Candy Colby has always been a
trendsetter when it comes to fitness. Her father owned a
successful chain of dance studios, and Candy grew up
strong and confident in the spotlight"”lessons,
recitals, performances, modeling, and beauty contest
winnings. Her portrait was featured in a collection with
presidents' daughters. But this was not a spoiled child;
her parents instilled deep-rooted values of faith and
gratitude.
As a college P.E. major Candy experienced a new
environment"”the gym. She studied exercise science,
physiology, and nutrition, and stayed in shape teaching
dance lessons at her father's studios. Candy started what
would become a lifetime of fitness innovation when she
began to ask the question: why not combine exercise with
music?
Relocating to south Florida the idea took root. Candy
biked to a nearby church, boldly asked to rent their
social hall, set up a boom box, and started teaching an
entirely new concept called "jazz aerobics."She and six
students had a blast, got fit, felt great, and soon the
six invited friends and then 12 invited friends and the
room soon overflowed. It was 1980 and nobody else was
doing anything like it. It was the start of an aerobics
revolution that continues today.
A large fitness center
approached Candy and asked her to teach the aerobics
class in their gym. It became so popular the club asked
her to add more classes, and Candy insisted they build
what was probably the first aerobics studio in the
country. She designed a room gleaming with mirrors and a
quality sound system and in no time filled more classes.
The center opened more clubs, and Candy began training
the trainers to satisfy the demand. At one point she was
training, staffing, and scheduling 200 trainers to
fulfill 700 hours a week in three counties! Meanwhile she
stayed fit by teaching classes that were fun, energetic,
and uplifting. Students left smiling and ”at Candy's
prompting" focusing on how much they had to be grateful
for.
It wasn't long before
the spotlight found Candy. The local ABC affiliate
approached her about an unusual concept: an aerobics
class for TV. Soon The Body Factory with Candy Colby
aired each morning before Good Morning America. Candy's
celebrity status grew as the ratings spiked; the show ran
seven days a week for eight years! Today strangers greet
her like a long-lost friend exclaiming, "I watched you
every day!"
As the demand for
qualified aerobics instructors grew, Candy created one of
the first nationally accredited certification centers in
the country that concentrated on practical training. Her
cutting-edge World Fitness Association has trained and
certified thousands of instructors over the last 27
years. Her center is one of only three in the nation that
offers such an intense level of practical training.
Unlike others that certify trainers in a day, weekend, or
even online, her students spend weeks training, studying,
gaining on-the-job experience, and enjoying premier job
placement. Students of all ages learn group fitness
instruction, personal training, yoga fitness, cardio
kickboxing, water aerobics, CPR, nutrition, and
more.
World Fitness
Association is also open to the public as an exclusive
aerobics studio, an alternative to the big, impersonal
health clubs. This 4,500 square-foot center offers
classes in cardio-kick, yoga pump, stretching, Pilates,
ballroom dancing, salsa, spinning, weight training,
personal training, nutrition consulting, and so much
more. Classes are taught by the best in the industry,
including the energetic, hands-on Candy.
Her original
ideas changed the course of fitness history. Years ago
she saw a doctor measure a heart rate as the patient
climbed up and down on a box. Candy built a low bench,
added moves to music, and created the first step aerobics
class.
Candy's in
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