Join JP and Maria Teresa as they discuss her journey from growing up in Mexico as the 10th child in a family of 11 children, and becoming an aerobics instructor at 15, through to being the driving force behind Zumba taking over as the leading dance fitness craze in Australia and New Zealand. As always, JP wants to know the guest’s journey and he draws out everything from how Latin names come to be (and are often so long!) through to why Maria Teresa had to graduate with a degree in marketing before she could follow her passion of dance and fitness. Then we learn the pathway that led to her international career spanning North America, Europe and Australia/NZ and for her to become the person who brought Zumba down under. They discuss the strength of the brand and why it’s so popular to this day, before moving on and discussing one of Maria Teresa’s other passions, Aqua fitness. With such a stellar and ongoing career across decades, the wisdom and nuggets of intellectual gold just keep coming in this episode. Enjoy this international story of success and what it can teach us all!

Maria Teresa Stone is a renowned fitness expert and entrepreneur with over 28 years of experience in the industry. Originally from Mexico, she began her journey in 1996, specializing in both group fitness and water-based fitness classes. Her career has taken her across the globe, leading master classes, training instructors, and presenting at international fitness conventions. In 2009, Maria Teresa was instrumental in the successful launch of Zumba® in New Zealand and Australia. Over the past 16 years, she has trained thousands of instructors throughout the Australasia Pacific region, earning widespread recognition for her leadership and impact. In 2016, her contributions were formally acknowledged when she was inducted into Fitness Australia's Roll of Honour. As co-founder of the online platform My Group Move, Maria Teresa provides essential training and ongoing support to group fitness instructors worldwide. A passionate advocate for holistic well-being, she is a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). Based in New Zealand with her husband and two children, she continues to inspire women through Powerful YOU, her home workout program designed to empower and nurture both body and mind.

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