BALLERINA BOTTEGA™: Meet Shelley!

Shelley began taking class at MaZi about a year ago and quickly felt connected to our community and decided that she wanted to be part of MaZi's intructor team. With her background in martial arts & dance, she found her match with Ballerina Fight Club, a class that will change your life! It's always a treat to take class with Shelley because of her pristine form, athletic vibe and to top it all off, she always looks like she's walked out of Nike photo shoot. Yes, this is her, don't miss her classes at both South Loop & Wicker Park and be truly inspired by Shelley!

Pretty meets Tough: Shelley!

How do you relax? When I need to hit the reset button, I head down to my parents home in the country where the nearest place to buy milk is about 12 miles away. Nothing brings me back to center like a weekend with my family.

What fashion item can you not live without? My cowboy boots. They are surprisingly versatile.

Go to healthy snack? You’d be surprised how many items in your kitchen can be smeared on a rice cake. My favorite go to combo is a rice cake with avocado and tomato but if it’s been an especially long day, I go straight for the Nutella.

Fave indulgence? A well-earned sports massage. I’ve started investing more in the recovery elements of my workout routine and it’s made a huge difference in my stamina and how effective I’m able to be in class.

What do you like about teaching at MaZi!? I love being a part of this community. I’ve belonged to many a “mega gym” and I always dreaded going in and getting on the treadmill to nowhere; it’s a very lonely way to exercise. MaZi is different. The students come a little early to connect with each other, teachers take the time to really get to know their students and what it is they’re hoping to accomplish in class…the result is a much more effective and social way to exercise.

Song that keeps you going? Finding and collecting music is a hobby of mine and that translates into my classes. I’m constantly changing it up and love when I find a song or artist that fits perfectly into a class. I’ll always have a soft spot for Ciara; I love that she is super strong and super feminine and she is a fantastic dancer. I think “Lose Control” by Missy Elliot feat. Ciara is one of the best workout songs ever produced!

Fun fact? Winter is my favorite season! If you don’t see me in class, it’s likely because I’m on a mountain somewhere with a board strapped to my feet.

#1 Fitness tip? Find what you love and invest in it. If you don’t love it, you’ll never be able to sustain it long term.

How your dance background makes a difference! Growing up preforming had both physical and emotional benefits; possibly the best of which was building my confidence level. Dance is a definitely transformative exercise. I love collaborating with the other teachers at MaZi to create choreography that is both challenging and attainable so that our students can have that same confidence-building experience in class. You can always see when someone has their “aha” moment, where the music and the moves just click for them and their inner monologue says: I got this. They shine and it’s awesome!

Catch her Ballerina Fight Club classes at South Loop Fridays at 5:30 PM & Wicker Park Tuesdays at 6:00 PM!