About

Hi, I’m Grismel Alonso-Soto, and I’m from Oaxaca, Mexico. My family and I immigrated to the United States when I was just 5 years old. I’m a wife and mother of four (Sophia, Smantha, Panchito and Renata), a Group Fitness Instructor, Dietary Technician, Early Childhood Development Teacher, and the proud owner of Empower Dance & Fitness Cloverdale. I’m also a former SRJC Sports Medicine student and Track and Cross Country Collegiate Athlete, with a Behavioral Science major.

My passion for fitness goes beyond teaching Zumba, Cycling, and Boot Camp classes—it’s deeply personal. My own journey started with struggling with body weight and image. I once weighed 218 lbs and found it difficult to do the things I loved, like playing with my daughter, without losing my breath. That struggle shaped the person I am today.

I believe that everyone has their own journey, and I’m committed to creating a space where you can feel welcome and supported, no matter where you are on your fitness path. At Empower, we believe in collaboration, not competition, and our motto is simple: “We don’t compete with each other, we EMPOWER one another.”