"Many of my students call this life-changing and so empowering. Some cry during class," said Moreno, 40. "I tell people that exercise is not only about the actions you do. If you don't change the internal dialogue that said, 'You're fat' or 'You'll never lose weight,' then it's not going to work. You have to change inside and feel more joy."
Moreno has trained more than 100 teachers in intenSati methods worldwide. While there are no classes in Maryland or D.C., she conducts several annual workshops at sites nationwide and abroad. The next will be an intenSati weekend in early November at the Ritz-Carlton resort on Amelia Island, Fla.
There are other hip fitness trends sweeping the region.
At the sprawling, upscale Maryland Athletic Club facility in downtown's Harbor East, one of the newest things is Kinesis. The 30-minute workout, done in intimate classes, uses a pulley system on the wall to incorporate cardio, strength training, balance and toning exercises.
At Baltimore Yoga Village, the offerings include partner yoga so that two people can find their bliss together, and laughter yoga, which experts say can lower blood pressure and boost immune function.
And at A Step Ahead Dance Center on Joppa Road in Parkville, dance teachers and co-owners Kristin Hash and Karen Daniels have added the Latin-inspired fitness trend Zumba to their tap, ballet and jazz classes.
Zumba fuses Latin rhythms such as salsa and merengue music with cardio moves. The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms, plus resistance training, are combined to tone and sculpt the body while burning fat. One recent high-energy class was filled with folks ranging from middle-aged moms to male college students.
"People just love it," said Daniels, who, along with her business partner, is a member of Dance Masters of America Inc. and the Maryland Council for Dance. They took a special course in Delaware to become certified Zumba instructors and offer the classes three times a week.
"It's a good workout. You sweat but you're not doing 89 crunches and thinking, 'Oh, my God, just five more.' "
Zumba was created by Colombia fitness trainer "Beto" Perez in the mid-1990s. Perez later brought the classes to the States and enlisted partners, and a global company was born. Company officials estimate that 4 million people have tried it.
