Heather Durnford
Heather joined Me First Fitness in 2018. After almost 10 years of working out at various gyms throughout high school and university, her mom mentioned a kickboxing class happening at a gym around the corner. Immediately after the first class, she knew this gym would be a good fit. She started lifting heavier, trying new things, and getting so much stronger. Heather went to a Zumba class there the following week, and the instructor asked her if she was also certified. The answer was no… but apparently that was now the plan; it had been a dream since 2010. Heather got Zumba B1 certified in March 2019, and Pound Fitness certified in August 2019, and that was just the beginning. She fell in love with covering classes and meeting all the clients. She just knew she wanted to bring a love for dance, music, and movement to everyone’s lives. In August 2024, Heather travelled to Orlando for ZinCon 2024 and got certified in Zumba Step and Zumba Kids + Kids Jr. What a whirlwind it has been! Working with children in a pedagogical leadership position throughout the day and working with adults who have a passion for learning and laughing has been the most rewarding experience. Through connection, authenticity, community, and joy, Heather wants to continue finding opportunities to bring movement to everyone and their families at Me First.
Education: Early Childhood Studies (with Psychology minor) at Ryerson University.
Certifications: Zumba B1, Zumba Step, Zumba Kids & Kids Jr, Steel Mace Flow
Experience: 5 years
Things I love: Working with children, educators and families, dancing (obviously), reading, spending time with friends, making art, eating yummy vegan food, animals, making people laugh (myself included), and spending time by the lake.
Favourite music: Almost everything… definitely anything I can dance to. Soca, reggaeton, bachata, etc. But I also love pop, folk, and metal/hardcore.
Favourite show: I don’t generally watch TV, but some favourites that I’ve seen are New Girl, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Vampire Diaries. I am much more of a movie girl.
Favourite sport: Soccer, figure skating, and dance.
Favourite exercise: Can I say Zumba again? Because that. But I’m also a sucker for a anything with heavy lifting that includes deadlifts/RDLs, muscle ups, and cable rows.
Favourite foods: Noodles of all kinds, sushi, burritos/tacos, any form of potato, and almost anything that would qualify as “a sweet lil treat” (brownies and chocolate chip cookies are top teir for that).
Favourite book: It is cruel to just pick one… Crescent City is my current love, but I’m equally obsessed with the Throne of Glass series, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, and the Divergent Series.
Favourite quote: Water what you want to grow.
Teaches: Zumba, Zumba Step, and Lift.