Meet our featured instructor for November/December, Cyndi Staudt. Cyndi hails from sunny Florida where she teaches CardioWave GlideFit classes at the National Training Center among many other classes. She’s a talented instructor who also finds time to give back to the community.
What drew you to the fitness industry?
I first stepped foot in a gym because a friend asked me to go work out with her while she was going through a divorce. One day after class the owner asked if I’d ever thought about teaching & at that time never had. She asked me to go through certification & come on board as one of her instructors. I’ve always had a passion to do things in life that “make a difference” and leave an impact. Seeing what fitness was accomplishing in my friend’s life & knowing how it was making me feel to work out I said yes without hesitation. At the time I was working FT as a Financial Analyst and only teaching PT. But when an opportunity opened up to become a Group Fitness & PT Director for the gym, I jumped on it & never looked back. Pursuing a career in fitness was one of the best decisions I ever made!
How is fitness personally important to you?
In fitness I have not only found an avenue to better health/wellness/fitness but have found an important method of preserving & restoring mental & emotional well-being. Additionally, being fit has enabled me to get to remote areas and villages in countries while on mission trips to serve people in need.
What types of classes do you teach?
I enjoy diversity in exercise so I am certified in and teach a wide variety of classes. In addition to GlideFit, I teach a wide range of aerial classes from aerial yoga & aerial conditioning to performance apparatus, as well as land based classes such as Les Mills programming, indoor cycling, land yoga & more.
What do you love most about your job?
It’s incredibly rewarding to motivate others on the path to fulfilling their health & fitness goals. So often I meet people who are frustrated and ready to give up or who think they can’t do something. Seeing their reactions when they actually accomplish these things is priceless!
How would you describe your teaching style?
Inclusive, making all levels feel welcome & successful, motivating & encouraging; create a fun & effective experience that leaves people wanting more.
What drew you to become a GlideFit instructor?
I was intrigued by the challenge of GlideFit, particularly in regards to stability, even in some of the most basic land exercises & movements. I also enjoy being outdoors and on the water so the class really offers
What do you love most about teaching GlideFit classes?
Watching people’s confidence grow as they start to attempt more difficult things and master challenging moves is incredibly rewarding.
What do you think GlideFit does for your body that is different from any other workout?
GlideFit really doesn’t allow us to “cheat” or compensate for imbalances. Being on the water forces all muscles & stabilizers to kick in and do their part thereby improving overall fitness.
If you could share one thing you’ve learned through teaching what would it be?
People are capable of so much more than they think & it’s a privilege to help them realize their full potential!
What is one accomplishment you are most proud of?
I have been using my fitness training & experience to develop programs to specifically be used in the healing and restoration of victims of human trafficking & hope to expand these to be used with teens and children who are being bullied.
Tell us one thing most folks may be surprised to learn about you.
I once climbed off the roof of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Orlando, rappelled down 8 stories and did an aerial routine on the side of the hotel at the 20th Floor!
If you weren’t doing your current job what would you be doing instead?
Travelling to trafficking safe houses around the world, providing healing and restoration through fitness!
Thanks to Cyndi for sharing! We love our instructors and the diverse backgrounds they all have. Interested in becoming part of the team? Want to get certified? All questions about certification can be answered by reaching out to our Fitness Director tiffany.harrison@glidesup.com .