About the Proprietor
Lesley Hager, M.S., IRfN, is a firm believer that fitness can be fun! She is originally from the state of West Virginia in the U.S.A. She has been in Derry since 2011. Lesley grew up dancing, beginning her first ballet, jazz and tap dance class at the age of three. Shortly thereafter, she started gymnastics and cheerleading. Dance, cheer and gymnastics has been a staple in her life since a very young age. In 2008, Lesley discovered the new fitness sensation sweeping the nation, called Zumba (R) fitness. Zumba(R) changed her life and because of this, she decided to become a Zumba (R) Instructor and began teaching classes first in the United States, then in Derry.
After having her daughter in 2012, Lesley became interested in children's fitness. Believing that starting children out young with fitness in a fun way is vital to lifelong health, Lesley researched programs until she stumbled across Wee Wigglers. Wee Wigglers is a dance and fitness programme for toddlers and is popular in Canada and the U.S. After speaking to the owner and creator of Wee Wigglers and extensive training, Lesley was and is the first to bring and run the Wee Wigglers programme in Europe, which started in 2014.
Trying to reach all age ranges in fitness and utilizing her background in dance and fitness, Lesley developed the Wiggle Fit programme for children aged 5-11 years old. This programme started in 2015.
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In 2017, Lesley discovered the Pound Fit, Rockout Workout and travelled to Scotland to become a licensed Instructor and Pound Pro. In 2017, she introduced Pound to Derry.
Lesley is a qualified Nutritionist and is a member of the International Register for Nutritionists. Lesley is also a
PLATE by Zumba (R) nutritional coach.
Lesley has participated, organized and hosted many charity events in Derry including Zumbathon(TM) events for CLIC Sargent (which was the first Zumbathon(TM) to ever be hosted in Derry), Children in Crossfire, Foyle Hospice, Cancer Research UK, Foyle Search and Rescue, The Patricia Hughes Bursary Scheme, Diabetes UK, POCA Parents of Older Children with Autism and more. Additionally, Lesley has hosted other Zumba(R) fundraisers for Rainbow Rehoming Centre, community organizations and BBC Children in Need. Also, Lesley has served as a guest judge and choreographer for local Strictly Come Dancing-style events.
Lesley currently teaches Zumba(R) fitness classes, Zumba(R) speciality classes, Wee Wigglers classes, Pound classes and Wiggle Fit classes in Derry. She is a licensed Zumba(R) Instructor and Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN)(TM) member, A Wee Wigglers Children's Fitness Ambassador, and Wiggle Fit creator. She has experience in hosting team building events for businesses and corporations, previously in her professional work roles utilizing charities, and now offering Zumba(R) as a way to team build for companies.
Before making fitness her focus and career, Lesley earned a Bachelor's of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Marshall University and a Master's of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Marshall University. Additionally, Lesley earned a Spanish language grammar certification from Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid, Spain. Her previous professional experience includes work both in the service industry and professional arena in several areas including working with at-risk youth and also working in community and economic development. She has extensive experience in program development and event organization.
Lesley is also the author of of two books, Coincidence, a fictional contemporary romance novel, and Ireland Ever After: An American in Ireland, The blog, which is the book version of the blog, Ireland Ever After, she kept her first few years in Ireland She has also written articles for newspapers and online sources about travel and writing.
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Lesley is also an ESGR Seven Seals award winner and a 2019 Mighty Woman in Fitness Award Finalist in the Mighty Women Award
