Today we’d like to introduce you to YuriAmor Perez. Them and their team share their story with us below:
YuriAmor is the founder and CEO of FitMix Communities. She’s been a certified fitness instructor for over 10 years. She cannot make up her mind of what she loves more, Yoga, HIIT or Zumba. She believes life is about balance and so she enjoys them all. All her classes are defined by two words, ENERGY and FUN! Great energy, positive energy, tons of energy, super fun. She loves teaching at the Houston Parks and building a community wherever she and the FitMix Ambassadors go. Her approach to any class is to build strength, physically, mentally and spiritually. She believes fitness is the best therapy and a great way to find wellness in life.
She graduated from the University of Houston with BBA and a minor in Politics, her other passions. She understands the importance of creating a safe space for everyone to feel welcome, included and strong. For that, she works close with community leaders and she partners with organizations to reach out to even more people. Her leadership style is basically, go for it! You got this! Her goal is to empower as many people as possible to feel their best and to uplift each other.
Fitmix Communities is a nonprofit organization led by an inclusive Board and supported by tons of volunteers that love to give their energy and their sweat equity. FitMix Ambassadors are all over the USA and the world and they keep the Mission and the Vision growing. She is lucky to have them.
FitMix Communities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the well-being of all participants. We focus on outreach, taking our free group classes to places and areas where they are needed the most. Our goal is to decrease the occurrence of health problems associated with obesity, loneliness, and stress, through fun, empowering and creative ways.
FitMiX started as a studio on the East End in 2013 and it became a Non-profit in 2017. The vision was to have quality, impactful community classes for underserved communities. Build an empowerment program that would have a lasting effect in our great city. Provide the tools to make a healthier lifestyle accessible and affordable to all. That is still the goal. The journey has been exciting, fulfilling, and inspiring.
Si Se Puede!
Fitmix Communities offers loving friendships, ongoing support, and unbridled joy. FitMix Communities is all about inclusivity, positivity and love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
So personally, my industry is fitness… and I am Latina. I love my curves. For the fitness culture, I’m supposed to be either skinny or muscular. For the Latin culture, being too muscular is ugly and you look like a man. I’m glad things have changed after 10 years and I’m accepted as strong, sexy, and fit – and Latina- in the industry but it was not like that a few years ago.
As a business in the earlier stages, I should’ve had more knowledge and understanding of the industry, the cultures. I wanted to offer a beautiful, comfortable, inclusive space for people to come to get healthier and happier. Americans understood the value of it, Latinos didn’t. I still worked out ways to make it happen but in the end, the rent increased so much that I couldn’t stay open.
As a nonprofit, the struggle was with the Board. You need to have one, but it is extremely difficult to find the right balance of support, supervision and responsibilities. If you want help with operations it means every decision goes to vote, which can be exhausting. If you just want them to be there as a requisite to keep the nonprofit, then don’t ask for too much support. At the same time, their job is to help with making sure the funds are available to fulfill the mission. It is just a very tricky balance that I have not found yet.
We’ve been impressed with FitMix Communities, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Free and exciting fitness classes in most major parks inside the loop: Discovery Green, Memorial Park, Midtown Park, Levy Park, Museum of Fine Arts and Midtown Park. Yoga, Zumba, HIIT and Classes for Baby Boomers. Fitness Entrepreneurship Certification for Wellness Equity. Certification is offered for stay-at-home moms in underserved communities.
Virtual Wellness Programs: affordable and engaging programs for other nonprofit organizations and small businesses.
What matters most to you?
Empowerment. I believe one person can change things but a group, a community, can have a lot more impact. We live in an amazing country, an amazing city! but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Getting people involved, getting them the tools and resources to create a better future for all, I believe that’s where the real fulfillment comes from.
Pricing:
- Park Classes free
- Certifications $200-$1000
- Virtual Wellness programs $19-$700 depending on company size
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fitmixcommunities.org
- Instagram: yuriamor_fitmixcommunities
- Facebook: Facebook.com/fitmixcommunities
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Fitmixhouston
