{"id":404734,"date":"2024-01-24T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=404734"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"M2-Fitness-says-goodbye-to-group-s-founder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/M2-Fitness-says-goodbye-to-group-s-founder\/","title":{"rendered":"M2 Fitness says goodbye to group\u2019s founder"},"content":{"rendered":"

There was a lot of love and even some tears shed as members of M2 Fitness gathered last Saturday evening at their studio in Gualo Rai to share one last workout session with their founder before her departure from Saipan on Sunday.<\/p>\n

With M2 Fitness president and head coach Mary Grace Bautista and her family relocating to Guam, the two-hour workout session last Saturday became a sort of sendoff to honor her, and ended with light refreshments and members giving her a plaque of recognition.<\/p>\n

Bautista, who founded the non-profit organization in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, said she remains excited about the future with M2 Fitness. She would be not only relocating, but will possibly be expanding the fitness group to Guam, with plans to offer the same classes and services, as well as introduce innovative fitness programs.<\/p>\n

Bautista, who saw M2 Fitness grow in the past four years into one of the recognized Zumba fitness programs on Saipan, said she wants to bring that message to the Guam community, which is to give priority to one\u2019s health and well-being.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking back at the past three years of M2 Fitness, I feel a profound sense of pride and gratitude. It\u2019s been a rewarding journey. Witnessing our positive impact on the community\u2019s well-being has been inspiring,\u201d she said. \u201cThe journey has been transformative, witnessing the organization grow, positively impacting lives, and becoming an integral part of the community. It fuels my passion to continue making a meaningful difference in the years to come.<\/p>\n

Bautista explained that she is moving to Guam because she has been offered a job \u201cthat not only aligns with my career goals but also offers relocation and other support for the whole family. That opens opportunities for a better future for my family. It\u2019s a positive step for both my professional and personal life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bautista said M2 Fitness vice president and cofounder Mishael \u201cMita\u201d Pelicano and fitness coach Julie Harrison will be taking the reins on Saipan but she will continue as M2 Fitness\u2019 president and will still be involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll continue to serve as the president of the M2 Fitness group, even with my physical absence. While vice president Mita and coach Julie will take on a more active role, I\u2019ll remain actively involved in strategic decisions and overall leadership to ensure the continued success of the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

She extends her deepest gratitude to her M2 Fitness family \u201cfor your unwavering support. Our journey doesn\u2019t end here\u2014we\u2019re expanding M2 Fitness to the new location. You\u2019ve been the heartbeat of our community, and together, we\u2019ll continue promoting health and well-being, albeit in different geographical spaces. Stay connected, stay committed, and let\u2019s carry our shared mission forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bautista said she plans to visit Saipan on occasion and be involved with her Saipan M2Fitness family.<\/p>\n

Harrison said they are sad that Bautista is leaving. but \u201cwe\u2019re excited for her future. \u2026She\u2019s very much the glue for us, but she\u2019s been so encouraging about the future and the team that\u2019s still here and so we\u2019re going to miss her a lot\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harrison noted that it was Bautista who helped her get out of her shell. \u201cCoach Grace is probably one of the most inspiring, most dedicated people I\u2019ve ever met in my entire life. \u2026She changed my life. I used to hide in the back, but she calls people out to be the best they can be and then gives them a way to do it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Desolee Calayo also described Bautista as the \u201cthe heart and soul\u201d of the group. \u201cI feel sad a bit, but she\u2019s only moving to Guam. It isn\u2019t very far and, as I always say, it\u2019s not goodbye but see you later because M2 is expanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

M2 Fitness members gather for a photo last Saturday evening as they say bon voyage to founder and president Mary Grace Bautista after their Send Off Spectacular workout session at their studio in Gualo Rai.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
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<\/p>\n

M2 Fitness founder, head coach, and president Mary Grace Bautista says thans to her Zumba family during their final workout session together last Saturday at their studio in Gualo Rai.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
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<\/p>\n

Members of M2 Fitness\u2019 Zumbalizious give an appreciation award to M2 founder and president Mary Grace Bautista after their Send Off Spectacular workout at M2 studio in Gualo Rai.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
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<\/p>\n

{span}M2 Fitness members gathered for their final workout session with M2 founder and head coach Mary Grace Bautista last Saturday at the M2 Fitness studio in Gualo Rai. {\/span}{!–\/data\/user\/0\/com.samsung.android.app.notes\/files\/clipdata\/clipdata_bodytext_240122_182312_016.sdocx–}<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
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<\/p>\n

{span}M2 Fitness founder, head coach, and president Mary Grace Bautista tears up during her final workout session with her fitness family last Saturday at their studio in Gualo Rai. {\/span}{!–\/data\/user\/0\/com.samsung.android.app.notes\/files\/clipdata\/clipdata_bodytext_240123_172157_864.sdocx–}<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
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<\/p>\n

{span}M2 Fitness members go all out during their final workout session with M2 founder and head coach Mary Grace Bautista last Saturday at the M2 Fitness studio in Gualo Rai. {\/span}{!–\/data\/user\/0\/com.samsung.android.app.notes\/files\/clipdata\/clipdata_bodytext_240123_172445_522.sdocx–}<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
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