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Commentary | 7
JANUARY 2020 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net
make drumsticks out of,” she said. “I had
a vision, but didn’t know till I went to
the store what was available.”
In the plumbing department, she
bought 20-foot lengths of white plumb
er’s pipe, 160 plastic caps in packages of
two, and tubes of glue. She had the store
cut the pipe into 14-inch pieces. The next
day, she and her young granddaughter
sat in her yard and glued the caps on the
sticks to make 80 watertight drumsticks
for her students.
Her goal is always to make her classes
so much fun her students will keep com
ing back, something she learned early in
her fitness career when she trained with
the charismatic 1970s fitness guru Rich
ard Simmons.
Based on what her students told me
that day, she has succeeded.
“I’m 77, but feel like I’m 37,” said Gali-
ma, from Russia, who recovered from a
pinched nerve in weeks thanks to Co
lon’s class. “It was 100% a miracle.”
“I’ve taken water Zumba for 30 years.
She’s the best teacher I’ve ever had,” said
Louise.
“Before this class, I walked with a
cane,” said Jayshree. “Now I can some
times walk without it.”
Like some of the other students, Jay
shree can’t swim.
By email, student Susan, who has
been “profoundly deaf” since birth, told
me she has no problem not hearing the
music because she follows the move
ments, which Colon enthusiastically
makes very obvious.
“She’s very warm and friendly and
wants us to follow through,” said Susan.
“I love that about her.”
“People live to take her class,” said
student Sarah.
As for me, the gym rat, my muscles
were sore the next day.
PHOTOS BY CAROL NIEMI
Marlene Colon, seen in the second
row, second from the left, leads an
Aqua Fusion class with drumsticks.
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