Today we’d like to introduce you to Chinyere Sam.
Hi Chinyere, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2019, I experienced a deeply challenging personal trial. After surviving a broken relationship, I found myself alone, supporting two toddler sons, shockingly homeless, and forced to live in my fitness studio.
I fought and conquered depression by dancing to spirited, invigorating native, cultural Caribbean music taught by my family and friends when I was a teen. I was able to relieve stress, lift my spirits, and experience joy again. Caribbean dance and music reinforced my love of life, self-identity, and purpose.
After receiving Dancehall, Reggae, Soca, and Calypso music from my DJ friend Dondy, I danced daily. Increasing numbers of friends began to join me. They were inspired, sweating, and having more fun than they had in years! Dance was inevitably added to my fitness program; female clients loved it! It was fun – a lighter challenge to complement fitness goals.
“DANCEHALL FIT-Get Your Sexy Back” was born in the Fall of 2019 at my fitness studio and attracted many people who wanted to burn calories and keep fit while having fun! Because of Covid, clients began to request in-home training in 2020 and online classes were offered.
My goal has always been to inspire the love of life practices of health, exercise, dance, and nutrition.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business and running/sustaining a business is never a smooth road. All businesses have their ups and downs. First of all, Dancehall Fit, Get you Sexy Back is a new form of fitness workout. Not too many people know about Dancehall unless they’re from the Caribbean.
So trying to convince people of this different type of dance fitness workout wasn’t easy. I held in-person classes at the beginning of 2019 and then in April 2020 after Covid hit, I started doing online classes. But the classes didn’t go as well as I expected because I didn’t have the right technology for people to hear the music well on Zoom.
I then bought a mixer to supposedly fix the problem which worked but still had a few technical issues. After about two months people started dropping out of the class and it came to the point where I had only two people left. I stopped teaching the class in June that year because it wasn’t worth it financially wise.
In 2021, I did nothing with Dancehall Fit and continued my other business as a Fitness Trainer with my other company Body By Chinyere. However, after I secured a grant from the SBA, I resumed Dancehall fit in 2022.
I now have way better technology where I run online zoom classes, I do more promoting, more pop-up classes, secure contracts with businesses, medical clinics for seniors, insurance companies, etc., and are being booked for future projects.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have been a dedicated competitive athlete for over seventeen years. At the tender age of 8, I began competing with elementary and high school track and field teams in Guyana.
At age 15, I moved with my family to Barbados and continued to excel in high school track and field. After graduating, I migrated to the United States to attend Ricks College. Upon graduation, I attended Utah Valley University and became a leading track athlete.
I am a Certified Aerobics Instructor & Personal Trainer (www.bodybychinyere.com) with endorsements for Step Aerobics, Kickboxing Aerobics, and Group Exercise by the International Fitness Association (IFA). I am also certified in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) & AED (Automated External Defibrillators). I am the Dance Instructor of Dancehall Fit-Get Your Sexy Back (www.dancehallfit.com).
A professional trainer for 10 years in New York City, I trained clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and the Westchester area.
I then moved to Tampa in 2017 and continued to provide fitness training services to clients in Hillsborough County, Florida. I broadened my career online by offering One-On-One Training, Boot-Camps/Group Sessions, Dance Fitness, and Nutritional Support for youth to senior clients.
I’m most proud of the fact that although I was homeless with two toddlers and faced many difficult times I never give up on my goals and dreams. Dancehall Fit blesses many lives by helping people stay active, rebuild self-esteem, and self-confidence, and fight depression. The mission of Dancehall Fit is to become a global brand.
What sets me apart from the others is that I created a company that is different from other dance workouts and that is innately rooted in my culture which many enjoy.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is when I spend time with my two boys, ages 7 and 5.
My boys are extremely active and are involved in sports. Nothing gives me more joy than spending time with them and taking them to their practices, and games, doing fun things together, going to church, and helping them with school work.
They each have certain traits of my personality and they love their mother very much. They call me the queen of the house. They keep me young and alive and I love them with all my heart!
Pricing:
- $39.99 per month for Dancehall Fit in classes.
- Location classes vary.
- $80- $120 per hour for personal fitness training.
Contact Info:
- Website: Websites: www.dancehallfit.com , www.bodybychinyere.com
- Instagram: @dancehall_fit and @body.by.chinyere
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancehallfit, https://www.facebook.com/BodyByChinyere
- Youtube: www.bodybychinyerevideos.com
