A Passion for Pounding: How Drumming Drives Jameia Dew

By MEGAN WILLIAMS/ Staff Writer

Jameia Dews, a fitness instructor who was once a student learning pounding, is now the teacher

Jameia Dews just finished instructing another exhilarating Zumba-type workout, but the catch is that you use drumsticks. 

In a small room past the double doors that are right beside the treadmills, is a spot where most instructors go to teach their designated workout at UT Tyler’s, Herrington Patriot Recreation Center.

A miniature dance room with mirrors on the back and left side of the walls, hard wooden floors, and light workout equipment for a class of people to utilize, like cycling bikes, yoga balls, and mats.

Twenty-seven-year-old Jameia Dews is one of those instructors, and she teaches both spin and a unique class called, “pounding.”

Dews stumbled upon this activity randomly.

“So first, it was a class offered in another gym, and I was just taking the class because I wanted to try something new and I began to enjoy it,” Dews says.

BECOMING AN INSTRUCTOR

Dews started as a student learning pounding and enjoyed it so much that people in her class noticed how in tune she was with the dance and music.

“The gym had posted they were going to pay you for one certification.”

“I’m like okay, fine; I didn’t even say I wanted to do it I just commented an emoji on the post.”

“Not anticipating that I was the one that wanted to do it. But I was just like, who’s going to do it? I want to know, whose class to take next because I am a supporter of people,” she says enthusiastically.

Not knowing Dews fitness coordinator and the class was rooting for her to obtain a pounding instructor certification, they submitted her name to be selected.

“Hey, a lot of people submitted your name. So, we are gifting you a coupon for the certification,” said the group instructor. “But can you give us an explanation on why you think you deserve it?”

“My answer paid for the entire certification, so I practically got it for free,” Dews says.

When Dews instructs her pounding class, there are various sounds, from sharp and percussive to tapping and thumping, from either hitting them together or on the mat.

The mats are utilized for lunges, hip thrusts, and squatting.

Dews runs down the movements with her class before starting the music.

She lets the class know the speed, choreography, and specific body parts that will be exercised for the duration of that song.

“I taught my first class, and it was great. My heart was beating fast, and I thought everyone could hear it.”

“But people said, oh my gosh, this was so good. You did such a good job. And that encouragement and reassurance kicked it off for me,” Dews says, smiling.

“I was practicing every day, like for two hours.”

Dews taught more classes and became passionate about pounding, specifically as a workout.

She taught in all sorts of ways, such as in-person, small group training, and online and she would even travel. 

“I got deeper into working out to take fitness more seriously. And so, I got to the point where I started doing small group training,” Dews says.

“I travel with the materials to teach in my trunk. I have about 15 mats and 20 sets of sticks, so I consider myself a traveling fitness instructor.”

BALANCING LIFE AS A PART-TIME INSTRUCTOR

Dews balances a full-time job as a supervisor, taking care of her family, and trying to save so that she can travel to cities that cater to her passion of being a fitness-pounding instructor.

“It’s something I’m passionate about and have a real life. You know, I still am responsible for a lot of things: my daughter, my dad, my brother, and my mom, who is experiencing dementia,” says Dews.

Dews is considering moving to big cities like Dallas, Houston, and Austin to branch out her name and make a living in what she likes to do with her daughter.

Although Dews is successfully active as a fitness instructor in pounding, her family doesn’t seem to see eye-to-eye when it comes to her goals and dreams.

“You know, I’ll say this, as I come from a traditional background, it was something that was automatically dismissed.”

“They didn’t categorize this as an actual job, and so it wasn’t supported by them,” Dews says sadly.

Dews, at one point, gathered 45 people with another young lady to do an Alzheimer’s Awareness fundraiser by having people donate and attend while doing the pounding workout, and the QR code ended up raising tons of money.

It still wasn’t seen as a job to be celebrated by her family even after that huge success of obtaining money to help with Alzheimer’s.

Dews still actively pursues her passion for pounding and hopefully will gather enough money and security to expand her skills to a larger audience.

“Pounding has changed my life and set my mind free, it was an instance of my healing and acceptance of myself,” Dews says. “And I can see the reflection of my growth and the blossoming of the person I am today.”