Well.. I'm finally doing it!! I love to talk and I love to post of Facebook. But let's admit it, not everyone loves to read it. So I'm channeling all my zumba excitement into a blog all about zumba. Ok, it's starting out as all about zumba, but as it's my lifetime goal to get more active (or stay active) and get in shape, it may branch out from here. But for now... it's all things zumba! Enjoy the ride.... and please... please.... please.... participate and share your thoughts and advice on zumba.
My only rule here is that I will strive to always stay positive. While I'll review on some zumba classes that I may simply think were a waste of time, I'm going to tell you why it's a waste of time, but not really say it's a waste of time. Catch my drift? The bottom line is anyone can zumba. And to all you brave zumba instructors out there, it is way hard to stand in front of the mirrors and lead a group.. more props to ya! It is hard to remember how the heck the damn song starts at times :)
And it won't be a complete first zumba post without publicly thanking and plugging my all-time favorite local zumba instructors. They have taught this basketball player (ok former basketball player) how to dance! So thank you Luci Pestana, Leslie Anderson, Angela Howell, Jen Gillie and Tanja Cole! You girls rock! Wait... isn't that a "zumba song"... "Rock that body".....
Love your blog. I am trying to diversify my workout schedule by incorporating a variety of fitness activities. I walk and hike (Stone Mountain) but trying to get into Zumba. I love to dance, absolutely love it and my friends and family tell me I have rhythm, so I thought I would enjoy the hip hop aeorbics class at my gym. . . .WRONG, I learned I am good enough dancer when I freestyle but when I have to follow instructions, I tend to look rhythmless. So then the gym started a Zumba class and I kept hearing people ranting and raving about zumba. Everyone would say "if you like to dance, you will love Zumba". Great, I was at the first class, minutes into the first routine, I was dancing like this was my first time on the floor. So I said all of that to say, I want to love Zumba but I can't follow simple instructions. When teachers says go right, I go left when the class is bending down by the time I get down they are back up, etc. I went to another class and said okay I am just going to freestyle to the music (just as long as I am moving right) WRONG, then I look like the crazy lady in the corner, dancing to her own "music". HELP ME!
ReplyDeleteCharlene,
ReplyDeleteThanks for being the first official commenter on my blog! Very exciting to get to answer your question. A few thoughts come to mind when I read your story...
1. I have to say that most everyone looks like it is their first time on the dance floor when they first try zumba the first few times. In all seriousness, you watched someone at some point enough times to learn how to free style. :) Stand at the back, but where you can see the instructor, and give it at least 5 more tries. Before you know it, you'll be following the instructions and you will love it. Believe me, not being a dancer, us "non-dancers" are envious of you all because you have the moves and can pick it up. We can pick it up too, sometimes it takes us longer. Every time one of my instructors introduces a new song, it takes me quite a few times before I get it usually. Just ask one of them. Haha!
2. I first learned how to "zumba" after taking a salsa class with one of my instructors. After learning the basic salsa and other latin dance steps in that class, it was easy to put it all together on the dance floor, and even more fun to do it to hip hop music. I would recommend finding a salsa lesson somewhere and taking it. It will surely help.
3. On a final note, not all instructors and classes are alike. Maybe try a few different instructors and you may just find a style that you like better and can free style to.
I hope this helps. Let me know how it goes!
Andrea