geek out that she, I even get to take class or be trained by her at all. I'm like, oh my gosh, you know? And so I bring that, I also bring that, you know, spirit. I try to dance with as many professional dancers as possible too because I, I want to be at the top of my game forever. I And I like to use that like being at the top of your game for whatever you're doing. And that is your thing. So you're like, okay, I need to be around the top. Yeah, so that I can become better. And that's one thing I think people need to get to because like us, like, okay, we want to level up, we need to go to the best of us, we need to have good mentors. We didn't have good mentors, we need to be able to, you know, collaborate together and learn from other techniques and stuff, instead of being stuck in like, oh, my way is the best way. And I know what I'm doing. So I've been doing it for 20 years. It's like, okay, but there's still going to be people that are always going to be knowing something, doing better or knowing more and knowing other things. And I that's one of my pep keys is when people get stuck in their own way. And they think, OK, well, I've been doing this for 30 years. I'm an expert. OK, you might be an expert, but there's going to be someone that can level you up even more. Don't you want to be better at what Even like my students that I did, you know, like when they come in, I'm like, wow, what did they do? I'm never too proud or know too much or taking too many classes to know. I mean, sometimes like I'm thinking like the Dylan in our class, I'm like, whoa, he did that differently. And I love that better. Or in my like my online platform, the girls that I stream with, sometimes they'll do a move. I'm like, wow, that's way better than what I did. You know, like you're never too humble to I love that. Because we need more people like you. But that, yes, is to stay humble and to be like, yeah, damn, you did that better. Or, yeah, you know what? That technique sounds way better than mine. Like, come Well, and that's what I told. Well, it's funny because we've been telling Nella about you. And then, you know, I was telling Jeannie about you yesterday. And I said, you know, I said, you're gonna see the trifecta is what we call it. Because it's like I said, that was probably my best thing. Like I said, the first day that I went in and I was just like, I didn't know any, I don't know anybody. And then, but you also create a very emotionally safe space in there. You absolutely do. Like I said, there's no judgment, there's no anything. Other ladies are talking and empowering and there's men and there's, I mean, like I said, and then even here, that's what we always say, we're always learning. Always. I mean, you know, whether it's a, Hey, Noah, like, I know you did this, like, okay, how did you do that? Or, you know, even when I'm onboarding new clinicians, there are certain things that TJ does. And I go, listen, TJ does this better than anybody I know. So, right. That I'm going to have you, she's going to teach you that, you know, and that is, I think that's the, to me, that's the only way to be because yes, it's hard. Yes, it's going to, but I don't know any other way to do it. And we're doing it for, everybody else. And Oh, I love that. Well, that's why we knew that you were, you know, unhinged enough Totally. I just love and now I'm inspired and I'm going to come. I'm going to bring my daughter. Yeah, she will love it. And she's going to love it. And you might learn something from her. She's a little she learned She's got like 5% body fat probably because of her being what she does as a living. But yeah, oh my gosh, Jeannie, you've been amazing. I so appreciate you coming today, telling us your story, inspiring others out there, like mental health, music, dancing, all of that is all about wellness and your best being your best self. And again, So it's myhiphopfit.com. And I teach online classes. So I teach five a week to Monday and Wednesday nights at 630. And then I do three hit classes in the in the morning time online. And then also you can watch I have like 300 replays of all these workouts. So you can always work out at your own time, whenever you want, if you don't want to do the live stream, or you come in person, Or you can come to EOS and hang with us on Mondays and Tuesdays, Monday mornings and Tuesday nights. I will be there on a Monday for sure. Well, thank you and thank everyone for listening. Thank you, Janie. You're welcome. Thank