Suz’s Story
When I turned 40, I decided that I’d had enough of hearing myself say, “I’m gonna lose weight and get in shape. I’m gonna quit smoking. I’m gonna get my life together. I’m gonna… I’m gonna…” I’d had enough of my battle with food, negative body image, and pain. I had just watched my father die from heart disease, diabetes, a stroke and depression. I made a conscious decision to change my life. I didn’t have a way, but I had the will. I heard myself say, “I will create a body, mind and spirit that would make me happy, healthy and proud. Then I got help.
The process took a team; a trainer, a massage therapist, a Nia teacher, friends, family, colleagues, and students supporting my efforts. For a year, I worked with a trainer three times a week, I followed Weight Watchers for nutritional guidance, saw a massage therapist twice a month, danced Nia four times a week, did more cardio-vascular work several times a week and made major lifestyle changes as I went along. I lost 40 Lbs, reduced my body fat by 9% and sculpted a body that I could never have imagined.
Besides getting help from others, I educated myself about fitness and wellness, changed a lot of habits, did a lot of journaling, and found new ways to enjoy and reward myself. There were no magic pills, or fail-proof programs; I did it step by step.
Now, I’ve gone beyond my original goals and I continue to take action in all aspects of holistic wellness and I feel great! I seek opportunities to expand my knowledge of mind-body fitness and I continue to challenge my resolve to stay well in all areas of my life. I work to keep what I have. I like being healthy. I like being able to move around and feel good, and look good in my body. I am strong, healthy, and happy than I’ve ever been in my life. I do more. I am more. I live more. I have created my zest for life.
My main reason for working in the fitness and wellness industry is that I love to lead others to do the same as me. With 17 years of teaching theatre arts, I have plenty of experience and skills to relate to people, impart knowledge about movement, the body, relationships, fitness, and spirit. But, it’s my experience with my own transformation; body, mind and spirit that gives me the passion and compassion to be an excellent leader for others in the same pursuit.
Suz’s Bio
Emerging onto the field of body-mind-spirit fitness in 2006, Suzannah Weiss is a Blue Belt Nia Instructor, Yoga Teacher, Personal Trainer and Master School Teacher, as well as the director of SuzWorks her company that focuses on holistic wellness through classes, workshops, and Personal Training. Suzannah’s passion for working in wellness, strength training and movement grew naturally out of her own journey to get fit, strong, healthy, lose weight, increase her personal power and to develop wellness in seven major areas of her life (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, occupational and sensual).
Her study of Nia Technique, yoga, functional fitness, strength training, bodybuilding, personal growth techniques and movement bring an expertise to her work that is rare in most fitness settings. Seventeen years of experience as a Middle School Drama Teacher brings a unique youthful energy and a sense of play that is also uncommon. Her constantly broadening set of skills and interests create an infectious enthusiasm that makes her classes and training programs compelling. Suzannah approaches her work with grace, poise and preparedness.