Striking a balance

"Zumba-Yoga!" The nurse and the schoolteacher say the giant yellow sign is bringing in new business. Hillary Ramondo, registered nurse, and Kristina Korthas recently opened Fitmoves Exercise Co. inside Serena's Dance Palace. Fitmoves says they're ready to help everyone who has resolved to get fit in the New Year.

Serena's has been in Hernando County since 1997, offering classes in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, musical theatre, contemporary, break dancing and acrobatics to students from age 3 to adult. Their Spring Hill Drive location offered a perfect opportunity for new entrepreneurs Ramondo and Korthas to develop their own brand of movement and to add another measure of balance to the fitness opportunities available at the Dance Palace.

Fitmoves' motto is, "Celebrating Life with Rhythm and Movement." They invite clients to "Ditch the routine - join the party." They offer co-ed classes in Zumba (body-sculpting exercise with Latin music,) traditional and nontraditional yoga, and Ethnic Rhythms (a challenging combination of dance and exercise with harder choreography and tougher footwork). Pilates classes begin in February.

Fitmoves is having a New Years Resolution Party on Jan. 5. Beginners exercise assessment and dance class starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by a regular Ethnic Rhythms class at 6:30 pm and yoga at 7:30 p.m.

Being employed in the private sector - Ramondo is a nurse at Oak Hill Hospital, Korthas teaches at Wider Horizons School - the two women are also striking a balance between careers, family life, a new business, and the needs of their clientele. They continually refine classes to accommodate varying fitness levels.

Ramondo explained, "Having taught for over 30 years, I've earned the trust of people of all abilities, body types and sizes. If you're sedentary, you have to start somewhere. We want people to find the right balance here. Your body is meant to be in motion, not to get static. To get static, you must create motion."

She added, "I have also developed some very nontraditional power yoga classes that incorporate a rhythmic component. Besides our more traditional, gentle-focus yoga, I teach some tough classes."

Korthas says they are trying to design programs that fit everybody. "We're trying to help people have fun and feel comfortable. We want them to have a good time." The women say their establishment "is a studio, not a gym. You come in and get out. We're different from a health club. We're more like an adult dance studio with multiple fitness opportunities."

Ramondo claims 30 post-baccalaureate credits in kinesiology (the science of body movement). She studied dance at several prominent New York dance studios and is an AFFA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America) Certified Group Fitness Instructor.

Korthas has a master's degree in business from the State University of Moscow in her native Russia. Her passion for movement began while learning to dance on ice at age five. She came to Florida in 2006 and is a Zumba certified instructor. She "loves sharing my passion to dance with my students."

The women met at Shapes Total Fitness for Women in Port Richey, where they teach. Ramondo approached Dance Palace owner Serena Young with the idea of opening a new fitness studio within Serena's. Young liked the idea, the big yellow sign went up, and Fitmoves opened for business. They employ two additional yoga instructors: Kim Scott, registered nurse, trained in Kirpula yoga, and new employee and nationally certified fitness instructor Damian Mojica.

So far it seems to be a win-win situation for Serena's Dance Palace and Fitmoves Exercise Co. "The dance studio gives off a lot of energy," Ramondo said.

She and Korthas say they have been able to enhance Serena's studio by adding an excellent new microphone and sound system. "We want a professional sound," said Ramondo. "We want our clients to know they are in a professional atmosphere. We teach in a large ballroom with a high-quality wood floor."

Fitmoves has several levels of monthly membership. The first class is always free and gift certificates are available. Classes are offered in the evenings. Schedules and prices are detailed on their Web site, or call for more information.
Serena's Dance Palace (www.serenasdancepalace.com) will present its holiday show at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 18, in the Springstead High School Theater. Call Serena's at 352-796-1991 for more information.

Biz at a glance:
Name - Fitmoves Exercise Co.
Location - 17049 Spring Hill Drive (in Serena's Dance Palace)
Telephone - 352-597-5646
Email - fitmoves@ymail.com
Web site - http://fitmoves.tripod.com