Well, the momentous
day has arrived. Months, nay years, after the rest of the world has embraced
Zumba, I finally make it to a class. I went yesterday lunchtime with 2 women from work
who had also, amazingly, not been to a Zumba class before. One, about my age,
tall (6 ft odd) model slender in a pale and interesting, wraithlike, manner and
somewhat fey. The other, young (20's for God's sake) yummy mummy of 2, dancer's
physique, slender, fit, toned...gorgeous to be honest....sigh.... It was not a
promising start but I gambled that my sheer energetic enthusiasm would blind
them to the likely sweatfest and my general lack of fitness.
As it happened, it
was not too bad. The steps weren't toooo difficult to pick up after years of
aerobics, step, body pump etc etc. If I couldn't quite get it, I just dropped
the arms and wriggled in the approximate direction. I didn't find it exhausting
at all. I was very sweaty round the head and neck, but that is my personal
curse which I have long made my peace with. I felt as though I was working but
not working really hard. It was, what's the word, "moderate" perhaps. I'm not
very good with moderate; it's not really my scene. I tend to like to know that
I've pushed myself to the limit and be able to feel my muscles screaming.
That said, I enjoyed
it and it flew by. It was not painful in the way that Pump class is. I did not
want to weep. I liked the music - latin, reggae, afro, salsa, samba etc very
joyous. The sound system wasn't up to much though - I could have done with a
bit more "ooomff". The teacher was a short, stocky black woman who could really
move - I caught her smirking (in a nice way) a few times at our collective
efforts to shake our booties - but I didn't feel that she connected much and she
didn't foster much spirit in the camp.
On the plus side, I
have been reminded of my African youth and I feel a step closer to being able to
perform in a gangsta rap video! There was lots of hip rotating, bottom slapping
and general wiggling of backsides. I'm told that other classes are totally
different - some more complicated, some more rap/hip hop oriented, some more
latino. it was also nice to see a really broad range of ages, shapes and sizes
taking part.
I will definitely go
back and might try to find a different class for contrast
too.
But I won't be
giving up on my swimming or Pump.
4 comments:
Hmmm, I, too am one of the few people left who have not embraced Zumba, mainly because whenever I do a class which involves a lot of choreography I spend so long trying to get the moves that I don't feel as if I get a proper workout. Your wriggling method sounds like a way forward though :)
Have to say, I thought of you while watching the launch show of Strictly last night - love the lovely ballroom dancing!
Sx
I did it once and thought it was pants but I understand that it varies massively from class to class - my mum LOVES it.
Px
Aww man what a shame that the class was a bit meh! it is such a gamble with the ol zumba, some instructors really hook you and leave you soaked in sweat, others you feel like you've gatecrashed a Keep Fit for Grannies class :)
I've been wondering about Zumba.
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