Wait...what? Zumba?

[darkemeralds]

My life takes some funny turns. I surprise myself with surprising frequency, especially considering how many years I've had to get used to myself.

This bike thing, for instance: I did not anticipate commuting to work by bike 98% of the time, and I certainly didn't foresee owning two bikes and letting a perfectly decent car die in the driveway from disuse. I had no idea how much bike riding would change my life.

Then there was this losing weight thing. I had decided it was impossible, and had stopped thinking about it (sort of). As recently as October 16th last year, if you'd said I'd be almost 50 lbs lighter by April, I would've guffawed, but on October 17th, I set out on this journey.

Well, one thing about losing quite a bit of weight after a certain age is that the lack of firm substrate under the newly-loosened skin becomes really apparent. I've been thinking about expanding my exercise from biking and walking to, you know, exercise exercise. The kind that "tones and firms". Weights and stretches and things.

So yesterday I was inquiring about the workout room in my office building, which I haven't set foot in for more than five years, and my good pal Todd said, "Whatever you do, don't get involved with Zumba."

I'm all, "Huh?" Because I apparently do not actually live in this world. The fateful moment ticked over when I googled it. "Ditch the workout. Join the party." I was mesmerized.

I haven't actually started Zumba-ing yet, but I'm going to. I've found a set of convenient classes. I've ordered shoes (because none of the footwear in my collection--neither flip-flops, nor bare feet, nor Doc Martens, nor walking shoes, nor high heels--is appropriate for Zumba). I've identified some clothes I can wear. They're black, and they cover me up.

This is not the same as a few weight-lifting routines and stretches and crunches (my go-to-the-gym standard). This is dancing. Okay, it's not ballet. But it involves a degree of coordination--not to mention a degree of physical freedom--that I just don't have. Of all the many things dance requires, I have only these: I know left from right, and my rhythm's not bad.

But I'm large, I'm clumsy, I'm easily confused by instructions about my feet and arms, and I learn physical movements only very slowly. Despite the cycling, I'm not in terrific aerobic shape. What's more, I'm what you might call incredibly uptight reserved, and though I love the idea of shakin' my groove thang, translating that to an actual shaking of said groove thang is gonna be a huge leap.

...to be continued, I suppose. Anyone who's experienced Zumba: tell me about it.

Comments

[pennywhistle]

I've loved Zumba for years, but this year I've really hit it hard since I have a membership for unlimited classes.

I LOVE ZUMBA. It will definitely help you tone and continue losing weight.

It's a mix of latin dance and bellydancing. Depending on the class, they may not teach you the steps before, but just go right into the routine and expect you to keep up. But if you talk with the instructor after class, they're usually willing to show you steps like salsa, meringue and cumbia.

Enjoy it!

[darkemeralds]

Oh, thanks! It's good to know that you've enjoyed it enough to stay with it for a long time.

I appreciate the tip about talking with the instructor after class. I've also found a good video on Youtube that introduces three of the basic steps (salsa, reggaeton and...oh! que te mueve, that's it) that might conceivably even be simple enough for me. I'm such a klutz that I'm even nervous about trying them in the privacy of my own living room!

[karen_jk]

I absolutely love Zumba. It totally depends on the teacher, though...if the teacher's good, the class will be good. Don't get discouraged if you don't get all the steps the first time...it takes a few classes. I am pretty good at Zumba because my sense of rhythm is good and I took a lot of salsa, rhumba, and merengue...but you can learn the steps you need to know.

It's an awful lot of fun. And you can be a bit conservative with it or wild and out there, depending on how you feel that day. :)

[darkemeralds]

Thanks! I'm tempted to say, "Oh, I'll be one of the conservative ones in the back row" but I've surprised myself so much lately, who knows? Maybe I'll pick it right up and let myself go wild. Seriously, stranger things have happened.

[vampirefan]

oooo!! this sounds like fun!!

you know how i said i was going to start working out again? well, i didn't. lol

but, monday, t and i are going to check out a cardio kickboxing class! and we'll probably sign up so it will be 3 times a week! we'll have to compare notes :)

[darkemeralds]

Do I detect a revival of jossercise in the air?

I can't wait to hear what you think of kickboxing! We will definitely have to compare notes. Woo hoo! This will be fun!

[somnolentblue]

Random person via network, but I've just started hitting Zumba classes. I have no sense of rhythm, I have no idea what I'm doing (although I'm a lot more comfortable now than when I started), and sometimes I take breaks amidst all the bouncing about. That being said, I've found it a lot of fun, because we're mostly all just flailing about together and because I never get any kind of judgmental vibe. Skill level and ability vary a lot in the classes, and that seems to be okay.

I completely second the above mentioned advice about trying different teachers. There are a handful of them at the place I go, and they all have different styles: I really like the styles of two, like a third, dislike a fourth, and haven't tried the fifth (although I suspect, based on what I've heard, that I wouldn't be a fan).

[darkemeralds]

Always nice to see a Random Person Via Network!

Really, I'm just ridiculously terrified of "doing it wrong" when it comes to anything that harkens back to PE classes, if you know what I mean. I'm so glad to know that it's okay to flail about.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience.

[tehomet]

I am large, clumsy, have no rhythm at all (I'm like Fraser), and don't actually know my left from my right. *blush*

But I just took my first dance class last week, and I swear to you, although it can be embarrassing in the beginning when one is just completely clueless, even an hour's persistence pays off - it's worth doing and it's not as hard as it looks.

In fact, it's fun!

[darkemeralds]

You too? That's awesome! You seem like a more intrepid person than I am, but your encouragement removes a little of my own trepidation. Thanks!

[tehomet]

I'm not going to Zumba classes, just learning to dance. Street dance to start with and I may take a bellydancing class in future.

I'm not more intrepid than anyone - I just have always wanted to learn and I put it on my list for this year, thanks to you! So right back at you. :D

[darkemeralds]

Yay for mutual inspiration!

[executrix]

I'm trying to establish a habit of going to the gym twice a week to do the exercise bike for cardio and Lift Heavy Things, but my membership includes free classes, and they have Zumba on Wednesday nights. So far I keep coming up with reasons to not be there, but I'm planning to at least try it. For me the sticking place isn't "dance classes," which I like, but Latin dance music, which I'm not crazy about.

Also, I suspect that a lot of people will be dancing barefoot or in socks--it's a workout class, after all.

[darkemeralds]

Latin beat and hip-hop aren't my first choice of music for listening, but I have to admit that they are fantastic inducements to get up and move around.

We'll have to compare notes if we both go!

On the footwear, from everything I've been able to read, socks are dangerous because of the sliding, and there's a good deal of "you can't do Zumba barefoot" because of the impact. One instructor wrote that someone showed up in her class wearing Vibrams and was tsking over it because of the lack of support and cushioning.

She spoiled her argument a little by saying, "If you have Vibrams, save them for running." LOL.

On balance, I went with approved dance-aerobic shoes because they seemed a safer bet, were less expensive than Vibrams, and were easier to find in my size.

I still want some Vibrams, though, just because they're weird.

[ktnb]

I've never done Zumba, but everyone I know who does it loves it. So, I'd say you made a good decision. :)

[darkemeralds]

I feel remarkably out of touch for never having so much as heard the word "Zumba" before yesterday. That's what comes of turning off the TV, I guess (people assure me that Zumba, Inc. or whatever runs a 24-hour-a-day infomercial). What sort of amazes me is that in all my posting and web-searching on matters relating to bike-riding and weight-loss, and in all my many-per-day forays to Livestrong to record my fitness activities and calories, Zumba has never come up as a Google ad.

It's kind of conspicuous in its absence, now that I think about it.

Ah well. I've discovered it now. And any day now, talk will become action. Thanks for the encouragement.

[ktnb]

It's weird - I hadn't heard of Zumba until people at work started doing it, and then I suddenly saw it everywhere. I haven't seen the commercials but then, I don't watch a lot of TV. :)

Via the network

[rydra_wong]

I am not a Zumba person as I am also incredibly uptight, but if you're getting into any form of exercise, you might find exercise_every_day useful and supportive.

There's also lifting_heavy_things for strength training.

Re: Via the network

[darkemeralds]

Thank you! I found exercise_every_day via a search on Zumba in Interests (to my surprise, one of only three journals that came up), but I hadn't discovered lifting_heavy_things yet, so will check it out.

[starfishchick]

Awesome. I think everyone I know who does Zumba really likes it. (And they all seem to think they are flaily and terrible at it.)

Have fun!

[darkemeralds]

LOL! Thank you. You're confirming what several other people have said. And you know, in looking at some of the videos online, I've finally noticed that behind the professional instructors there are ranks of Zumba-ers who are flailing to varying degrees, and who still seem to be having a wonderful time.

I'm looking forward to putting on my dancing shoes and making a start.