(View original article plus photos on Reston.Patch.com)
If you’ve dreamed of dancing the Macarena with Redskins cheerleaders, taking an outdoor Zumba class or learning a cartwheel from a state gymnastics champion, Friday evening and Saturday would have been your chance at the second annual Living Well Expo.
Part of the Taste of Reston event at the Reston Town Center, the Living Well Expo encouraged attendees to eat healthy and be fit with more than 30 vendors, including Honest Tea, Loebig Chiropractic and Rehab and Fitness First Health Clubs. There were also nine demonstrations on two stages, all taking place in the Presidents Park area, overlooking the amusement rides of the carnival.
Friday evening, the Fit Kids Let’s Move dance team, along with four Redskins cheerleaders, led the crowd in the Cha-Cha, the Macarena and Cotton-Eye Joe. Even early evening raindrops did not dampen the dance party.
Saturday afternoon brought a lawn-full of people moving to Latin and world-beat music at the Zumba demonstration.
Rachel Muskopf, a licensed Zumba instructor, explained the Zumba tagline: “Join the Party, Ditch the Workout.” “Zumba incorporates a broad array of dance styles,” said Muskopf, who uses a variety of African, Latin and international music in her classes. “With Zumba, you’re supposed to feel the music; people have fun.”
Across the lawn, at the second stage, students from the Northern Virginia Gymnastics Academy demonstrated their gymnastics moves for the crowd. Head coaches and founders Mike and Faith Comini have run the academy for the last 25 years and spotted their students down the mat as they performed front walkovers and round-off, double-back handsprings.
“Coach Faith has always been there for me,” said Brittany Bishop, an academy student for the last seven years. Her teammate, Katie Hassler, agreed, “It’s a really friendly environment; it’s a fun place to be.”
Also taking the stages during the event were children’s musical group Rocknoceros; a “Body Combat and Pump” class; and an appearance by celebrity personal trainer Joel Harper.
