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Hey, amigas! Ready to get inspired by some fierce Latinas in fitness? These incredible women are not just about breaking a sweat; they're about embracing a full-on lifestyle of health, wellness, and self-love. From workout routines that will kick your butt but also make it stronger to motivational affirmations, these Latina fitness coaches serve motivation like no one else. Whether you’ve already started a fitness journey or are preparing for it, here are the 7 best Latina fitness coaches to check out:
Yami Mufdi
Photo by yamimufdi on Instagram
Yami Mufdi is of Dominican and Palestinian descent and she’s a certified health, yoga, and fitness expert. She has amassed almost 180k followers on Instagram and she’s active on YouTube, uploading lifestyle vlogs and workout routines. Mufdi has guided thousands of women become the best versions of themselves by sharing the joy of movement and educating them about healthy fitness. As a fitness coach, she’s dedicated to helping women embrace their inner strength and lead more fulfilling lives.
Massy Arias
Photo by massy.arias on Instagram
Massy Arias is a Dominican health coach and certified personal trainer. She’s a successful fitness influencer with 2.9M followers on Instagram and she champions a holistic approach. Arias combines strength training with mental wellness, so she’s a great source of inspiration, motivation, and advice to stay on track. She has inspired millions of people to pursue healthier, happier lives, so she’s one of the top Latina fitness coaches to keep an eye on. Her workout routines are available on YouTube for free, but she also has challenges and programs for sale if you want to take it to the next level.
Sascha Fitness
Photo by saschafitness on Instagram
Sascha Barboza, also known as Sascha Fitness, is the queen of Venezuelan fitness with 5.6M followers on Instagram. She has made quite a name for herself as a certified personal trainer and nutrition guru. Her social media is always a source of motivation, healthy meal ideas, workouts, and advice. With a booming supplement business and best-selling books, Sascha's influence stretches across Latin America. Her journey from postpartum weight loss to winning fitness competitions proves that fitness is a lifestyle, not a trend, and she’s happy about showing people the way to achieve that lifestyle and improved health.
Lyzabeth Lopez
Photo by lyzabethlopez on Instagram
Lyzabeth Lopez is the brains behind the Hourglass Workout, a program that has helped over 100K women lose weight, shape sexy curves, and build healthy habits. As a registered nutritionist and certified personal trainer, Lopez has turned her passion into a fitness brand and she has made a big impact in the lives of many women struggling with their body image, health, and self-esteem. With 1.5M followers, her Instagram is a good source of tips, nutritional knowledge, and workout inspo.
Francheska Martinez
Photo by francheskafit on Instagram
Francheska Martinez is a self-proclaimed movement enthusiast and functional movement coach who’s passionate about getting people to embrace an active lifestyle. From dancing and breakdancing to rollerblading and flag football, her joy for life is contagious and she shares it with 289K followers on Instagram. With a degree in Exercise Sports Science and certifications from ONNIT Academy and ANIMAL FLOW, Martinez blends fun and fitness in the most creative ways. She reminds us that movement is medicine and that’s a huge part of her philosophy. Of Cuban and Colombian heritage, Martinez is an inspiring Latina to add to your social media feed.
Robin Arzón
Photo by robinnyc on Instagram
Robin Arzón is quite an interesting Latina fitness coach because she’s a former lawyer who decided to pursue her true passion: fitness. Of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent, Arzón is a two-time New York Times bestselling author and Peloton’s VP of Fitness Programming. From marathons to motivational speaking, her journey into a full-fledge fitness expert is impressive. She has inspired thousands of people to redefine their possibilities through sweat and resilience and continues to do so. Arzón is a powerful Latina helping other women unlock their own power and she’s making an impact to over 1M followers on Instagram.
Gaby Rivers
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Gaby Rivers, also known as Gabs, is all about making fitness accessible and enjoyable for other women. With her engaging content in Spanish, Gaby shares workout programs, including her KZN fitness program, and wellness tips with her 268K followers. As a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, she’s an amazing fitness influencer from Puerto Rico, helping many reach their goals with realistic, effective routines. She also shares recipes, tips for workouts and marathon prep, and overall lifestyle content that will help you stay on track.
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When people think of exercising, their minds might immediately go to running, indoor spin, a HIIT boot camp, pumping iron at the gym, and more. Dancing rarely makes the top 5 when searching for top exercises, but it should! It’s not just an art form, it’s a whole-body exercise that can make you feel amazing. But dancing doesn’t just benefit your body, it also benefits your mind and even your soul. Not to mention that it’s a valid form of exercise for people of all ages that’s so fun, it doesn’t even feel like exercise.
Dancing promotes better brain health
Photo by Diego Rosa on UnsplashDancing isn't just a workout for your body; it's also a workout for your brain! Research shows that busting a move can actually boost your memory and keep dementia at bay. Imagine getting better at remembering where you left your keys! Wouldn’t that be great? Plus, challenging yourself to master choreographies works your brain in all the right ways, improving your planning and organizing skills. Who knew shaking your booty could make your mind sharper too? The more you know…
It can make you more flexible
Photo by Brannon Naito on UnsplashSay goodbye to feeling stiff as a board! When you dance, you learn to move your body in ways you didn’t think possible for you. Dancing loosens up the joints and stretches the muscles, so it can improve your flexibility overall. It can also improve your mobility, which is particularly important as we get older.
Dancing melts the stress away
Photo by Michael Dam on UnsplashFeeling stressed, overwhelmed, or grumpy? Just dance it out! It’s amazing how quickly a little dancing session or workout can give you a boost of feel-good hormones. Sometimes, that’s all you need to get through the day or just give your mind a break. Dancing can be liberating, and it can feel like hitting the reset button in your mind. Once you’re done, you’ll have a bit of a clearer head and a better disposition to tackle whatever made you stressed or grumpy in the first place.
It can help with depression
Photo by Olivia Bauso on UnsplashThe thing that makes dancing so effective as a stress management strategy also makes it helpful if you’re dealing with depression. Dancing to upbeat songs is a natural way to increase your levels of serotonin. That’s why this activity never fails to lift our spirits, whether we’re doing it alone in our rooms, with a partner, or with a group of people. Combined with therapy work and other strategies, dancing can help you manage depression and other forms of mental health conditions.
Dancing can help you reach your weight loss goals
Photo by Mike Von on UnsplashIf you’re working on shedding a few pounds and you often get bored with cardio workouts on the treadmill, dancing is a good alternative. For example, Latin dance classes may look easy, but you’ll work your entire body, and you’ll be sweating as much as you would on a stationary bike, treadmill, or stair master—if not more! Combined with good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, your weight loss goals will be easier to achieve.
You’ll get a burst of energy
Photo by Levi Guzman on UnsplashSometimes, we need a little pick-me-up, but we’ve already had too much coffee. Instead of having another cup of joe, why not play your favorite songs and get moving? Regular dance sessions will not only boost your physical performance but also give your energy levels a boost. When you’re done dancing, you’ll feel ready to take on the world or, you know, to just finish your work for the day, which is also a big feat.
Dancing can improve your cardiovascular health
Photo by Luke Chesser on UnsplashDancing is good cardio and a form of endurance exercise, so it’s linked to improving heart health. Studies have found that dancing makes it likely to die from cardiovascular disease because it improves cardiovascular endurance. If you want to have a stronger heart, adding dancing to your daily routine is one of the habits that will help you achieve better heart health.
It will improve your coordination, balance, and strength
woman standing on dockPhoto by Drew Colins on UnsplashWhen you’re dancing, you’re feeling the music, and you’re just in the zone. You don’t realize that with every twist and turn, you’re working on your coordination, balance, and strength. Dancing works your body from every angle, so all your muscle groups get involved in one way or another. Improved coordination, balance, and strength will help you in your everyday life because they’re essential for movement.
Dancing offers artistic expression
person hand standing on concrete roadPhoto by Keenan Constance on UnsplashDance isn't just about following steps; it’s interpreting and feeling the music, it’s telling a story with your body. Whatever music genre you prefer to move to, dancing will allow you to express yourself in an entirely different way. Whether you're into urban, ballet, cumbia, ballroom, or anything in between, there's a dance style for everyone, and every style has a unique expression. We recommend you explore as many styles as possible to find the one that makes you feel the most alive.
It gives your self-esteem and confidence a boost
Photo by Matthew Hamilton on UnsplashBecause dancing is all about learning how to move your body to express yourself, it’s a great way to improve your self-esteem and confidence. Every time you master a new dance move, you will feel great about yourself and your abilities. With that comes a sense of self-assuredness and confidence in your body. That will feed and strengthen your self-esteem, and even help you overcome body image issues.
In the sea of men that is athletics, women are fighting tooth and nail for their long-overdue recognition. Among them, Latina athletes are ferocious in their pursuit of excellence, and they’re already changing the game, trailblazing for the next generation.
These 5 Latina athletes have overcome enormous challenges, broken significant barriers, and are actively leaving their mark on athletics.
Tatiana Suarez
Courtesy of HBO Originals "The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez"
Tatiana Suarez is of Mexican descent and an impressive mixed martial artist who has overcome the odds both inside and outside the ring. It’s safe to say Tatiana was born with a passion for wrestling since she started doing it right before her fourth birthday. She started her career in 2013, and her wrestling background was already so impressive, it was a struggle to find an opponent for her first amateur fight.
After overcoming more hurdles than most people face in their lifetime, Tatiana made her MMA debut in 2014 with a TKO in her first round. Her star has been rising ever since. She’s had many notable wins, including the strawweight tournament of The Ultimate Fighter 23. As is the case with a contact sport as demanding as wrestling and MMA, Tatiana sustained severe injuries. During the course of treatment, doctors discovered cancer which put Tatiana in a different kind of fight - a fight for her very life.
Tatiana’s herculean battles inside and outside of the ring are told in a recent HBO documentary, aptly named The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez. The documentary itself also broke barriers when it was released, becoming the first feature documentary about a Latina athlete to be made by HBO.
Catarina Macario
Photography by Erick Drost
If you haven’t been inspired to root for Team USA in soccer quite yet, that time has probably arrived. Catarina Macario, born in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, is the first player born outside of the United States to qualify for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, and her performance is showing everyone why she earned that history-making spot.
Catarina is a versatile player who shines as an attacking midfielder and a center forward, which provides a distinct advantage in the sport. When she’s not playing for Team USA and contributing to their powerhouse success, she’s playing for Chelsea in the English Women’s Super League.
Gianna Woodruff
Gianna Woodruff is a Panamanian track and field athlete, and she’s considered one of the best Latina athletes in the discipline. Though she was born in Los Angeles, she decided to compete for Panama to honor her mother’s native country and champion her Latinidad.
In the Pan American Games Santiago 2023, Gianna won the gold medal in the women’s 400m hurdles and wrote her name in the record books. This is the first time Panama holds the women’s 400m hurdles record. She made history but noted that she’s ready for other Latina athletes to share the stage with her. In an article from the World Athletics Organization, she says: “I don't want to be the only one here anymore. I want other Panamanians, other Venezuelans, and everyone from South America to be on this big stage with me.”
Diana Taurasi
Photography by Lorie Shaull
Diana Taurasi is an American professional basketball player of Argentine descent with an impressive career in the WNBA. She’s one of the top 15 players in the history of the WNBA and earned the nickname “White Mamba” from Kobe Bryant.
Diana has won five Olympic gold medals, which is a historic number for a Latina basketball player. She has also won a WNBA Championship, an NCAA championship, and a FIBA World Cup. In 2023, at the age of 41, she became the first WNBA player to score 10,000 points in her career.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
Credit: @JCamachoQuinn on X
Hailing from La Isla del Encanto in Puerto Rico, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is another amazing track and field athlete inspiring countless Latinas in her sport and beyond. Jasmine made her Olympic debut in 2016. Camacho-Quinn has been focused on her craft while representing her Puerto Rican pride ever since.
In 2020 she became the first Afro-Latina and the second Puerto Rican to win a gold medal for the 100m hurdles at the Olympics in Tokyo. Jasmine also came close to the gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, missing by only 0.01. Even so, she still had a great season, and her future doesn’t appear to be losing any steam at all.