ZUMBA Baby!

Making Changes

This week I was waiting with great anticipation to change my exercise routine. The exercises I’ve been doing are becoming increasingly dull and lackluster. To make a change I remembered how much I love dancing! Whenever my husband asks me what we should do for date night I’m looking for a local dance venue to shake things up. I really don’t care what I look like doing it. I’m not a professional dancer by any means. I just love to feel my body move and work up a sweat. I also admit being a Dancing with the Stars junkie. My daughter Kelly and I can’t wait each week for a new episode.

I think that for all of us there’s something we wish we could do or be something we admire in someone else. Dancing and ice skating were two such things for me. I envisioned myself moving to the beats or gliding effortlessly on the ice. I grew up watching Fame and Dorothy Hamill. The ice skating idea behind me, dancing is still a favorite since I love music, movement, people and the bright lights of the night.

The need for a routine change led me to ZUMBA! At first I researched what this dance/cardio craze was all about. I had seen numerous ads on television, in my e-mails and on my facebook page for these classes. Once I knew what I wanted to do I sent out a question to my facebook friends asking if they knew what it was like. My friend Alyce, who’s an amazing aerobics instructor herself at a local Level 1 gym in Michigan, suggested a friend who was teaching a ZUMBA class near my home.

What Is It?

The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Zumba® is one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate.

The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you've got a Zumba® class!

History

Celebrity fitness trainer, "Beto" Perez, stumbled upon the concept of Latin-inspired dance-fitness in his native Cali, Colombia in the mid-‘90s.

One day, he walked into his aerobics class and realized he had forgotten his aerobics music. Thinking quickly, he grabbed whatever tapes he had in his backpack. Beto's tapes were comprised of songs he loved, the traditional Latin salsa and merengue music he listened to all his life. But it was a challenge to improvise a whole class on the spot using non-traditional aerobics music. Beto rose to the challenge and from this last-minute improvisation a revolutionary new concept in fitness was born – the Zumba Fitness-Party™! The class soon became the most popular class at his fitness facility.

Where To Begin

First of all you have to leave your inhibitions at the door. Forget about everyone else in the room and concentrate on your own rhythm and love for music. At first I admit I was a bit apprehensive about trying it out. Was I coordinated enough? Could I get through the entire class without collapsing? What would others think of me? I just turned 46 and age is always in the back of my mind when I attempt anything. My head says yes, my body sometimes says no.

My worries soon dissipated once I got to the Dance Studio. The room was larger than life and the mirrors went the entire length of one wall. I was going to see myself dance and move for the first time. I wasn’t sure I wanted to look at myself move but I did take a few peeks.

It was a great feeling knowing that women of every age, size and race were taking this class. Some of the women I talked to were regular participants of ZUMBA. Mothers and daughters, friends, and people going solo like me were excited to get started.

The Dance

Nancy G. was our instructor and started by explaining the dance moves before each sequence. After we learned a couple of simple steps she started the music. WOW! The music was heart pumping, fun, exhilarating and got me going. I felt an excitement building inside of me that I hadn’t felt in a very long time and I felt the energy of everyone else involved. We were dancing! I felt every muscle in my body and did things I didn’t even think I could do. I was smiling and laughing at my mistakes and finding enjoyment in exercise once again. I was admiring Nancy and how well she could shake her body on the dance floor. Nancy kept us motivated and moving. After each sequence we got a few seconds to drink some water then it was back to new steps and music.

By the time the class had finished I was drenched in sweat and the hour had passed. I believe Nancy had mentioned if we had put into the routine what we were supposed to we would have burned 638 calories. Oh, Yes!

After The Workout

The funny thing about this whole process is that now I’m practicing shaking my booty in the mirror (just like Nancy said I would do) and feeling my own flexibility. I didn’t feel these things the day before. My husband appreciates it. I am excited about it. Life is good.

I now have a new appreciation for dance. I know that it’s all about my interpretation to the music and how fun I want it to be. I’m grateful for having decided to take the plunge and try something different. Incorporating something fresh into my daily routine has also helped me get over a fear. Like so many countless others who have started a Bucket List this was one thing I wanted to cross off of mine, to feel the dance. It was worth every move I made.

Find a ZUMBA class near you. If you’re ever in Macomb Township, Michigan you should try and look up Nancy G.

Please feel free to e-mail me at mtrombley1@comcast.net for any information or questions you might have. I can pass your ZUMBA questions onto Nancy or tell you more about my experience. You can also post your comments on my blog. I’d love to hear from you.