Leila “The Gypsy” Neri-Leebody was sick of being a heavier woman. When a friend took her to a Zumba exercise class, Leila fell for it. “Fitness was a part of my life before kids. After four children and after reaching 245 pounds, I decided to get back into it,” Leila says. “But I knew that I had to commit, so I started Fusion Dance in 2011 as a way to hold myself accountable by being responsible to help others do the same.”
Since then, Leila has not only lost 130 pounds, but inspired others around her and in her classes to reach their fitness goals as well. “It’s great for all ages,” Leila says. “It just gets easier the more you do it. We had a high-functioning gymnast start Zumba with us and say that she had never been in as good of shape before attending our classes twice a week.”
