Tales From A Zumba Newbie

I have been through my fair share of fitness classes.  There was the step class I took in which I was so out of balance I stepped in opposite time to everyone else, there was the water aerobics class in which I nearly drowned, and let’s not even talk about my experiences with hot yoga.  But from the first moment I arrived at the Mallard Creek Recreation Center for my first Zumba class—something changed.  Standing outside waiting for the class to begin I felt none of the self-conscious first day jitters that often accompany many of us new to group fitness classes.  The women attending Zumba seemed to be there not just for the fact that Zumba can burn on average 600 calories in a single hour, but because Zumba meant something to them.  I had always seen Zumba as just another fitness class, but really it’s much more than that.  Zumba is invigorating, and inspiring in a way.  Besides burning 600 calories in an hour, it’s simply put—fun.

Zumba is basically a dance work out.  Using elements from salsa, merengue, hip hop and other dance styles a routine is created to high energy songs.  The moves are repetitive so for the uncoordinated like me, it’s easy to get into the groove of the song without feeling lost the entire routine.  The instructor for the class, Dawn was full of energy and encouragement.  She greeted us all with a hug, like we were long last friends, and by the end of the class I felt like we were.

One thing I never expected from Zumba, was how fun it would be.  During the course of the work-out I found myself SMILING!  Something I’ve never done during a fitness class before.  I looked around at the other women in attendance and saw that they were smiling too.  The positive energy in the class was contagious, and even though we were introduced to a new song with new moves everyone just had fun with it.

Zumba has the ability to change your mood.  The class was Monday evening, and even though Mondays tend to have a notoriously bad rap, by the end of the class everyone looked considerably calmer and happier than they were before starting the class. Zumba certainly changed my mind on group fitness classes. I think too often we let our fears stop us from doing something that would be beneficial to our bodies, especially when it comes to getting fit.  Zumba is a great experience for anyone, and I highly recommend a Zumba class for anyone interested in getting fit—or having fun!

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