Wakolo’s fitness party
Aquote by the late great Nelson Mandela that says “there is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living”.
For Julia Talei Ratumaibuca Wakolo, having the passion to pursue her dreams has been her greatest achievement.
The 34-year-old mother of two has not let life’s struggles sway her from turning her dreams into reality.
Today, Mrs Wakolo is one of only six certified zumba instructors in the country and the only certified person in the Western Division.
A feat she says did not come easily to her. “I had to be away from my family for one year to take up zumba fitness classes in America,” she says.
“It required a lot of sacrifice but I was beyond blessed and overwhelmed by the moral support and love from my fellow zumba instructors.
“By October 4, 2019, I was officially given my licence and I finally joined the ZIN (Zumba Instructors Network) community all over the world.”
On her journey to becoming a licensed Master Class Zumba Instructor, the Mavana, Vanuabalavu, native says having good mentors and leaders inspired her to pursue her dreams.
“I have always been an athlete in my younger days back in high school participating in sports, mainly netball and track and field sports.
“I was privileged enough to have been one of the many young athletes who was trained by Albert Miller and Henry Elder.
“I was also lucky enough to meet Litiana Miller who was also a former Dudley High School student.
“My journey and passion for zumba started when Mrs Miller started teaching zumba in Suva at the YMCA in 2009.
“From then on I grew my passion for zumba.
“My desire to teach was a challenge because there was not a lot of financial support available to me.
“On top of that I was starting a new family and a new job which took up most of my time.
“But I kept believing and eventually saved enough to travel to the US.
“As soon as I got back to Fiji, I decided to take two week’s off from my fitness routine and spend as much family quality time as possible before getting back on track.”
She says with the support of friends and family, she has been able to launch her own Master Class sessions in Lautoka and Nadi on top of running a household with two young children and tending to a new nine to five job with Vision Beverages.
“I had few of these close friends who would pitch the idea to me in starting few zumba sessions at home at our front yard in early December.
“Those sessions helped me gain a lot of confidence.
“It has been an awesome yet humbling journey for me personal and the response has been overwhelming.
“I truly believe that everything does happen all in God’s time and my journey has been a great testimony to begin with.
“I am beyond blessed and thankful to my family especially my husband, Paul, who has been the back bone of it all.”
This week, Mrs Wakolo joins her fellow certified instructors for the first ever Zumba Fitness Master Class in the Western Division on March 7 in Lautoka and Nadi.