The fitness and wellness community was left in shock a week ago following the passing of fitness instructor Andro Henry. As many continue to process the sad news, veteran wellness instructor and entrepreneur Shani McGraham-Shirley is honouring his legacy as a respected figure in the industry.
“I want people to remember his name; to remember that Andro Henry was a legend. He was an honest, opinionated and ethical man. He was talented, passionate, kind-hearted, dedicated, determined, supportive, and so selfless,” she told Lifestyle.
McGraham-Shirley explained that Henry was not only a respected fitness instructor, but also a strong leader, dedicated family man, and good friend.
“We began working together about 15 years ago, when I started teaching Zumba. But I met Andro long before that, crossing paths while I attended classes at Spartan Gym and Gymkhana Fitness,” she said.
She recalled her friend bringing her to his fitness class. Although she wasn’t initially keen on it, McGraham-Shirley was drawn to Henry’s warm and engaging personality.
“You know, when people speak about a person’s aura and energy, that was Andro. Anybody who has ever come across him would feel his positive energy. He is a joy-filled lightbulb with a larger-than-life personality. And he maintained that authenticity from the moment I met him,” she revealed.
After opening Chai Studios, Henry became an instructor there. The two worked well together until a misunderstanding led to a period of silence between them.
“We stopped talking for a year or two, based on a misunderstanding. And it was a client who heard both sides and encouraged us to talk things out. We eventually did, and could not believe the other’s story.”
As the two mended their friendship, they became die-hard supporters of each other. Their instructor and business owner dynamic was met with brotherly and sisterly bonds that fuelled their passion for helping others on their wellness journey.
“In the fitness world, you vibe off of people’s energy. You know how they say someone can finish another person’s sentence? As co-teachers, we finished each other’s movements. And that’s a powerful connection to have after all of these years,” McGraham-Shirley said.
FAMILY MAN
While he was an excellent instructor, it was his dedication to his family that stood out to her most, “Seeing him as a family man trumps every interaction he and I have ever had in a professional space. I love watching him with his family. He is the epitome of a family man. A lot of men go on about being a provider. Andro walked the walk in that regard. You never see him without his four women in towe – his mother, wife and two daughters, and they were so supportive of his journey.”
In recent years, during her Fit Fyah series, the pair often joked about age catching up with them. Movements that once felt effortless, like jumping off a stage, now required more thought. McGraham-Shirley would also tease Henry about it whenever she got the chance.
With the discovery of heart issues late last year, McGraham-Shirley revealed that he wasn’t himself since. “During the Fit Fyah series, he taught week one, but he wasn’t himself. By week two, he was noticeably better and gave the class his all. By week three, he told me he wasn’t feeling well. So I made the executive decision of not putting him on the stage. He was upset with me, but he stayed and gave support to the other instructors, with his family by his side.”
Still fresh in her mind, the news of Henry’s passing remains unreal. “I miss my friend. My clients are missing him. But one of the things I’m happy and grateful for is that we never left anything unsaid between us. Andro made me know how he felt about me, and I made Andro know how I felt about him. To the point where somebody messaged me on social media to say he spoke so highly of me. That made me bawl,” she said, holding back her tears.
For the next two Saturdays, his Yahsuh FitBox family will host interactive dance classes to help support medical and funeral costs. The sessions, scheduled for April 25 and May 2 at the Barbican Sports Complex in St Andrew, will feature several instructors across a range of dance genres.
“Andro taught many different fitness formats, from weights [to] spinning. But one of his first jobs before fitness was a disc jockey. Music runs through his veins. And we wanted to honour his journey … . So we’re inviting folks to come out and celebrate his life. All of the proceeds will go directly to his family,” she added.
Andro Henry was also part of the Express Fitness team, where he was described as having “a way of making everyone feel energetic and confident”. He passed away at the age of 51.
krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com