Deirdre Morris
Qualifications: Certified by ACE, AFAA, and Can-Fit-Pro. Continuing Education Specialist as well as a Master Trainer for BOSU and FiTour. Instructor workshop presenter in the US and Canada.
Personal History: I grew up doing competitive gymnastics and dancing, but I developed a true passion for group fitness after graduating from college. While traveling the country with my first job, I'd attend group fitness classes wherever I was working. The variety of formats and instructors always made these workouts exciting. It all inspired me to change my personal passion into a career. I continue to teach classes, but, now, I also train and certify other instructors and trainers. My husband, Rich, and I have a daughter named Sinclair. I’m a huge believer in exercise during pregnancy; I actually went into labor after teaching a cycling class!
Workout Philosophy: Forget about the scale and focus on making fitness fun. If you find the formats you love (they're out there) and concentrate on being healthy and happy, everything else will fall into place.
Sucess Story: Natasha Hendrix Pratt in Augusta, Georgia, has been a participant of mine for years. I encouraged her to become an instructor and she later said, “I can't thank you enough, because I never had the confidence or belief in myself to take that step. I can't tell you how much enjoyment it's added to my life and how much self-esteem it's given me.” That has always stood out in my mind, because Natasha's fitness experience had an incredible impact on her physical and emotional health. I asked her to summarize her experience: “I attended all of Deirdre’s classes I could. She made working out fun! Whether it was indoor cycle, step, jump rope, or strength training, it was always exciting and enjoyable! Deirdre has this knack for keeping members laughing while pushing them to muscle failure and anaerobic activity. They leave with a smile on their face and a sense of accomplishing something great for their health! She kept encouraging me to get certified in indoor cycle, because I was always taking classes. After a few months of Deirdre’s persistent encouragement, I decided to do it! Aside from my choice of spouse, occupation, and college, getting certified in indoor cycle is certainly next in line as one of the best decisions I have ever made! Now I know why Deirdre teaches as much as she does. She knows how rewarding it is. I can never repay Deirdre for opening up the door for me to become certified.
