Life and Work with Donyetta Allen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donyetta Allen.

Donyetta, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began my fitness journey years ago after having my first child in December 2006. It started off as a way to lose the weight I gained during a high-risk pregnancy but ended up becoming something that allowed me much greater rewards than just losing weight physically. I did in home pilates workouts and walked as my way of easing into fitness for my goals at that time over 12 years ago.

After losing a bit of weight, I lost consistency in my efforts but was pulled back into fitness after being diagnosed with high blood pressure at the age of 25. This was a diagnosis based on an extensive amount of stress at the time and I was determined to reverse this diagnosis without the need to continue to take medication. I wanted to find natural ways to reduce my stress and keep myself healthy mentally and physically. I then began to make better choices with my food as well as my fitness. I had a friend that would encourage me to try different things in fitness to maintain my consistency and with my fondness of variety it did. Through trying different group fitness classes, I found Zumba.

From the first class, I loved how it made me feel and knew that dance fitness would become a fixture in my fitness journey. Fitness became my God-given mind regulator and stress reliever while also helping me to maintain a healthy weight. I wanted to be able to help others experience not only the benefits for weight loss physically but mentally as well which led me to become a certified Zumba instructor in December 2016. Since then, I have added on formats including Mixxedfit and Trap Pilates and hope to be able to continue to share fitness with people that will help them be able to use it as a tool to improve their health mentally and physically.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The struggle for me has been consistency over this journey. Becoming an instructor has kept me consistent and have a higher level of accountability to do so because I am now responsible for helping others as well. My advice for other women would be to find something they enjoy to incorporate in their fitness journey and maintain a schedule to allow themselves to be consistent. Fitness is not all about vanity, but giving your body and mind something it deserves to be able to be your best self for you and others. Don’t be afraid to try new things to mix it up sometimes and having a fitness friend can help you be accountable as well.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Yettarobics Fitness & Wellness – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I teach Zumba, Mixxedfit and Trap Pilates formats at local gyms and businesses. I love dance fitness formats because I am naturally drawn to dance and have the opportunity to be creative with choreography for routines as well as the music I select. It was a given to add on Trap Pilates as a certification to share with my students because it allows me to reconnect with what got me started in fitness and have a level of variety beyond my dance fitness formats. I enjoy fun and creative ways to workout and every class I teach provides that for my students. I have been a twerking enthusiast most of my life being an Atlanta native, so am working on a Twerkfit format to share with my students as well. I am adamant about being able to help people understand the benefits of physical fitness for their mental health as well and am hosting an event called Shake It Fest- shaking the stigma of mental health through dance fitness- on May 18th from 4p-6p at Kittness Dance Studio in Norcross, GA. What sets me apart is my desire to help people not only look good but feel good and be free from mental roadblocks through releasing their worries on the dance floor in class. Self-care is important and I look to be able to help people maintain a level of self-care through the classes and events I lead and host.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Connect with people that are like minded and that you are able to learn with and from. Allow yourself to be open to criticism to be able to improve in areas where there is an opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Website: donyettaa.zumba.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @yettarobics
• Facebook: @yettarobicsfitwell
• Other: shakeitfest1.eventbrite.com

Image Credit:
Amanda Bidessy

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