Leading Ladies

Cindy Vacek of Geneva believes in the importance of staying fit and healthy — no matter what age or health issue. (Photo by Dani Schweigert)

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Whether it’s your creativity, big smile or long legs, we all have things we love about ourselves.

Kane County Magazine asks three local women what they love about themselves — and why.

Charlotte Trux ~ Batavia
Charlotte Trux of Batavia is a Pilates instructor and is the founder and owner of Inner Elements, a Pilates and gyrotonics studio in Batavia.

She hails from the Netherlands and moved to Chicago in 1999 with three children in tow and one on the way. Trux left her career in software to help her family acclimate to a new country and culture.

It wasn’t until Trux started to take fitness classes to get back in shape that she found her calling in Pilates.

“After awhile, I found myself wanting to know more about form and figuring which muscles become engaged,” Trux says.

She became certified as a Pilates, yoga and gyrotonics instructor. Trux took her education a step further and became a teacher to certify Pilates instructors.

“I can teach my instructors my style and the way I believe is the best for clients,” she says.

What about being a Pilates instructor does Trux love?

“I love that I’m continually growing and learning, which allows me to help my clients feel better and improve . . . their health,” Trux says. “At the same time, I employ women, the instructors, and help them build their own income and create their own business.” 

Lisa Dienst-Thomas ~ Batavia
As community programs coordinator at Delnor Glen’s Assisted Living Community in St. Charles and a jewelry designer and teacher at Water Street Studios in Batavia, Lisa Dienst-Thomas, of Batavia, credits her resourcefulness and resilience to manage her jobs successfully.

“If a program at Delnor falls through, or the price of metal goes up for my jewelry, I immediately look for another way to make it work,” Dienst-Thomas says.

And what does Dienst-Thomas love about herself?

“I love I can adapt to anything and make things happen,” she says. “I credit my mom for that, because she always made the most of what she had with such a positive attitude.”

Dienst-Thomas is a self-taught jewelry designer, specializing in metalsmithing.

“To be good at this, it takes a lot of patience, and to teach it takes even more patience,” she explains.

When the price of silver went up, Dienst-Thomas looked into alternatives and took a glass fusion class.

“As a result, it has made my jewelry unique, and I learned something new,” Dienst-Thomas says.

Her tenacity also rings through in her job at Delnor. If a program gets canceled at the last minute, or if resources aren’t available, she immediately changes gears.

“I just make it happen somehow, someway, and it always ends up being a great switch in the end,” she says.

Cindy Vacek ~ Geneva
For more than 27 years, Cindy Vacek of Geneva has worked in the fitness industry.

She started her career teaching Jane Fonda aerobics.

Vacek teaches water classes and prenatal yoga at Delnor Health and Wellness Center in Geneva.

“I help those who have arthritis or who are handicapped to stay fit,” Vacek says.

She believes in the importance of staying fit and healthy — no matter what age or health issue.

What does a fitness instructor like Vacek love about herself?

“I love I help people feel better and maintain a healthier lifestyle,” she says. “I also love by helping my clients, they in turn have helped me when I needed it.”

Vacek was in a boating accident and suffered a back injury that required surgery. She recently had her second back surgery.

“I’ve gotten get-well cards and phone calls from more than 150 of my clients,” she says. “I’ve even had some of my clients arrange it so my family and I had our meals planned when I couldn’t cook.”

She sees their kindness as a thank you to her for taking care of them when they needed it.

“I’ve taken care of them, (and) they’ve taken care of me,” Vacek says.