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| Look how awesome Zumba is! I must head to a class and check this out... |
For a few years I've heard friends and family members tout how amazing Zumba is. High energy, loud music, Latin flair - what could you not love about this? I wasn't sold and I didn't go to any offerings at the gym or invitations to dance my ass off. That is, until this year's weight loss challenge.
I am teamed up with one of my best friends, Shelly, to make up the green team (another couple of my best friends are on the purple team - and we will, of course, kick their asses). Well, Shelly loves to dance and Zumba was a big pull for her the day we signed up at the local Y and found out about the classes. I knew taking the class was an inevitability and, though I tried to be open-minded, I was going in expecting I would hate the course. One class and I was done. At least that's what I expected. Well, I am hooked!
Okay, that's a bold-faced lie. There was no surprise. It is not my ideal workout.
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| What are those straps for? |
The class started and the loud, thumping music began with our trainer decked out in a Zumba-emblazoned shirt and pants with straps hanging off the butt and knees. I believe these straps are meant to emphasize the movement in those areas, because they seemed to serve no other purpose. The entire class the instructor gave no direction about what the next move would be or how to do something, except to point a finger in the direction where we were meant to be. Thankfully I was able to catch on within a couple steps, regardless of the changes. The music was nothing I had heard of and I believe must be Zumba-specific beats (although at the end we did dance to "Single Ladies").
The class jumps and kicks and moves their arms around in big circles and jazz hands and we do some aerobic-type movements that I was familiar enough with. Then... We shimmied. And we gyrated. I never shimmy and seldom gyrate when I'm actually dancing, why would I do that when I'm exercising? Really, how much exercise am I getting when I shake my ta-tas at an alarming rate? I continued working at the movements and giving it my best. After all, I was there because Shelly was really enjoying herself and I love my friend and would not bail on her. As the class went on, I embellished the moves as much as possible - I kicked higher and squatted lower and stood on my toes more than was demonstrated to get the most out of the class. An hour of the pumping and grinding and I was glistening. Shelly and I then went to the upright bike and rode out the rest of our workout time together. I was very content to do so.
10 Things I learned at Zumba
1. I do not like to shimmy. Ever. The girls (those bountiful beauties hanging off the front of me) like to stay where they are and do not enjoy being whipped back and forth in the least bit. At least not in public.
2. I do not enjoy gyrating or bumping or grinding toward a classroom full of other women. Especially since the majority of them I was not attracted to and would choose to neither bump nor grind toward or with them, regardless of the proximity of our bodies or the situation in which we find ourselves.
3. Zumba is a good cardio workout. I probably sweat just as much in the hour-long class as a half-hour on the treadmill and burned about as many calories as 30 vigorous minutes on the upright bike (14-16 mph).
4. I do not workout unless I have a goal. I run on the treadmill to build endurance for roller derby and to work toward the Warrior Dash and future foot races I plan to run. I get on the upright bike to work on endurance and to work toward a bike race and eventually a triathlon (even a smaller one). I lift weights to build leg and arm strength for derby and to stabilize my core. I cardio-dance for no specific reason. If I want to learn to dance, I will take a dance class and not a dance-like aerobics class. If I want to sweat I will jump on the treadmill or head to derby practice.
5. Everyone has their own thing. Zumba is not mine.
6. I enjoy "white noise" workouts. Running on the treadmill, spinning on a bike, roller skating in circles. The constant repetitive movement of my body is like "white noise" and, while others may find it monotonous, to me it has a rhythm that lulls me into my own world. Meditation in movement.
7. I love trying new things. Alright, Zumba is not my cup of tea. Then again, tea is not my cup of tea (as I've found out on several occasions). Nonetheless, it's fun to try things that are outside my comfort zone. I love pushing those barriers. Whether it's taking a new aerobics class or saying hello to a stranger or signing up for a race that I'm not certain I'll be ready for (I'm looking in your direction, Spartan Race...) That's the beauty of life. It's too damned short. Then we die. We might as well make the very most of our time here.
8. Straps hanging off your pants are not a go-to fashion statement.
9. I enjoy dancing. For the sake of dancing and not for the purpose of exercise.
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| At least the woman in front seems to be enjoying herself... |
10. I love my friends dearly and especially Shelly. Shelly and I have a variety of taste in men, clothing, exercise, speech... I love her not just for our similarities but specifically for the differences we have. I love that we are both willing to allow ourselves to explore new experiences with one another because we cherish our individual uniquenesses and we want to share those things.
While Zumba is not for me, I will take the class once in awhile when Shelly wants to and time allows. Until then, you will find me at the free weights.
