Meet Adrienne Fleming, a Darien mom of three boys. A lifelong dancer, Adrienne has created a dance cardio fitness program offered in Darien at Dance on the DL and in New Canaan at Halo Fitness. She teaches a dance-focused class as well as one that achieves full-body sculpting. Discover Adrienne’s path to pursuing her dream and what she loves about the community.
How many children do you have and what are their ages?
I have three boys aged 10, 8 and 6… and a 3-year-old Bernedoodle named Utah.
What’s your favorite aspect about being part of the community?
We love living in Darien. There is a family first mentality that is so wholesome and authentic. I’ve met the most genuine, loving people here, and families are there for each other in such a beautiful way. It’s a town of neighbor helping neighbor, and I believe the kids are watching and learning by example. I’m so grateful for this community.
What’s your favorite family activity to do in the area?
Each season brings a different routine, and it usually revolves around my boys’ sports! I love spring, which these days means baseball, baseball and more baseball. Spending the day in the stands at those double headers will always be one of my favorite memories of being a boy mom. In the summer we love a pizza night at Weed Beach, throwing around a football with friends. I can’t say I love the winter 5am hockey wake-ups quite as much, but I do love seeing my boys active and doing what they love.
Can you please tell us a bit about your path to health and wellness?
Dance defined my childhood and shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up, I spent every waking hour outside of school at the dance studio and it’s where I learned discipline and mind-body connection. Creativity flowed and friendships blossomed, and that’s really where my love for group fitness was born. As an adult, I craved that studio community and found it at incredible boutique fitness studios all around NYC. To me, there’s nothing like the endorphin rush of moving to great music with a group of positive people, all striving for their personal best and feeding off one another’s energy.
You recently launched a dance cardio and strength training class. Can you share more about your programming?
Creating my own dance cardio fitness program has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I currently offer two different class types. One is more dance focused and the other is a full body mat sculpting class with periodic bursts of cardio. In Dance Cardio & Strength we work on new choreography every month. The rest of class consists of mat-based Pilates strength work, active stretching and light weights. Sculpt & Tone is a full body sculpting class that utilizes props such as gliders, ankle weights, resistance bands, Pilates balls and light weights.
What can clients who work with you expect during these classes?
In my class, the lights are low, and the music is turned way up. For those who might be intimidated by the concept of dance as fitness—don’t be. If you can do jumping jacks, you CAN do dance cardio! When we’re dancing, we’re truly living in the present moment because there’s no time to stop and dwell on a missed step. Everyone is focused, which means no one is looking at anyone else in the room and no one is judging. We repeat the moves a lot, so if you fumble the first few times it makes the payoff even sweeter when you finally nail it! This practice in mindfulness makes time fly by and cardio feel like a party. It strengthens not just your body, but your brain synapses too. In my opinion, people don’t dance enough after the age of 25. You’ll be amazed at how great it feels and how much fun it is to make the moves your own.
What’s the best piece of advice you’d give parents struggling to introduce or maintain healthy and constructive habits into their routines?
It’s all about small changes and consistency over time. If you can make one small healthy adjustment to your day and stick with it, seeing the results will inspire you to make another change, and then another. I no longer look at healthy living in black and white—no one can be perfect all the time and that’s not the goal! I am a pretty healthy eater, but only about 80% of the time. I don’t deprive myself of anything I love, and that makes a healthy lifestyle attainable and manageable over the long-term. As far as exercise goes, find something that doesn’t feel like a chore to tick off your to-do list. If you love it, you will look forward to it and you will make the time for it. You’ll stick with it not just for the physical results, but for the mental benefits as well.
As a busy mama, is there something you do each day to support your own needs?
For the first time in my life, work is my “me” time. Teaching this class is how I get out of my head and into my body. It’s how I release stress, connect with friends, and nourish my soul. For that hour, I’m not a busy mom of three…. I go to another place mentally, and when I come back I feel lighter, freer and more myself than I did before we started.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Do you have any advice for other moms considering entrepreneurship?
There’s never a perfect time to start. In fact, almost everything about the timing of when I started my business made no sense on paper. But when the passion comes from a true, authentic place, others will recognize that in you and that’s when the magic happens. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. The hardest step is the first one.
How do you unwind when you need some “me time?”
I love an infrared sauna. I don’t bring my phone in there, which means it’s 45 minutes to just relax, recover and get some peace and quiet. A rare concept in a mom’s day! I go to Salt & Sweat in Darien and it’s great.
Anything to add?
I’m filled with gratitude each time I walk into the studio. I’ve wanted to do this since I was 25, but fear and intimidation always stopped me. At 40, after a decade of pregnancy, breastfeeding and chasing toddlers, I finally felt ready. The irony is I actually feel stronger and more connected to my body now than I did at 25. It’s never too late.
We love supporting local businesses. Favorite places in town or nearby to…
Have dinner with/without kids: With kids: Hibachi at Sakura in Westport. Without kids: Outdoors at Rowayton Seafood.
Grab a drink with friends: Sails in Rowayton
Spend time together as a family: We love to ski together, though my boys have all surpassed my abilities! We love day trips to Mohawk Mountain or a weekend trip to Bromley, VT.
Shop for yourself/shop for your kids: I live in workout clothes, so that’s basically all I buy for myself! I love Darien Sport Shop and I would like to move into the Vuori store in Westport. For the boys, I’m at Dick’s Sporting Goods an embarrassing amount. We also love a trip to REI in Norwalk.
Spa/salon (or anywhere you go to treat yourself): Camoro Salon in Southport for the best blonde highlights and blowouts. Darizen for acupuncture and massage. Salt & Sweat for infrared sauna (my guilty pleasure). Posh for everything else.
Grab coffee: I can’t live without coffee. I make it at home with two scoops of Vital Proteins collagen creamer to give me an energy boost before teaching. After class, I love to grab a protein-packed bone broth from Aux Delices just a few doors down from the studio.
ABOUT ADRIENNE FLEMING
Adrienne Fleming has created a high-energy dance cardio and full body sculpting class offered in Darien and New Canaan. Known for her incredible playlists and motivating positive energy, you’ll leave with an endorphin rush and every muscle group worked to exhaustion.
Visit www.adrienne-fleming.com to learn more about class offerings, view the schedule and sign up for class. Follow Adrienne on Instagram @adrienneflemingfit and on Spotify @adrifleming to access to class playlists.