By Chelsea Vance | The Selma Times-Journal

A new gym that will focus on Zumba held its ribbon cutting over the weekend.

Lashun Langdon said she started taking her poor health choices seriously when her father warned her to lose weight and eat better. When he died of a heart attack at the age of 47, she knew that she could wait no longer to get in shape.

“I was slowly killing myself. I used to cook and go lay down to watch TV while my kids would be outside playing,” Langdon said. “We used to go to family functions, and I would be tired from walking. So, I just knew that I had to change.”

She decided to get in shape and take the next step to open “Zumba Fitness with Lashun” when the owner of Karate World Lee Green and his wife Racquel encouraged her to start doing her own classes and offered her the chance to rent space.

“She has ambitions to succeed. I wanted to help her because she showed me that she wanted to do something to help people,” Green said. “We have some of the same goals. Dancing is her passion and mine is helping people get physically fit, they work hand-in-hand.”

Zumba is a dance fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez during the 1990s.

She became a Zumba instructor in 2014 and weighed in at 280 pounds at that time. Langdon has lost more than 60 pounds since by teaching fitness classes at churches and health boot camps and participating in long-distance races.

She didn’t think about owning her own Zumba studio until her fitness pals and family started to talk to her about inspiring others through her love to dance and stay fit.

“I stepped out on faith, came here and we worked out a deal. He gave me an opportunity to let this space be my Zumba studio,” Langdon said. “I want to help and encourage others to work out.”

Langdon gives credit to her husband Anthony and their two children Anthony Jr. and Alysia for being her biggest supporters. She said she constantly prays for strength, guidance and humility.

Clients who come to do Zumba Fitness with Lashun have an option of paying $5 per class or purchasing a punch card for $40, which they can use for a maximum of 10 classes in a two-month period. The studio is located in the back of Karate World in the Selma Mall at 1391 Highland Ave.

Classes are from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Langdon said she understands the weight loss struggle and wants others to know they can do it in a fun, upbeat way.

“Losing weight is a struggle, but once you get with motivating people it will become easier,” Langdon said. “My goal is to uplift people and get them cautious of weight loss.”