Posted on: Monday, October 11, 2004
Teaching kids to move got her moving as well
By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer
Sometimes a change of career can be the best move toward a healthier lifestyle and commitment to fitness. Becky Andrew made the switch from corporate couch potato to active music and movement teacher — losing 50 pounds and a lot of mental weight as well.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser Age: 54. Profession: Music Together teacher. Height: 5-feet-4. Weight: 130 pounds. Workout habits: "I teach five Music Together classes a week with 10 singing, dancing, jumping, skipping children, all under the age of 5. I also walk the beach and/or swim at least three times a week." When and why I started working out: "I first started working out years ago when I was in the theater in New York City. I went to regular dance classes as well as to the gym. But after 17 years of performing, I took a detour into a corporate career.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser "I left the corporate world, got trained as a Music Together teacher, and started the greatest workout and best career I've ever had, playing with children!
"After 9/11, my husband and I left New York and moved to Hawai'i full time, and that's when I added swimming and walking to the workout I was doing in the music classes."
My good foods/bad foods: "My good-food habit is that I love fruit, and my bad-food habit is that I also love salty foods." My biggest motivator: "I have to be fit in order to create the fun atmosphere we have in class. We dance and jump and skip along with singing and playing instruments. I need to be fit to lead all the activities and keep up with the children." My biggest roadblock to fitness: "When I'm finished teaching, I still have all the administrative work of the business to do." What saves my sanity: "The pure joy and affection I see on the faces of the children in my classes. When we sing the 'Goodbye Song' at the end of class, the children run up to hug me and sit on my lap. I'd say that's a pretty major job reward! It's also wonderful that their parents and/or grandparents have a really good time in class. I feel I'm giving a special gift to families by providing a way for them to make music together. It creates a special bond." My next challenge: "I need to add more classes to my schedule. Word of mouth has grown my business from eight families in my first semester to more than 60 families, and we're still growing. If I keep fit, I figure I can teach two classes a day, four to five days a week." Advice for those in the same boat: "If you are in your mid-50s, as I am, don't slow down! Go out and find some children to play and sing with! Many of the parents in my classes have told me they thought I was 10 to 15 years younger than I am. I say 'It's the kids! They keep me young.' ... them and keeping a song in my heart."
Name: Rebecca (Becky) Andrew.
Rebecca Andrew, here with Adam Wong, 2, shed 50 pounds in a year of leading a music and exercise class for parents and kids
"Before I knew it, I'd been working 10 years of 12- to 14-hour days, and I had gained 60 pounds! It was time to take stock of my life, health-wise and career-wise.
Rebecca Andrew's advice: "If you're in your mid-50s, as I am, don't slow down! Go out and find some children to play and sing with!"
