Houston – Zumba instructor Neal Howard is defying the odds, proving his passion, determination, and rhythm know no boundaries.
The 33-year-old was born with a rare condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. The condition makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss. There is no cure and eventually, Howard will be completely blind. Despite his visual impairment, he’s embraced the world of Zumba and step aerobics.
It wasn’t an easy journey. In 2020, at nearly 500 pounds, he almost lost his job instructing because his classes were too slow. In March of the following year, Howard contracted a life-threatening staph infection in both legs. Surgery to remove the infection resulted in pneumonia in both lungs. At that moment, he realized if he didn’t change his lifestyle or lose weight, his life was on the line.
Seven months later, his doctor recommended a medical procedure for weight management. Within three weeks, he was down 45 pounds.
But he didn’t stop there.
Howard was committed to putting in the work to lose the extra weight. He got himself back on track and back to teaching Zumba and helping others lose weight too.
You can find Howard swaying his hips to hip-hop, Latin beats, and reggaeton on social media. Now as a certified Zumba instructor, he stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others facing challenges.
Howard tells Houston Life he is currently working towards creating a free fitness expo with his brand “Blind Fitness” in his home city of Nacogdoches. He’s aiming to raise awareness about his rare eye condition and to bring fitness to areas throughout the state that struggle to provide adequate fitness resources.
Howard teaches six days a week at the North Freeway location of Fitness Connection.