CHESAPEAKE, Va. - A handful of people started their Sundays at Chesapeake City Park by getting some exercise, whether it was walking, jogging, or doing some form of calisthenics.
Tiffany Coffey, a local mixed-fit instructor, however, is combining her passion for mix fit with helping her community, specifically single mothers.
"I am a single mom and I understand those challenges,” she told News 3.
Tiffany Coffey's started Dance Fitness with Tiffany earlier this summer, her own mixed fitness class. The classes happen outdoors at the park, near the canopy in the marketplace-designated section of the park.
The classes are free, but some of her students donated money and while she was surprised by the gesture, she said she chose to put it to good use.
"Someone asked, 'maybe you should have a tip jar.' I said, 'that would be nice,’” Coffey said. “I took the tip jar and I decided to match whatever that would be and here we are -- Giving money back to the community."
She said she works with guidance counselors in the Chesapeake City Public School Division, who has connected her with single moms. A few have also reached out to her on Facebook, and so far she donated a total of $500 since the inception.
"I just want to do anything I possibly can to help people get fit, have fun,” Coffey explained, “Give back to the community at the same time."
For those interested in her classes, Coffey said it is open to all skill levels. You should also expect some dancing, but what else? What do her students think?
"We don't use any weights, we don't get on the floor, we don't get on the ground,” Coffey said. “We just use all of our body weight and get really big explosive movements."
Melissa Couther, one of Coffey’s students, said the class allows participants to be their selves.
“She pushes us but it's all about what you put into it. The more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it,” Couther said. “She tells us all the time, 'if I can't hear you and you're not moving enough, we're going to start over,' and we never want to start over."
Her classes host about 30 people, but she said as word spread, up to 50 people have shown up to her classes.
Classes meet every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Chesapeake City Park. Registration is required and can be done through this link. More information is available on the Dance Fitness with Tiffany website, and on its Facebook page.