Owning and operating Trim Up for 10 years back in the 1980's was a wonderful time that never got out of my system. Now that I'm a little older (but wiser), with 15 more years of business experience from working as an accountant, I felt ready for the challenge of re-opening Trim Up.
Read more about Trimup's history

I have a lifetime fitness certification from The Ken Cooper Institute and a Nutritional & Wellness Counseling Certification from AFPA. I enjoy teaching low impact aerobics, step aerobics, kickboxing and sculpting classes. The most rewarding aspect of my job is helping women to improve their lives through the power of health & fitness.

My husband Greg and I are happily “empty-nesters” with 6 children, 3 daughter-in-laws and 5 grandchildren between us. We have been married for 6 years and live in Mint Hill.

Dorothy is a certified ACE Group Exercise Instructor, Advanced Certified Pilates Instructor and Certified Personal Trainer (Fitour). She has a BA in Psychology and M.A. Ed. in Counseling from Wake Forest University and is currently enrolled in Master of Arts in Christian Counseling at Gordon-Conwell Seminary working towards licensure in clinical counseling. She and husband Mark have 3 children - Elizabeth, 22, Rachel, 20 and Alex, 17. Dorothy taught aerobics at the old Trim Up for several years.
check out Dorothy's photo then and now

Dianna is an experienced Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Group Exerciser instructor. She designs personal programs for clients and teaches boot camp in the Matthews,Charlotte regions. She also teaches at the Siskey YMCA.

Dianna has two sons, Jim 33, Faisal 20, and one dog named Nydus. Although motherhood has been her number one passion; she rates fitness as number two. Since fitness and healthy nutrition is a way of life for her; it is her desire to encourage and educate others “young and old” to be fit and strong. Being a Personal trainer allows her one on one, and also the privilege of helping her clients fulfill their fitness goals. Every person's goals and fitness level is different; presenting her with a challenge she loves to embrace, Dianna is 53 years old, and feels you are never too old or to young to be strong.

Kim has been teaching Zumba for 1½ years but has taught sculpt and cardio for 10 years. She received group fitness certification through NETA and Zumba through Zumba, Inc. A Registered Dental Hygienist for 21 years, Kim has been married to Greg for 20 years and has 4 children: Brandon-19, Brittyn-19, Cody-18 and Sarah Ashley-16.

“I forgot just how much fun it was to just cut loose and dance before Zumba came along. No matter how tough your day is or how tired you feel, when that music starts, IT'S ON GIRL! Nobody will ever leave a Zumba class in a bad mood, just let the music move ya! Loose all inhibitions, and just work it! I am a running freak who is totally loving her 40's! Hey, if you gotta age, poppit til you can't poppit anymore! I run marathons, half marathons and any 5 or 10k's I can talk my daughter into running with me. I want everyone to experience the fun and freedom Zumba can bring to their lives. I want to be an inspiration to all women in their forties and older, we may be aging, but we still got it! I want to be an inspiration to my children to always stay active and healthy, and I always want my husband to feel like he is one lucky man! Zumba enables me to feel as young as any 20 year old. I love it and know you will too! Come join me for exercise in disguise! COME AND EXPERIENCE THE FUN AND FITNESS OF ZUMBA!”

Kathy has been teaching group exercise for 5 years with certification through YMCA. She enjoys teaching Scuplt/Cardio format and Pilates. A graduate of Marshall University with a BA in Advertising, she is married to Danny and has a son Pete at Marshall University and 2 daughters Kristine and Kelly at Butler High.

“I enjoy working out and teaching fitness to stay motivated in our daily lives, and improve our overall health and well-being! You work out.you will feel great and have fun!”

I began practicing yoga during graduate school in an effort to balance my physical training as a cyclist and to manage the stress of my everyday life. Never could I have imagined the way yoga would completely change everything! Yoga has encouraged me to be mindful and present in every moment, to free myself from attachment, and to faithfully allow the grace of God to flow through my life. Every practice I lead is inspired by and dedicated to my students, honoring their journey on the path of yoga. I truly love teaching and do so from a place of safety, knowledge, and compassion. I am committed to teaching yoga in a way that is challenging, down-to-earth, and fun! I live in Matthews with my husband and two kitties. I'm a full-time bicycle commuter, food-photography enthusiast, and accomplished nap-taker. Besides yoga, I'm alarmingly enthusiastic about live music, red velvet cupcakes, and all things reversible. I look forward to practicing with you!

Linda is married with one son and 3 grandchildren. Having retired from Bank of America in 2002, Linda began a second career in fitness. She has obtained ACE Personal Training Certification and YMCA Pilates Mat Training in 2003 where she began and currently teaches Pilates and Yoga.

Linda also has 200 hours of training with Yoga Alliance RYT and Yogafit specialty certifications in Kids, Prenatal, Seniors and Strength Yoga.

Alice has taught group exercise for 15 years, working at the old Trim Up in 1996. She is certified in yoga and pilates through Blue Powder Production and also has group exercise and pilates certification through the YMCA. And she has a B.A. in History with secondary Teaching Certificate. Alice enjoys spending time with her family - husband Mark and son Joshua, 4, including hiking, gardening and lots of playtime with Joshua.

“A day without exercise is like a day without sunshine”--that's just the way I look at it. Exercise has played an important role in my life for the last 30 years. I truly believe that in order to live life to the fullest, we need to feel our best -- exercise is a key factor.

I started at the original Trim Up when my first child was six months old (she is now 21), and with Debi's urging decided to get certified as an aerobics instructor. I have been teaching on a regular basis now for 20 years and have enjoyed each and every moment of it. Helping others to challenge themselves and feel better both physically and mentally is what keeps me motivated. I have also enjoyed all of the wonderful friendships I have made along the way. I currently live in Matthews with my husband, two girls and new puppy. Life is good!!

Yoga creates spaciousness and freedom in our bodies, in our hearts, in our minds. It is a new way of feeling, of thinking, of BEING. Yoga brings us back to balance, our natural home.

I love yoga and it challenges me. Not just the physical alone, but as a person and in every aspect of my life. The subtleties and variances have shifted my perspective, opened my body, and encouraged my heart.

I am a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend and a messenger. My message is that we are all born worthy, infinite, and limitless as to our possibilities. We are all one and yoga, by its definition means union. I would love to share my message with you!

Beth is a Certified PILATES Instructor (levels 1-4), as well as a Certified Personal Trainer & Group Exercise Instructor. Beth is also trained in Resist-a-ball Certified/Core training. She is a Cycle Instructor and Outdoor Cycle Coach, a Golf/Tennis Specific Pilates/Core Training Specialist. Beth has a BA in Fashion Merchandising/Marketing,a Masters Studies Occupational ED and is a Certified MA Secondary Ed Teacher.

Beth has been in the wellness/fitness field for 20 plus years. She has been certified and practicing Pilates for over 10 years. She has completed Levels 1-4 Balancepoint Pilates training. Her decision to study Pilates further after her Mat training was due to the personal benefits she has felt and her client benefits they had felt through doing Pilates. Beth encourages people of all fitness levels and abilities to try Pilates to experience its therapeutic results. She has trained physically/mentally challenged adults, children, seniors and professional golfers, tennis players and bodybuilders. “This form of exercise provides a physical and /or mental benefit for everyone…from the very physically challenged to the professional athlete…it is absolutely amazing.” Beth’s combination of an education degree and 20 plus years in the Wellness field will allow her to educate future Pilates instructors through the Balancepoint curriculum and produce some wonderful Pilates instructors. “The uniqueness of Balancepoint Pilates teacher training is that the training and support does not end when the class commences….the philosophy is to be a support system for all instructors that have ever experienced Balancepoint teacher training…a network and support for any future Pilates instructor challenges !!”

Tatevik was born in Yerevan, Armenia. She could be described as a Renaissance woman. At the age of 8, she was enrolled in a music school to study piano. She is proficient in classical and jazz and is able to play by ear. She was committed to the program for 7 years, but at the age of 15, decided to go to a regular high school for 2 years. She then attended 4 years of college in Armenia to study Analyzing and Managing the Armenian stock market. She applied for a work study program in the United States. She chose Charlotte to continue her education because her brother lives here. After establishing her residency, she will continue her studies at UNCC. She is fluent in 4 languages - Armenian, Russian, English and Turkish - and will pursue studies in International Business.

Tatevik teaches Zumba and works at Del Frisco's Restaurant. She met her American husband at work. She was hesitant about entering a cross-cultural relationship, but he was persistent, and she is now Mrs. Jerry McCorkle!

I have taught group exercise a total of around 20 years. I started teaching when I was in college. A bunch of girls would meet in the lobby of our dorm and workout to a show (probably Jane Fonda) on TV in the mornings before classes started. That was my first real exposure and I was hooked. I started teaching on campus and that led to a “career” of fitness and being a gym junkie. When I think of the changes over the years in fitness, it is very amusing. The first gym I worked at, Women's World in Charlotte , had those vibrating belt machines that go around the waist/hip area! Thankfully, I progressed into bigger and more state of the art facilities. I worked at Holiday Health and Fitness (now Bally's) for several years traveling and working at several clubs in the SC, NC and Virginia area.

Trim Up was my next venture in 1993 (see Kelly in her blue slouch socks!). Who would have thought years later, I would be writing this bio for the new Trim Up? What a special group of women that I have had the pleasure to work with and such nice women to teach. I love teaching group exercise, but my heart now lies with Personal Training. I have been a trainer for a little over 4 years now. Over the years, I have earned certifications with ACE ( American Council on Exercise)…formerly IDEA, AFAA, ESA and of course CPR and First Aid. Currently, I have my real estate license and still continue to work teaching and training men and women to stay healthy and fit.

I have been married for almost 21 years. My son is attending Wingate University on a baseball and academic scholarship and my daughter is a rising Junior at Porter Ridge. I have a Maltese named “Boo” and I love to play tennis!

When big hair and thong leotards were in style at Trim Up, thankfully I was bald and still in diapers! From the time I was in my Mom's belly, I was exercising! I would practice my kick boxing when my mom ate something too spicy or salty…oh she learned quickly what I liked and didn't like. I was created to be the protégé of my mother, Debi Shumaker. After I was born I had more room than ever to practice my workout routines and mimic my mom and her puffy haired friends. In my free time, when I wasn't napping or being pushed around in a shopping cart by my mom, I would get my tights and leotard on, set up my step, turn the song “Big Girls Don't Cry” on really loud and practice my step aerobics. here's a picture

After Trim Up closed, I was devastated. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't even watch cartoons! I felt that I lost everything; I had this void in my heart, my soul! I was introduced to sports to try to find another way to keep fit and have fun, but mainly to be ready when Trim Up re-opened! I never took my eyes off the prize; I trained at school, in my free time and even at the YMCA.

I started losing hope and thought maybe Trim Up will never re-open, so I headed to the fast food world! I started working at Chic-fil-a and lost sight of everything I knew and loved. I didn't even look at my Trim Up Cookbook. After working in the food industry, I decided to go back to fitness and started working at the YMCA. I trained clients for 2 years but it just wasn't the same. I decided to get a certification in Personal training. After I received my certificate, my mom decided that it was time to re-open Trim Up! She wanted to make Trim Up bigger and better with the same great people! I was finally ready to be the Trim Up Groupie that I was born to be.

After the long, long, long, long process of getting Trim Up ready. Did I mention long? Trim Up was finally ready to re-open with a new look. Now the void that was once empty is now filled with spray tanning, circuit weights, body fit camp, and aerobic classes. I left the YMCA, since I'm a one gym only kind of gal, and came back to Trim Up!