This is a story of a student of ours, on her experience with her first Zumba Class!
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I first heard about zumba from a friend of mine who was so desperate on losing some weight. I was not enticed to try it at first because I was dedicated to the ‘workout method.’ I wasn’t sold out that this so called zumba is effective, not until another friend of mine began to shape up some curves after secretly attending zumba classes for months.
So I thought, ‘Why don’t I give it a try?’
But, I didn't totally jumped into the pool yet. What I did was, I downloaded some zumba class videos from the internet and began trying it out myself. My first impression was not really good. I thought that it was as if I was making a fool out of myself; good thing I was the only one on my room.
As a person who was fond of doing the gym sessions, I had a hard time leveling off with this new environment. The instructor or the lead dancer did not talk much as compared to the gym instructors; it seemed like the lead dancer and his students have an invisible connection. The songs were fast and foreign; there were a couple of
Latin and Spanish songs I think. Aside from being confused with the lyrics, I was also constantly surprised by the sudden transitions of the different dances of zumba; which I was totally clueless about.
And the most intriguing part of it was that the students seemed to be really having fun. They were laughing, smiling, and totally into it. I thought, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ and ‘What’s up with these people?’
The following days, I approached my friend who, as I claimed, was a proof of its effectiveness. I told her how funny my first zumba session was and her reaction was not what I expected. She laughed at me and said that she can totally relate. Before we parted ways, she strongly advised me not to stop and give it some time. She said that I should feel the music. I, on the other hand, just simply raised my eyebrow as if she just blurted out a ridiculous statement.
But I followed her anyway.
On the following sessions, I tried my best to loosen myself. I tried to feel the music as what my friend said. Sessions after sessions, I observed that the dances were not really difficult, in fact, all of them were quite simple.
I learned that the reason why the students on the videos were smiling was because they were simply having fun. They were not conscious if they were not good at dancing. They just simply do it.
Aside from that, I also learned the names of the different zumba dances such as; meringue, samba, hip-hop, cha-cha-cha and tango. My personal favorite was samba, I find it as the funniest and the most challenging dance since I am not really good with moving my hips. Meringue, on the other hand, was my least favorite because it usually have actions that corresponds to the drum beats and I find it difficult.
As I became fond of doing zumba, I decided to enroll and take some actual zumba lessons. It was a great decision. I realized that zumba is really a great way of healthy living regardless of your age. Its effectiveness was evident and really differs from workouts. Below are some of my observations:
- Social connection. I observed that I am more likely to gain new friends in zumba classes than in workouts. The atmosphere between the two classes are really different;
- In workouts, it is as if there is this small barrier or limit between the relationships of each person. Each one are so focused into counting one to eight and then reverse. All are conscious on the breathing patterns and proper positions and executions.
- In zumba classes, it will not be an issue if you can perfectly execute the dances. The personal space of each student is comparably smaller and the mood of the class is just simply friendly.
- Motivation. I don’t know if you will agree on this but when I do push-ups, curl-ups and all other workout moves, it feels like an obligation ice cream with a little sprinkle of punishment on the top. Zumba sessions, on the other hand, feels like a party where your friends would confidently do random actions.
- Body movements. While I only use specific parts of my body in a particular part of a workout session; in zumba, I use my entire body all throughout the class.
- Time consumed. With workout sessions, it normally took me just around 10 minutes to sweat and to catch my breath as if I had just ran on a marathon with barking dogs behind me. 40 minutes later, I would have probably changed into two or three extra clothes. With Zumba sessions, the classes are longer and I would only change my clothes twice; during the break and before I go home.
Zumba class is truly fun and it has a lot of types too. You can choose from; zumba fitness (the standard class), zumba sentao (with a chair), aqua zumba (in the water), zumba kids (of course for kids) and a lot more.
Zumba may not burn you as much as the workout session does but it is still effective. John Porcari, Ph.D., of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse said that ‘It is a total-body exercise; a good, high-energy aerobic workout…’
I am just one of the more than 10 million people of more than 110 countries who tried and enjoyed zumba. Surely, I did not have a great start off but what I experienced and realized on the latter part totally overruled my first impression. It will not only boost your confidence but will also improve your overall figure.
So, would you like to feel the music? Come join us at
zumbasg
