Susan Harris

Qualifications: Certified by NASM. Trained in classical ballet for ten years.

Personal History: I started dance training very young; I always felt it was something I could do well. Dance gave me a sense of self-worth and confidence. With that, there were also the obvious physical benefits. I took swimming in collage and made all of my girlfriends attend any exercise class I could drag them to. At that time, 1980, there were only aerobic dance exercise classes. I was thrilled to find a class in Charleston that was so different and way ahead of its time led by Anna Benson, the creator of The Firm. Anna could see I had dance training. She hired and then trained me to instruct her classes. What a phenomenal program! Our town was full of great-looking women who had discovered that weights don't have to make you look like a bulky body builder, but could give you a very sleek, defined, sexy look. I was later asked to lead the first Firm video. This was the start of several creative endeavors with very innovative and knowledgeable individuals. I have continued to lead group fitness classes for more that 25 years and I'll keep going as long as the people leave happy and express to me that was a great workout. I am a single mother raising 4 children from 7 to 18 years old.

Workout Philosophy: Life just keeps changing and so do we. Working out, done consistently and wholeheartedly, will award us with vitality, healthfulness, strength, balance, self-respect, and happiness. Just keep moving!

Success Story: There are so many. The latest was a young woman that told me I was the reason she was following the right path. She said that she had been overweight, had been very unhappy, and was living a very unhealthy lifestyle. She started doing my video and the results and confidence that she gained steered her onto a healthy road. In this time of so much temptation for our children, this hit home with me and made me so grateful that I had been able to help her.