Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenyetta Brasher.
Hi Kenyetta, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Born and raised in Akron, OH. I left for college (Wright State University) and moved back for a year or two. I moved to Dayton, OH to dance in the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, pre-professional company DCDCII. Under the guidance of Jeraldyn Blunden and Debbie-Blunden Diggs, I began teaching dance at the local public schools and was Debbie’s assistant admin at The Jeraldyn School of Dance. After training for a summer at American Dance Festival in Durham, NC and started auditioning more and ended up in Indianapolis, IN to perform in a small tour production sponsored by the Madame CJ Walker Theater, “Elegba Crossings”. After the tour ended, another opportunity in Indianapolis came about and I ended up staying in Indy for 10 years. If it were not for Iris Rosa and Sandy Rieberg mentorship and friendships, I would not have had the opportunities to have met my husband of 23 years (Oct 30), got my first 200 hr. yoga certification, became a Group Fitness Instructor through YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, performed and choreographed at the American Cabaret Theater, perform, and choreograph with local theater and dance school/companies and be the Dance Director at Shortridge Middle school for 5 years.
My husband and I moved to Katy/Richmond in 2007. Between 2010-2017 I was an Informal Education Director & Youth Development Director for the YMCA of Greater Houston. With budget cuts from the Y, I returned to group fitness, teaching around the Houston area up to 20 classes a week. In the winter of 2022, I accepted a job as the Fitness Director at Long Meadow Farms Fitness Center under Risher Fitness management.
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?
Suffered a Stroke in 2008, bounced back quickly physically and verbally with the help of teaching yoga. My attention span is not what it was before the Stroke and I still have some memory loss.
After losing my full-time job at the YMCA was challenging to get back into fitness. I had put on over 50 lbs, had fatty liver, and my cholesterol was high for my normal (have heredity high cholesterol and pre-diabetic).
Now that I’m back to working at a desk and not teaching as much, the weight has slowly started to creep up. So, I’ve started getting quick mini workouts in through the day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Fitness Director for Risher Fitness Management
Master Trainer for Barre Vida
Certified in several group fitness formats; AFAA G.E.A.R. Cycle, Les Mills Body Balance, Zumba Gold, Zumba Tone, Zumba, Pop Pilates, mat Pilates, Personal Trainer, 500 hr. RYT with Yoga Alliance, Silver Sneak Splash, through LA Fitness I’m certified in kickboxing, Aqua Fit and group fitness.
Working on becoming a Les Mills Kickboxing instructor, and nationally certified as an AFAA Group Fitness.
How do you define success?
Not taking every day for granted.
Knowing my worth.
Being ok with my physical limits and not using them as an excuse.
Compete in a Body Building contest within the next year.
