Meet Island Beats

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Island Beats. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Island Beats.

Island Beats, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

As Black and Latina business owners of an independent Zumba® studio in a city as segregated as Cleveland, we face unique challenges. I’m not fluent in Spanish, and Iris isn’t from Cleveland, which sometimes raises eyebrows because we’re an unlikely pair. Instead of letting those differences divide us, we’ve used them to build a stronger, more inclusive community —we’ve found common ground through our shared mission of empowering women.

As business owners, we’re not just teaching Zumba®; we’re also actively building a thriving business. This involves showing up in spaces where Zumba instructors are not typical. We host events, offer demos and vend at women’s empowerment events, pursue corporate contracts, travel, and maintain an active community. We choose to focus on building relationships and exploring new opportunities to drive our growth.

Looking at our videos on social media, haters and naysayers might not understand our journey because they don’t see the countless women we’ve empowered or the personal transformations. They don’t see the friendships formed, the confidence gained, or the joy and healing from moving to island rhythms. They miss the perseverance it takes to show up and inspire and the courage it takes to be bold, fearless, and unapologetically yourself. That’s why we persist. We’re creating something bigger than fitness. We’re building a movement that brings women together in unexpected and powerful ways.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

What makes us truly special is the community we’ve built called SHINE, our membership community at the heart of what we do. It’s a group of women who don’t just show up for class; they show up for each other. Together, we engage in self-discovery, social activities, and events beyond fitness to grow, support one another, and build meaningful connections. The energy in our virtual and in-person classes is undeniable, but the deeper sense of belonging and support sets Island Beats apart.

To further our mission, we’ve added incredible team members who help us expand our impact. We now have two additional instructors, including one who is also a personal trainer, bringing even more expertise to our classes. Additionally, our SHINE coordinator plays a vital role in managing the community, helping to ensure that our members feel supported and engaged in every aspect of their journey.

We’re incredibly proud of Activate Your Mojo, our annual Wellness Adventure in the Dominican Republic, which we’ve hosted for three years. June 19-24, 2025, will be our fourth adventure, where we redefine wellness by blending adventure, sisterhood, and vibrant cultural experiences. Every moment encourages women to “activate” and prioritize their well-being in dynamic and engaging ways, offering a refreshing and empowering approach to self-care. It’s an extension of what we do in class but emphasizes adventure, sisterhood, and self-discovery in an inspiring setting.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Our three most impactful qualities were resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of community-building. These played a critical role in helping us launch and grow Island Beats® over the years.

RESILIENCE: Starting a business during the pandemic was no easy feat. With uncertainty all around us, resilience kept us going. We faced challenges head-on, refusing to let fear or doubt derail our vision. Resilience grows with practice—you strengthen your perseverance every time you push through a challenge.

ADAPTABILITY: The pandemic forced us to be adaptable from day one. We shifted quickly to virtual classes and embraced new ways of connecting with our community. Our cultural blend allows us to adapt to different situations and audiences, bringing unique perspectives and enabling us to connect with various groups of people. Being adaptable in this way is valuable because it helps us navigate different settings more comfortably.

COMMUNITY-BUILDING: We didn’t just want to offer fitness classes; we wanted to foster a space where women could support each other, grow, and thrive together—my advice: Building a community takes time but is worth every effort. Focus on genuinely connecting with your audience, listening to their needs, and making them feel valued. A thriving community will carry your business through any challenge.

For those just starting their journey, we encourage you to focus on these three areas. Resilience will help you stay grounded during difficult times, adaptability will keep you open to growth and change, and community-building will ensure your work has a lasting impact.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

Our ideal client is a woman who understands the importance of prioritizing her health and well-being. She knows that self-care isn’t a luxury but a necessity, and it’s more than pampering. She views movement as a powerful self-care tool to stay fit, manage stress, and nurture her mental and emotional health. She’s committed to making time for herself and recognizes that investing in her well-being helps her grow stronger in every area of her life.

She’s eager to grow, step out of her comfort zone, and connect with a community of like-minded women. Whether a seasoned fitness enthusiast or new to Zumba®, she’s open-minded, willing to try new things, and excited about improving her well-being in dynamic and engaging ways. She thrives in a community where sisterhood is vital and shows up not just for herself but for others.

Our ideal client is excited to dive into everything we offer—from our SHINE membership and special workshops to our Activate Your Mojo retreat—because she values and loves herself or wants to learn how, understanding that movement, self-development, and community are powerful tools to help her thrive​.

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