Tell us about yourself
I am currently a Zumba Education Specialist for India and also travel internationally to train across several countries. An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by education, I have worked for over five years as a Business Analyst in the corporate world till I discovered my true passion of dance and fitness. I experienced Zumba fitness for the first time in 2009 in the United States and have never looked back. After teaching Zumba® successfully as a ZIN for two years in the United States, I moved back to India and am spreading the Zumba love here!
I think the greatest achievement for me personally was to turn my passion into my profession.
Tell us about any current projects
One of my most exciting projects currently is the Zumba Asia Convention 2014 in Japan. I will be representing India there and will be conducting a Bollywood Obsession Zumba class too. I also have been chosen as one of the four Zumba Education Specialists from around the world to perform with the creator of Zumba Fitness himself – Beto Prez! It’s a dream come true.
I will be the first Indian to be featured on a ZIN CD as well. This CD is shipped to Zumba Instructors across 187 countries. We are also planning something huge for Zumba Fitness in Mumbai soon!
What has been your biggest challenge in achieving your success?
The biggest challenge is making people understand how important it is to incorporate fitness in their day-to-day lives. It is so important to go to a proper licensed fitness instructor. You cannot play around with your body. Saving a little money isn’t worth jeopardising your health.
What has been your greatest achievement personally?
I come from a very small town called Ranchi. Everyone there is either a doctor or an engineer. It was an unimaginable thing for someone to have alternative careers. I think the greatest achievement for me personally was to turn my passion into my profession.
If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing?
If not this, I would probably still be working as an engineer or a business analyst. Maybe, even a lawyer.
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
Everyone inspires me. There’s something to learned from everyone you meet. However, there is one person in particular that I will never forget. Back in the US, I attended a fitness class and was very conscious. The instructor conducting that class was overweight and she had made it a goal for herself to lose weight along with her clients. She had not an ounce of embarrassment and it was so amazing to see. It just shows that anyone can do it. It all depends on the attitude.
I also have been chosen as one of the four Zumba Education Specialists from around the world to perform with the creator of Zumba Fitness himself – Beto Prez! It’s a dream come true.
What does the future hold for you?
Group ex consulting is the next step for me. Group exercises are growing tremendously and client needs are all very different. Gyms and fitness experts need to understand this in greater detail.
I also wish to create more interest in nutrition from the grass roots. My association with Optimum Nutrition is the first step I have taken to make a difference in this field.
About Sucheta Pal
Sucheta Pal is the first Indian in the world to be selected as a Zumba® Education Specialist (ZES) and currently the only ZES who is officially licensed to train instructors in India. She is also the only Indian in the country who is certified in all specialties of Zumba and is an International Licensed Zumba®, Zumba-tomic®, Zumba® Toning, Zumba® Gold, Zumba® Aqua and Zumba Sentao™ fitness instructor who is now bringing her training, experience, energy, enthusiasm and the specialty Zumba® programs to her home, India. Sucheta is the only instructor from India to be featured in the Zumba Fitness Rush Game 2012 on Kinect™ for XBOX 360 as a showcase dancer. Sucheta is also a licensed Piloxing Instructor anda Masala Bhangra instructor. She is an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America) and a professionally trained dancer in Indian Classical, Bollywood, Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suchetapalZES
Twitter: @SuchetaPalZumba
Instagram: @SuchetaPal
Website: http://suchetapal.zumba.com/
