April Black

Director of Customer & Public Relations
april@igniteyourlifenow.com

I recently moved to Austin in June of 2010. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, where I started dancing and rooting for the Red Sox at the early age of 3. I used to love grocery shopping with my mom so I could dance up and down the aisles! My sister, Theresa, was a great partner in crime as we giggled and twirled our way through our childhoods. My dance career included studying many different styles, attending master classes and summer intensives, performing in numerous productions, and even continued into my freshman year of college. I attended The George Washington University (GW) in Washington, DC and with my mother’s encouragement, auditioned for the dance team. Out of hundreds of other hopefuls, I was selected as one of the 14 “First Ladies” and performed at every home basketball game that year, competing in Daytona Beach, FL.

After the difficult decision not to return to the team for my sophomore year, I joined a sorority, went on to become Panhellenic President, and held various internships throughout DC. While my academic and social lives were blooming, without dance, I quickly fell out of shape and packed on the pounds. I was never a runner or gym rat, and did not know where to turn. I graduated, magna cum laude, with my Bachelor of Arts in Communication, a minor in Psychology, and a concentration in Women’s Studies. After graduating, I got a legal recruiting job at a prestigious DC law firm where I worked long hours and continued my unhealthy eating habits and occasional (not to mention pathetic) workout attempts. I hated being so young and inactive and feeling embarrassed of my body, so in 2009, decided I would finally take action and get healthy.

I started learning about different foods, planning my meals, and exercising regularly. I found my niche in the world of group exercise, and eventually started trying every type of class I could find! I loved having an instructor to motivate me and being able to share in the experience with other women, many of whom became my close friends. These classes and the relationships I had developed became such an important part of my life that I decided to get my certification and began teaching classes myself. Getting carried away, I became too focused on the physical aspect of health and neglected the other aspects of my well-being, and my life. As I became fitter, thinner, and stronger, my self confidence had never been lower. This experience has made me a better teacher and more compassionate person, as I am now constantly in search of balance, knowing that wellness is truly a combination of mind, body, and spirit.

Ready for some changes, not only did I decide to move cities, but also to step out of my comfort zone in search of finding my passion and leading a more meaningful and enriching life. I find it no coincidence that this path has led me to iGnite, and I could not be more excited to be a part of the team and help grow iGnite’s presence in Austin. I am hopeful that my experiences and love of fitness, friendship, and fun can help encourage women of all ages to take care of themselves, inside and out, and live the life they deserve! See you on the road less traveled. :)