I will never stop being active, at my own pace, on my own time.
Hi, I’m Sherri Fransila and I am the owner of Kiwa Dance FitnessSM and a certified group fitness instructor specializing in dance fitness. After a total knee replacement, I looked for fitness classes that could accommodate my new abilities. There were low-impact classes, but I still had to modify moves to be safe for me, and I wanted an instructor who understood how trauma (injury and surgical) impairs communication from the brain to joints and muscles. So, I became that instructor who created those classes.
Long story short…After years of decreasing mobility and increasing chronic pain from arthritis and a rare inflammatory disease [the results of a skiing accident and 2 knee operations in my teens], a total knee replacement at 50 allowed me to move almost pain-free. My range of motion will always be limited; but to preserve what I have, I have to stay active and exercise. Exercising because I should was a chore, so I needed an activity that was fun.
Hola Zumba®! Because the music made me want to move, it put fitness back in my life. Zumba® restored my self confidence. The regulars were inspired by me coming to every class and giving it my best effort (even if it was a little funky and off beat). They encouraged me to just do my thing, so I did. Zumba® also gave me something I didn’t have in my personal social circle, a community of like-minded women who enjoyed dancing and being active. I dance because it’s fun, I can, and I must.
What you might like to know…
The two mains in my life are Jim, my husband of more than 25 years, and our cat BC (Black Cat). BC belonged to our neighbor, and we had shared custody until the fall of 2025. That’s when our neighbor decided no more cats inside. (He had brought home 2 feral cats who bullied BC and triggered him to misbehave, so all cats were now outdoor cats). So after 13 years of having a “home,” BC was homeless. Needless to say we adopted him and love him to absolute pieces, giving him the home and love he should have had all along. (I have more pictures of BC than anyone or anything else.)
Life Values: I believe in ohana, a family of friends and relatives. I believe the ability to choose your ohana is one of the true benefits of being an adult. I also believe in tacos, tunes, and island time (thus the name of my blog). Tacos are messy and delicious, the perfect blend of soft and crunchy, hot and cold; a metaphor for life maybe. Tunes are who we are; if you truly want to know someone, check out their playlists. Island time is my happy zone, it’s about taking life leisurely but still being respectful of the time of others. (Technically speaking, island time has been determined to be 10 minutes after real time.)
I was always an “island girl” at heart, I just didn’t live on one until 2017. Island people are more in tune with the land and respective of nature. We have to be, we have a limited amount of land; and nature (especially weather) plays a much more significant role in lives, particularly our ability to travel because we do more traveling by sea than mainlanders. I always say islanders have at least “one hippie bone” in their bodies.
Boomer: I am a baby boomer. I grew up when many sports were just starting to be a mainstream option for girls; and I was lucky enough to have parents who not only allowed me to participate but were my biggest cheerleaders. I played softball in 1967, ice hockey in 1972, and flag football in 1976. These were in addition to the more traditional “girl” sports of biking, skiing, tennis, and volleyball. I later pushed the boundaries of sport again, doing some serious weight training and training as a boxer in the 80s. My only “regret” is that I never learned to skateboard or surf before my knees put a kibosh on those activities. Now, sliding into my 70s, my body has paid the price for being active. I am still active, however movement is slower, often awkward looking, and sometimes a little painful; but I will never stop being active, at my own pace, on my own time.
Updated: January 2026
KIWA dance fitness 