A new activity I've started recently is Zumba, the dance exercise which seems to be the latest fitness craze. I took this class at the beginning of the summer when I wanted an aerobic class and my health club didn't have much on offer (summer doldrums). So, mostly in desperation, I decided to try it.
It was so much fun!!!!!
I want to tell you that I am not a trained dancer. I'm not into the kind of music that my Zumba instructor plays (though I have grown to like it). So it wasn't necessarily a natural fit for me. But the routines engage both your body and your mind and the music makes you feel like moving. So what is not to like?
This link is one provided by my instructor. You can't get the total feeling by watching a video, but you can see that it's not as difficult as you might think.
Andrea Rowlee is a wonderful instructor - enthusiastic, talented and funny (and also considerably skinnier than she looks here).
I started dragging some of my friends to the class. Then my daughters decided to join us and they brought their friends. That's how much fun it is. Before long, half the class was there because I'd brought them. But everyone talks to each other between songs, so it doesn't matter if you have all your friends and relations there, or not.
The other thing I like about Zumba is that it's appropriate for people of all ages, and you don't have to be especially fit. There are senior citizens in the class, and some of the kids I've brought are 12-13. The moves can be complicated, but our instructor gives some mini demos at the beginning of class. More importantly, if you can't exactly duplicate the move, that's okay. Just jump around to the music and have fun. In fact, we greatly enjoy laughing at ourselves.
No men have been brave enough to enjoy our class (though they don't mind standing outside and peeking in through the windows!). My sister says she has men in her class, and I've seen them online. Zumba was actually started by a man. His story is that he arrived at a fitness class he was teaching and realized he'd forgotten his music and so he started improvising with the music he had.
Has anyone else tried Zumba? What do you think?
9 comments:
So fun to see Zumba being promoted! I teach Zumba here in North Dakota (yes, even Scandanavians can shake their booties), and I always tell my students there's no such thing as right or wrong in Zumba. Beginners should give it 3 tries before they decide whether or not it's for them. Also, try different instructors because everyone has their own style/flavor. :)
North Dakota! Thanks for commenting. It's fun to hear all the places Zumba has reached. You sound like my instructor. I love her positive attitude. And you're right, instructors vary. Not in abilities, but in style.
Looks like fun! I've been wanting to try it for a while but I live pretty far from a town where classes might be. A family member goes to a Zumba class and she loves it too.
I love Zumba! And I also got one of my daughters to go with me, and she loves it, too. It really is fun, and you do laugh at yourself when you don't know the steps.
Gerry, I was surprised when my dds wanted to come. They don't normally do the classes at the health club. But they are devoted Zumba girls now.
Nicole, if it's a long drive, don't try it. You might become addicted and then what? lol
I tried Zumba last May and blogged about it. It was a riot! I didn't join the class b/c it didn't work with my schedule very well, but if I could find a class that did fit, I'd go for it. The music is wonderful and you work up a good sweat. It is a lot of fun.
I heart Zumba! I love many different group fitness classes. I thrive off the people surrounding me, but Zumba?? There is something extra special about the atmosphere. If you ever get a chance and your gym offers Hip Hop Zumba, try it! I absolutely fell in love with the hip hop version.
I recently had to quit my gym and go to a place that was cheaper. Cheaper meant no group fitness classes. I bought the Zumba DVD to do at home, lol.
I've had one guy join our class. The man put all of us women to shame. The man had the moves and, yeah, he was really nice to watch:)
Gabriella, it is a great workout for your body and also your mind because you have to pay attention and your arms are always moving in a different direction than your legs (well, in theory, lol).
Esme, that would be the icing on the cake - some mancandy to enjoy!
Carly, that's exactly the problem I had. Legs and arms going in different directions and not the one the instructor wanted. LOL! But like anything, practice makes perfect. I imagine if you do it regularly, you get the rhythm and the steps, and as you said in your post, as long as you're moving it doesn't matter if it's 100% perfect.
Btw, thanks for stopping by my blog. ( :
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