Empowering Lives Through Tae Bo®

Empowering Lives Through Tae Bo®

Elsie Bennett | Director of Fitness, Wellness & Aquatics

In the dynamic world of fitness, there are individuals who go beyond the conventional workout routines, bringing a unique blend of energy, discipline, and motivation to their classes. One such individual is Melanie Smuck, who has been certified in Tae Bo® Fitness for 18 years. Melanie has traveled the world with Billy Blanks®; her favorite trip with him was a 12-day tour through Kuwait and Iraq to visit and train with the troops.

Melanie is a dedicated Tae Bo® instructor whose journey is as inspiring as the workout she leads. In Melanie’s own words “I love Tae Bo® because it changed my life; it helped me lose 60 pounds after the birth of my first son. More than the weight lost, I learned that I am powerful, inside, and out. As I trained, my focus changed from trying to meet the world’s beauty standards to becoming the best me possible. Once I let go of other people’s requirements, I was able to grow and decide the woman I wanted to be – and I will spend the rest of my life becoming that woman!”

“I am so grateful to be able to teach here at the Alpert JCC. It is so rewarding to watch students achieve and surpass their goals, and to do things they never thought possible. The community here is filled with so much love, life, and joy, it is infectious. I feel like I’ve found a home here.”

Recognizing the powerful transformative impact it had on her own life, Melanie decided to share the benefits with others.

As a certified Tae Bo® instructor, Melanie’s classes are not just about physical fitness but also about fostering mental resilience. Her classes seamlessly blend the precision of martial arts with the fluidity of dance, creating an atmosphere where participants not only sweat but also discover a newfound confidence within themselves. Her classes have become a space where people not only burn calories but also build a sense of community.

Melanie’s Tae Bo® classes are held Monday and Friday mornings at 9:30am, Sunday at 9:00am, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:00pm, open to Alpert JCC members.

We will be hosting a Tae Bo® certification camp March 16 and 17. Billy Blanks and Melanie Smuck will be on site so please join us for a Tae Bo® class Saturday or Sunday morning from 9:00am – 10:00am. Fee for members $25.00, non-members $36.00.

Billy Blanks is the creator of Tae Bo® Fitness, a revolutionary total body fitness system that has helped millions of people around the world get in shape and feel great! Created in the 1980s, Tae Bo® became a pop culture phenomenon with the release of his video workouts. Blanks is a 9th degree black belt in Taekwondo and a world Karate champion, and he spent many years as a personal trainer to the stars. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from a master.