Kathy Smith

Kathy Smith

The Fitness Expert Shows You How to Shape It to a Latin Beat
For 20 years, Kathy Smith has been America's fitness guru. Her exercise videos have sold more than 11 million copies, and her latest, Latin Rhythm Workout, incorporates Latin dance moves and infectious rhythms to burn calories and keep the heart rate up. But Smith's fitness empire encompasses more than videos. She has created books, audiotapes, fitness equipment, a web site, exercise apparel, and a fitness column -- and she's also an involved parent and devoted volunteer worker. How does she do it all? Barnes & Noble.com's Carol Wright interviewed Kathy as she rushed back to her office after picking up her two girls from school.

Barnes & Noble.com: What inspired you to do an exercise video with a Latin theme?

Kathy Smith: The school my kids go to has a real diverse population. Last year when Ricky Martin was topping the charts, the school held a Latin Day. I have never seen people having so much fun! They had an instructor up on stage, and everyone -- students, parents, teachers -- were dancing all the hot dances. I thought, What a great way to exercise! It would be fun, would burn a lot of calories, and would take the boredom out of the workout. People could lose themselves in these movements. So I started taking some classes and private lessons in Latin dance.

B&N.com: Who is the instructor on the video? She adds a lot of pizzazz.

KS: She's got a great smile, doesn't she? Her name's Clara Bassett. She's from Cuba. Clara and I defined what a Latin rhythm dance workout would look like for my audience, and we designed the movements to be continuous and aerobic. This keeps up the heart rate.

B&N.com: The more energetic "Latin Sizzle" on the second half can really get a burn going. What can folks do to make any exercise movement more rewarding?

KS: You can always burn more calories and up your heart rate by making the movement bigger. Use more floor space, bend your knees more, approaching a 90-degree squat. You'll get a more challenging workout any time you up the pace or add bigger arm movements, squats, and knee lifts. With Latin Rhythm Workout, especially, make sure you clear some floor space so you can use your dips and turns. And don't forget to stay through the whole video, because we offer lessons on how to use the steps we've taught you -- cha-cha, salsa, and merengue -- for partner dancing. No reason you can't burn your calories out on the town.

B&N.com: Is it important to work up a sweat or reach a certain heart rate?

KS: The way that people typically determine whether they are working hard enough is from perceived exertion signs such as perspiration and being winded. We often stop to check the heart rate, but there is a chance of error when you are trying to count and listen to instructions at the same time. Get the sense of how you're feeling, but occasionally check your perceptions against the actual heart rate. Am I right on? Or am I fooling myself?

B&N.com: What about working out at home versus taking a class?

KS: There are many positive things about working out at home. But in a class, you have group motivation to inspire you to work a little harder. At home you'll be tempted to answer the phone, sit out when you get winded, and not quite push as hard. So paying attention to your signs of perceived exertion is important when doing your workouts at home.

B&N.com: How do you have the stamina and time for running a fitness empire -- writing your newspaper column, being a parent of two girls, working up new products, writing books, and giving attention to your volunteer work with March of Dimes and the Women's Sports Foundation. Do you ever sit still?

KS: I really need my sleep, so that remains a priority. To get all these things done, I have to be very organized. Luckily, there is a synergy to producing these fitness products: Research for the book is also research for the video, and we shoot still photographs while shooting the video footage. Also, I make sure I have good people working for me, and I know when to delegate so I am free to be the visionary, to come up with the ideas. Still, there's a lot to do. So I have had to weigh what's really important to me and cut out certain things. In order to spend time my family, I had to cut out my evening social life and hanging out with friends, though I've really missed that, so I'm taking steps to reconnect with friends on certain levels.

B&N.com: Sounds like you're very disciplined. Is it hard for you to stay on a diet and exercise?

KS: I don't look at myself and think I'm a disciplined person, but here it is Lent and I'm giving up something -- sugar and chocolate. I really like them! I actually find discipline to be a challenge, fun, almost an adventure. I remember when I used to get up at 4:30am so I could get in a run before I had to report for my TV show. It was grueling, but it gave me the mind set to get the best out of things. I can always find the positive in a difficult situation, and that makes everything easier.

B&N.com: What's your next fitness project going to be?

KS: The Fat Burning Breakthrough, two 30-minute circuit training workouts using the steps. And I'll be shooting a new TV show for the Fox Health Network.
July 11, 2000