Burlingame : Burlingame
Angie Mercado
http://
a_carnesecca@hotmail.com
“I was born to move… you would not see me sitting still for very long. Give me a bumping song, a class with my favorite students, and plenty of water. That is a bliss! Being an instructor is like being the Pied Piper. You actually see you creativity played out in the most fun and rewarding way. I love to get people excited about fitness. Aside from good nutrition, what better gift can you give your body?”
Angie Mercado
Angie spent the first half of her life in South San Francisco where it became apparent at an early age that dance and athletics would follow her through life.
A vivid memory that prompted Angie’s obsession for music and dance was watching “Soul Train” on Saturday mornings while doing housework.
Angie’s family relocated to Pleasant Hill where she was about to enter the 7th grade. Starting junior high, she joined the Cheerleading team. This passion continued through high school. Her team ranked both locally and nationally. Working as a coach and choreographer for the local Pop Warner and high school freshman teams definitely triggered an interest for group instruction.
After high school, she attended community college and transferred to the University of San Francisco where she received a degree in Exercise Sports Science. While attending college, Angie taught step aerobics, body sculpting, and eventually cardio kickboxing in both the East Bay and San Francisco. She competed locally in the Sport Aerobics division, obtaining certifications with ACE and NSCA/CSCS. She began personal training, which allowed her to gain experience working with clients on a one-on-one basis.
After graduating college, Angie spent seven years in the pharmaceutical industry while continuing to teach classes at Club One and Pacific Athletic Club.
Angie’s career has now become a full-circle. Besides her life at home with her husband Ray and son Dominic, Angie is solely focused on her career in fitness, personal training, and teaching classes at both Pacific Athletic Club and Gold’s Gym. Her classes include Cardio Kickboxing, Athletic Conditioning, Youth Athletic Conditioning, Body Pump, and Zumba.
“It is so freeing to focus on the work that inspires me and feels natural. Bringing Zumba into my mix of classes has allowed me to grow as an instructor. My students challenge me to be vulnerable and risky. I am able to exercise my brain while utilizing my passion for choreography. I feel by gaining confidence with repetition helps people overcome the fear many have of dance. My job is to encourage my students to have fun!”