The Hartwells Will Emcee Tybee Throws A Fit

Article from Savannah Now.

By Kenda Williams
Tybee Throws a Fit is back on the island, and this time, it's a dance-party. Actress, fitness enthusiast and former star of Bravo's TV series "Real Housewives of Atlanta" Lisa Wu-Hartwell will join the event and lead crowds in a cardio workout.

The second Tybee Throws a Fit will feature a dance-party theme along with aerobics, water sports and beach activities. Fitness workouts and activities will begin Saturday morning at locations throughout the island with major events taking place at the Tybee Pier & Pavilion.

The first installment, held July Fourth weekend, was created in honor of Tybee Island's ongoing commitment to healthy living and to celebrate being named Health magazine's "America's Healthiest Beach" for 2009. View photos of the first event

"We want to make Tybee a healthy place to come and vacation," said event sponsor Stacye Jarrell of Oceanfront Cottage Rentals.
To keep with this weekend's emphasis on dance, participants can join a belly-dancing class, a kickboxing and dance routine, and a cardio exercise.

"This is going to be one of the most fun events Tybee has had," Jarrell said. "Having the first one behind us, we decided we wanted to have more of a dance-party theme this time."

For Lisa Wu-Hartwell, Tybee is a beach that she and her husband, former NFL player Ed Hartwell, enjoy visiting from their home in the Atlanta area.

"I love it on Tybee," Wu-Hartwell said. "We're going to have fun out there."

The Hartwells will emcee the event and lead participants in a cardio warm up exercise involving kickboxing.

"I've done kickboxing for a long time and studied martial arts," Wu-Hartwell said.

She plans to release a kickboxing workout DVD with Jeanette Jenkins, "The Hollywood Trainer." Wu-Hartwell is working on a book, "When The Cake Is Already Made," with best-selling author Miasha, and she will be starring in some upcoming films.

Fitness and healthy living are two things Wu-Hartwell said she's passionate about and hopes to encourage others by giving them fitness tips and the push they need to be active.
Wu-Hartwell says the key is maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying motivated to get outside and involved in physical activities.

"I have my days when I'd rather relax, but being healthy is a decision you have to make. It's a lifestyle," she said. "Gym memberships are the highest around the New Year because people are making their resolutions, and then by Jan. 31, it falls off. You feel great after you leave the gym, though. You have to make yourself do it. It's definitely rewarding."
Several other fitness instructors will join Wu-Hartwell throughout the morning for Tybee Throws a Fit.

Zumba, a fusion of international dance and Latin beats, will be led by CC Powell of Synergistic Bodies.

Local belly dance instructor Deedee Coover will lead a group in the ancient Middle Eastern dance style, while kickboxing guru Leah Sparks will show participants how to kickbox to music.

Fitness expert and personal trainer Sunny Weathers from Tybee's YMCA will offer a "Cardio Kickoff" demonstration.

Local trainer Drew Edmonds, of Train Me 24/7 and personal trainer to the Style Network's Ruby Gettinger, will return to the event to offer his "Get Fit Body Blast," a total body workout for all fitness levels that targets abs, thighs and upper body.

Other activities offered by area residents will include stand-up paddleboarding, water aerobics, limbo, beach bocce, horseshoes, yoga on the beach, children's activities and more.