Posts by: Liz Robinson

Liz Robinson

Philanthropy at ZŪM Fitness

Community No Comments
Liz Robinson runs the company philanthropy program at ZUM Fitness in downtown Seattle.

I’ll never forget meeting “Momma Love” on a spin bike in Westlake Park. It was September 30th, 2017 and I was instructing an outdoor spin class at rush hour in the public park. Why? Because Meghan Dahl (ZŪM pal and former Member Services Director and all-around good egg) asked me if I would, and no one can say no to Meghan.

Momma Love dropped her bags of personal belongings, jumped on a spin bike, pushing her many layers of flowing garments anywhere they would land, and pedaled like a woman on a mission to qualify for a grand tour. Momma Love needed this. She needed an outlet to release; she needed someone to witness her; she needed to sing, scream and let it all out in the middle of a public park. I get that. I think ZŪM members can relate at least a little to Momma Love and how good the release of stress through exercise can feel. I was happy to bring that to Momma Love on that day.  

Continue reading →

Spitfire!: ZUM’s Answer to Longevity Training

Fitness and Vitality No Comments

Aging with strength and agility

A few years ago I was walking through my old fitness club in Philadelphia, and saw a group of people in the classroom sitting on chairs and lifting 3 lb. weights. They looked relaxed, comfortable, and BORED. As the instructor, a good friend of mine and a killer fitness pro, led the group through seated bicep curls and tricep kickbacks she did her best to bring excitement and enthusiasm to the job at hand–to teach a widely available fitness class to senior citizens. After class, the instructor and I discussed the inherent assumption built into the class design– that older people are incapable or afraid of movement of any kind. Ever since then, I’ve been distracted by a voice in my head (the good kind) telling me to “Do something about this!” So I did.

Continue reading →

We’ve Built a Bridge and We’re Not Afraid to Cross It

Community No Comments

CC 1.0 - Hennessy

Gaoliang Bridge of The Summer Palace. CC 1.0 – Hennessy

 

This summer ZŪM GM Joe DeShaw, our partner at Mobility Plus, Brittney Thornton, and I walked into a conference room. What happened in that conference room over the following 90 minutes can only be described as a full-on fitness nerd fest. There were illustrations, studies, methodology discussions and a lot of laughs. It was one of those magical moments among geeks that can solidify professional trust, spark controversy, spawn ideas and bond like-minded professionals. In the case of that meeting in June, all possible outcomes resulted, with the additional bonus of what we call The Bridge.

Continue reading →