On April 24 a Zumba workout was held outside at the TOMVAC building in Marlboro under the guidance of Zumba Fit Club instructor Kattya Fernandez.

Zumba is an aerobic fitness program that features movements inspired by various styles of Latin American dance and is performed primarily to Latin American music. Zumba was created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto”Beto”Pérez during the 1990s.

Kattya said she has had heart disease and holds this event every year, with 100% of the proceeds going to the American Heart Association [AHA].

Kattya said because of the pandemic she was only able to hold virtual events, but this year, “so far it’s been amazing and we got a fabulous turnout here outdoors in a great space.” She invited about a dozen of her fellow Zumba instructors from the Mid Hudson area who came to support her, with each taking a turn giving their take on a Zumba exercise.

“So they brought their students and their friends and as you can see we also have vendors,” she said.

D.J. Echo provided the music and Scott Morgan added congas.
Kattya said they do their routines accompanied by a mix of music from all over the world, such as salsa and meringue, and have people participating from 5 to 80 years of age.

“Movement is for everyone,” she contends. She points out that as we age, more health issues arise, but movement can play an important part in keeping us healthy, while also having a great time.

Kattya thanked Supervisor Al Lanzetta and Councilman Scott Corcoran for their support, “and everyone from the Town of Marlborough. They have all been amazing to me.”

Lanzetta said Kattya, “is really the heart and soul of Zumba here in Marlborough.” He pointed out that when covid hit she held some events at TOMVAC, “that got people outdoors and whatever the CDC regulations were, she always adhered to them,” he said. “She’s faithful to the Town of Marlborough and she’s faithful to the Zumba people. She’s been great.”

Lanzetta is hoping that the rehabilitation of TOMVAC will begin in a few months, “now that the New York budget is finished. It would be a great thing for the community.” The town has received about $800,000 from their elected state officials that is slated for this project.

Eleni Smalley, Senior Director of the American Heart Association [AHA] for the Mid-Hudson Valley region, said Kattya has been holding this annual event for 10 years. She said Kattya had a heart episode many years ago, “and Zumba was one of her ways back. She has been doing this in honor of AHA and for other survivors like her. In the 10 years she has been doing this, she has raised $30,000 for the heart association that goes toward research, education and programming all within the Hudson Valley.”

Smalley said this event is part of the AHA Go Red For Women program, “which is all about educating women about the differences in heart disease and strokes between women and men...It can present very differently in women, like jaw or back pain, and because we’re women we tend say we’ll get around to it and therefore we don’t. Go Red for Women provides education, resources and materials to women so they know when to seek help and see a doctor.”

Smalley said this past year has been challenging because of covid-19, “but our mission guides us and we do everything we can because of our survivors, people like Kattya, that’s what drives us. Heart disease hasn’t stopped because of covid, so we’re not going to stop either.”

More information about heart walks and the association’s other activities can be found at their website at americanheartassociation.org.