THIS SUMMER, HPPC’S FREE H2shO™️ CLASSES, LED BY ERWIN GONZALEZ ARE RETURNING TO HUNTER’S POINT SOUTH PARK! FOR THREE NIGHTS - SEPTEMBER 13, 20TH, AND SEPTEMBER 27TH - AT 6:00PM ERWIN WILL TEACH HIS BEGINNER H2shO™️ CLASS IN THE PARK. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO REGISTER.
First off, tell us your name, where you're from and what you do. How long have you been an instructor?
My name is Erwin González. I am a 25 year fitness professional. I am both a group fitness instructor and a personal trainer.
How'd you get into H2shO™️?
Decades old militant slogans like “feel the burn” and “just do it” do not significantly move the needle on fitness motivation. The fact is 80% of US citizens do not consider themselves exercisers. I wanted to build a bridge, a communal fitness experience that centered FUN. One where people would want to exercise, not feel as if they should.
I reimagined exercise through the lens of a Broadway show using a multimodal approach. Simply put, by pairing a concept, a song, a pop cultural zeitgeist with the fundamentals of science, strength training, and movement, we can create neurological changes and fundamentally change behavior. Happiness is the gateway to better health.
After years of development, I introduced an aqua aerobics program named H2shO™️ (portmanteau H2O + show), think “Less boot, MORE CAMP.” It was very popular! The pool makes for an inclusive environment immediately and a perfect fitness entry point. The shO was building momentum, was just added to permanent schedule of EQUINOX, luxury health clubs when the pandemic occurred.
Thankfully I discovered the shO’s H2 (Happiness & Health) teaching model is highly adaptable out of the water as well. Covid-19 spurred the evolution of H2shO™️ LIVE!, a virtual class platform on the BAND app, and a land class named “Strength & shO Tunes.” I have since been invited to teach for students at Fordham University and beyond. And we will be returning to EQUINOX late Summer.
What's your favorite thing about what you do?
I love the connections, the relationships formed, planting seeds of hope for increased health and personal enrichment.
How is teaching in the park different from teaching in a studio?
In exchange for the freedom to create in an open space, you have to completely surrender control. From the weather to various park rules to crowd control, you must do your homework daily so you are better equipped to address unpredictability.
When you're not teaching, what is your favorite thing to do in the parks?
When fitness is your job, I value chilling out. Whether sitting, eating, walking casually , simply being in a beautiful natural environment is a beautiful thing.
Lastly, how do you motivate/energize yourself to be active when you're feeling lazy?
The last year has been difficult, the pandemic environment is still fluid and like everyone else I am discovering the new normal. A lazy day isn’t equal to being indolent. Be gentle on yourself today so you can come back stronger tomorrow.
You can find out more about Erwin’s classes or message Erwin González/H2shO™️ Fitness classes via-
H2shO™️ Fitness on the BAND app: H2shO.com
Instagram, Facebook & Twitter: @jointheshO
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erwin-gonzalez-9a140a15