Zumba

             Zumba is sweeping across the nation like wildfire and is like a community. Zumba is an amazing dance/workout class and it’s oh so much fun. I always thought it would be scary to try because everyone would be so much better than me, but it’s nothing like that at all. People don’t want to look silly in front of other people and that’s the main reason most people would not join the class. But, I am happy to say that I tried it and loved it. In my Zumba class, there are so many different kinds of people and we all come together for two common goals; we all want to lose weight and want to have fun while doing it, which is what holds the group together. Walking on the stair master for an hour seems like endless torture and Zumba makes cardio fun and exciting. There’s all kinds of people there, young and old. There is this one lady in my class who has to be at least 80 years old and she can shake her hips ten times better than I can! There are extremely fit women and not-so-fit women (like myself). And there are men in the class too! Granted, the number of men in the class compared to women is miniscule, but there are a few who aren’t intimidated by a class full of women, so kudos to them!
             This class is so much fun and the reason it has become a community is because everyone supports everyone. The main goal is to have fun, plain and simple. The music is so upbeat that my sister smiles the entire hour when she’s jumping around and sweating like a pig. Zumba really works for weight loss. My sister has lost 10 lbs. and there is a woman who has reached her goal weight loss of 100 pounds in just 8 months. We all help each other learn the moves and we all encourage one another.
              No one teases you for not getting the moves down right away and everyone only has positive encouragement for others. The first day I tried it, I was having a really hard time with the coordination (I think my motor skills are lacking) and this sweet older lady who can get down said, “Don’t worry about that song because it’s a really hard one.” Her words really made me smile. The instructor always says that you get out of it what you are willing to put into it and it’s completely true. But, when you’re having fun, you want to keep having fun, right? I am happy to say that I have lost 34 pounds all together and I am so glad I am part of the Zumba class community.