A 26-year-old who is the UK’s first official Zumba teacher with down syndrome has brought her passion for the activity to Westhoughton.
Hannah Payton, from Atherton, became an instructor back in October 2021, after she enjoyed taking part in Zumba classes on Zoom throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.
After hitting national headlines with her inspiring story, Hannah also became a Gold Zumba Instructor, meaning she trains older people and people with disabilities.
And now, in the hopes to inspire others with down syndrome, Hannah has started Zumba classes teaching Westhoughton residents the iconic dance moves at The Hub.
Hannah said: “I feel really happy at the sessions seeing everyone enjoying themselves and getting sweaty, if you get sweaty it means you have worked hard.
“I feel like other people with down syndrome should also get to follow their dreams like me.
“When I started Zumba, it was during the pandemic and I took part in Zumba on Zoom and it encouraged me to become a Zumba instructor, so I trained, and it changed my life.
“I had to train for my certificate and a licence through a six-hour course and I feel really happy and excited to be the only Zumba instructor in the UK with down syndrome.”
Hannah’s mum, Jutta Payton, said: “Hannah is the first and only Zumba instructor with down syndrome in the UK and she has been giving regular Zumba classes for about a year and a half now and she is very successful at it.
“And last week she had her first session at The Hub in Westhoughton.
“It has been a great success so far; it was busy, and everybody enjoyed it and people have already booked on for future weeks.
“Hannah is not only a Zumba instructor but also a Zumba Gold Instructor so she provides Zumba lessons for people who might not be as flexible to join the normal Zumba, people who are more mature and people with disabilities.
“I am very proud, and it is great to know that she is living her dream and she is 26 now and if someone had told me 26 years ago that she would be living her dream I wouldn’t have been as worried.
“Hannah has inspired so many people.”
The sessions at The Hub take place every Friday at 6pm until 6.45pm.
To book onto a session contact The Hub or go to: https://bookingwhen.com/zumbawithhannahp
For more information contact: zumbawithhannahp@gmail.com
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.
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