Well.. I still haven't gotten around to reviewing my favorite Tuesday/Thursday night instructor, but I do promise to do that this week.
In the meantime, I simply can't wait anymore to announce some exciting news! I mean like exciting to me and hopefully to you as well :)
What started as my quest to "Just shake something" (as Leslie would say) nearly 4 years ago, has turned into more than just a fun fitness class. Zumba has been fun to say the least. But for me it's been finding that inner dancer that a former basketball player couldn't even fathom becoming. Anyone who has ever taken a Zumba class will admit, you let go (for lack of a better visual) when you dance. You burn a heck of a lot of calories. You might look like a fool, well I kinda look like a fool, but no one else really thinks you're a fool, at least that's what I tell myself. Haha!
Anyways, this journey has led me to a point of branching outside of my "back row" comfort zone. Yes, I hang in the back row usually, but for practical reasons. You want to see the instructor to follow her. Well, I'm tall and if you're standing behind me, you likely can't see the instructor. So in the back row, I am allowing many others to be able to follow along nicely.
Well back row no longer. You can be lazy in the back row. You can miss the steps in the back row. You can hide in the back row. Well no more hiding. This former basketball player turned dancer is now licensed to lead Zumba classes. Yes, I said it. I, Andrea Hirth, am a licensed Zumba instructor now and I will begin leading my own classes in like a week and a half. Yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In all seriousness, I am going this route for 2 main reasons:
1. It is totally not me to be bold enough to lead others in dance. Well I need to get bold to grow as a person!
2. While I have lost 40 pounds in the past year due to Zumba and diet, I still have quite a ways to get to the end goal. And I have 5 more years to 40. Fit before 40? You betcha! It is time to loose the rest of it once and for all. And those who have begun leading Zumba classes.... well.... let's just say.... they shrink.... and I wanna shrink!
So there you have it. Cat's out of the Bag!
And where will I be shakin' it at the front? Well for now beginning in September, I'll be at the Briar Chapel Fitness Center (Chapel Hill) on Sundays at 6 p.m. and at the Woodcroft Club House (Durham) on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. I will be selling punch cards. Please do contact me for more information on how to get fabulous discounts on my classes! andrea.hirth@gmail.com
Does this mean I will stop attending my fabulous Zumba pals' classes? Heck no! Who do you think are the best dancers around? Well that would be my favorite Zumba pals of course!!!
Will I stop reviewing other instructors' classes? Well yes, I'm afraid this wouldn't be fair so I have a few more reviews to submit before I begin my own classes. Hopefully I will get them out this week :)
I will continue my blog of course. An upcoming post I look forward to writing is one on pre-Zumba workout food (or liquid in my case).
Ok well whew, that's it for this post. Wish me luck! I'm gonna need it :)
Monday, August 27, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
Can I say Leslie is just awesome? She had a gym full of kiddos groovin' to the beat!
Leslie, Leslie, Leslie.....
Leslie Anderson is one of my favorite Zumba gals. Like me, she lost a significant amount of weight doing Zumba, and she was already hot to begin with. The girl has some abs. Ok, this is not about her hotness. She might shoot me after reading this review :)
In all seriousness, Leslie helped continue Luci's legacy, but she is not defined by that. Leslie had a large following of friends who supported her several years ago when she decided to get certified and begin teaching Zumba class. She was and still is a natural for the "job." She's a great dancer and can put a smile on your face! Her dances are fun and when you look around, you can see how inspiring to others she is.
That following remains today in her classes. Some of her buddies, Jen, Holly and Angela, stand in the front row with her, and along with Leslie, bring a TON of energy to class at 9:30 in the morning. That's right, folks. This class is now at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I am barely awake before noon but somehow these girls get me up and going early.
I actually learned today that Leslie (in her previous life) was on her college dance team. I mean, I am so not surprised. It makes perfect sense to me. She is so itty bitty and has some great choreography that can only come from a true dancer. There is a new song that I'm pretty sure she put together a fun new dance to. I remember the words "when you talk that talk." Anyways, it involves some hip shakes and rolls. And we all know I got some hips to shake and roll. Shake what the good Lord gave you is my thought!
Anyways, after going to Leslie's Friday a.m. class and loving it, as usual, I returned to the reality of the stress of work. I then found out Leslie was leading a Zumba dance party at Pearsontown Elementary School where her 3 daughters attend. I know all too well that my son, Owen, could use some serious one-on-one time with me so we filtered in to a packed gymnasium half-way through the dance party. Owen's face lit up as he saw all the kids dancing around. On the way over, we had talked about the fact that we were going to a dance party and Owen said, "You mean I get to dance with the girls tonight in that other room?" He was referring to the "girls" that I dance with in Leslie's class. He is next door in the child care room. Ok, so it was cute. :)
Leslie was up on stage rockin' it to "Drop it Low" with a bunch of elementary kids. Some of their teachers and parents were on the floor just trying to keep up. Everyone seemed to be into it and even Jen Martin handed out glow sticks to the kids who loved them. I know Owen was happy to be there. As for me, well let's just say we went to get ice cream afterward, so I was just happy for the chance to take Leslie's Zumba class twice in one day.
Leslie Anderson is one of my favorite Zumba gals. Like me, she lost a significant amount of weight doing Zumba, and she was already hot to begin with. The girl has some abs. Ok, this is not about her hotness. She might shoot me after reading this review :)
In all seriousness, Leslie helped continue Luci's legacy, but she is not defined by that. Leslie had a large following of friends who supported her several years ago when she decided to get certified and begin teaching Zumba class. She was and still is a natural for the "job." She's a great dancer and can put a smile on your face! Her dances are fun and when you look around, you can see how inspiring to others she is.
That following remains today in her classes. Some of her buddies, Jen, Holly and Angela, stand in the front row with her, and along with Leslie, bring a TON of energy to class at 9:30 in the morning. That's right, folks. This class is now at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I am barely awake before noon but somehow these girls get me up and going early.
I actually learned today that Leslie (in her previous life) was on her college dance team. I mean, I am so not surprised. It makes perfect sense to me. She is so itty bitty and has some great choreography that can only come from a true dancer. There is a new song that I'm pretty sure she put together a fun new dance to. I remember the words "when you talk that talk." Anyways, it involves some hip shakes and rolls. And we all know I got some hips to shake and roll. Shake what the good Lord gave you is my thought!
Anyways, after going to Leslie's Friday a.m. class and loving it, as usual, I returned to the reality of the stress of work. I then found out Leslie was leading a Zumba dance party at Pearsontown Elementary School where her 3 daughters attend. I know all too well that my son, Owen, could use some serious one-on-one time with me so we filtered in to a packed gymnasium half-way through the dance party. Owen's face lit up as he saw all the kids dancing around. On the way over, we had talked about the fact that we were going to a dance party and Owen said, "You mean I get to dance with the girls tonight in that other room?" He was referring to the "girls" that I dance with in Leslie's class. He is next door in the child care room. Ok, so it was cute. :)
Leslie was up on stage rockin' it to "Drop it Low" with a bunch of elementary kids. Some of their teachers and parents were on the floor just trying to keep up. Everyone seemed to be into it and even Jen Martin handed out glow sticks to the kids who loved them. I know Owen was happy to be there. As for me, well let's just say we went to get ice cream afterward, so I was just happy for the chance to take Leslie's Zumba class twice in one day.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Free Zumba! And twice in one day :)
Clearly it was a busy Zumba day since 2 blog posts are coming out of it. In honor of going to Zumba twice today (and free both times I might add), I decided to do 2 posts. No worries.. this one is much shorter than the first. :)
1. Free Zumba class this morning at Briar Chapel with Tanja Cole.
Tanja is testing Thursday morning classes at 9 am at Briar Chapel so she kindly offered a free class this morning to anyone wanting to try out her class. Let's just say, there were some sweaty ladies there. And I was one of them. She made us work hard with a lot of hip movements and shakin' it. If you haven't ever been to the club house at Briar Chapel, it's really nice. It has hardwood floors and a nice view of the pool and a child room next door. Ahhh. It was a nice start to the day.
2. Free Zumba at Athleta Store at Southpoint Mall with Angie Fernandez of Excel Body Fitness
This evening I went to a free Zumba class being taught onsite in the Athleta Store at Southpoint Mall. It was fast paced and there was a lot of traditional Latin moves being taught. I got a pretty darn good sweat. Angie is a personal trainer so she liked to focus on form and toning of arms with certain movements. Not such a bad thing. May check out her class sometime if I can find a convenient time.
Whew. Long day. Let's just say.. I don't smell so great now. Off to take a shower!
Let's Get Down to the Basics: Getting started with the Zumba Obsession
As promised for far too long, here is my guide to getting started with Zumba. I know so many people out there who secretly want to shake it like nobody's business, but they think they're not coordinated enough or thin enough or have enough energy or time, finances, etc.
Well, I can tell you that excuses never got any of us anywhere! I have been "doing" Zumba on and off for close to 4 years now and it has helped me to not gain too much during pregnancies, help me take off 40 pounds since October of last year (along with diet and Arbonne protein shakes of course), and quite simply help me overcome the waves of life and parenthood. :)
But you don't have to be a parent who needs some sanity or a big girl (or dude) to need Zumba. But if you are like most and you simply want a work out that really doesn't seem like a work out and is way more fun than the treadmill, then let's get started!
Andrea's Let's Get Down to the Basics tips:
1. Shoes, shoes and shoes! Probably one of the most important things you will need in Zumba class is a good pair of dance shoes. And you may likely need a few different pairs or gliders, depending upon the dance surface you are dancing on. A few of my personal favorite brands are Zumba label, Capezio, Bloch and Sansha. There are other shoes out there that will certainly work. In fact some of my instructors and other Zumba peeps wear some regular name brand shoes to class. No worries. You don't have to spend a lot of money on shoes. You will spend about the same amount you would spend on running or cross trainers. The most important thing is that you can spin in them. The less tread the better. So, try them on at a store and spin in them.
There are 2 dance stores in the area that I've purchased shoes from:
1. Dance Design in Ram's Plaza in Chapel Hill 919-942-2131.
2. Releve Dancewear near Crossroads in Cary 919-854-4442
2. Wear clothes that will allow you to move. I typically wear a sleeveless shirt (so my arms can move freely) and yoga pants or capris that move and breathe easily. Some people wear skirts, etc. Whatever makes you most comfy is great. You WILL sweat!
3. No one is looking at you while you dance. That's right. No one is paying you any attention. So it's ok if you don't know what you are doing. Everyone has been or is still there :)
4. Ok this next tip is one that I found incredibly useful personally. However, it is by no means necessary to do in order to attend Zumba classes or pick up the moves. I took a salsa class with the infamous Luci :) I found it great that she taught a variety of Latin moves like salsa and merengue, etc. The basic moves are used often in Zumba classes taught by all different instructors. So, you will see, that although every instructor is incredibly different, I am comforted knowing that I can usually pick up on the song.
5. Some instructors break down the steps before the songs start and some do not. DO NOT FRET. Just because you have never done the dance before and it isn't being taught to you does not mean that you can't do it. Stand and watch the instructor or folks in front of you and you will pick it up. I promise. I think for me it takes on average 5 times watching a dance before picking it up completely. Ask the instructor or someone in class to show you the dance after class. I'm sure they will be more than happy to.
6. Zumba is an exercise class. So don't focus on what you "can't" do but instead on what you can do... shake it! Just keep moving! This point is a favorite one offered from 2 of my favorite Zumba gals (AKA instructors), Leslie Anderson and Tanja Cole. "Just shake something," they would say. :)
My final tips were submitted by Tanja Cole who teaches at Joy of Movement studio in Pittsboro and Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill. Her class is a lot of fun and she can get those girls moving!
7. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Bring lots of water and take small sips in between songs. You'll sweat more than you know and dehydration is not a good thing.
8. Bring a friend. It's always more fun to try something new with a friend. And some classes may offer perks when you bring a friend to class.
9. Have fun. Laugh. Move your body. Don't be afraid to mess up. Don't push your body beyond what it's ready for. It's not about keeping up with the instructor or the gal next to you. It matters more that you let loose a little and move your body to the music and have fun doing this "exercise in disguise". Everone has a first time and if you watch closely, you'll catch the instructor messing up here and there and laughing at herself.
10. Try different instructors. Every instructor has a different personality, prefers different song choices, has a different energy level, instructs differently, and moves their body differently. Find someone you love and stick with it. Consistently come to any zumba class at least twice per week for the best over health/body results. Also try different instructors because you'll get a better workout, since you'll work different muscles in different classes. Go to zumba.com to find classes/licensed zumba instructors near you.
11. Oh my gosh!! I almost forgot to mention that Zumba simply improves your mood. So if you're having a crappy day and the last thing you can do is round up enough motivation to go to Zumba class, well by golly, go!!! I speak from personal experience :) - Andrea
Well, I can tell you that excuses never got any of us anywhere! I have been "doing" Zumba on and off for close to 4 years now and it has helped me to not gain too much during pregnancies, help me take off 40 pounds since October of last year (along with diet and Arbonne protein shakes of course), and quite simply help me overcome the waves of life and parenthood. :)
But you don't have to be a parent who needs some sanity or a big girl (or dude) to need Zumba. But if you are like most and you simply want a work out that really doesn't seem like a work out and is way more fun than the treadmill, then let's get started!
Andrea's Let's Get Down to the Basics tips:
1. Shoes, shoes and shoes! Probably one of the most important things you will need in Zumba class is a good pair of dance shoes. And you may likely need a few different pairs or gliders, depending upon the dance surface you are dancing on. A few of my personal favorite brands are Zumba label, Capezio, Bloch and Sansha. There are other shoes out there that will certainly work. In fact some of my instructors and other Zumba peeps wear some regular name brand shoes to class. No worries. You don't have to spend a lot of money on shoes. You will spend about the same amount you would spend on running or cross trainers. The most important thing is that you can spin in them. The less tread the better. So, try them on at a store and spin in them.
There are 2 dance stores in the area that I've purchased shoes from:
1. Dance Design in Ram's Plaza in Chapel Hill 919-942-2131.
2. Releve Dancewear near Crossroads in Cary 919-854-4442
2. Wear clothes that will allow you to move. I typically wear a sleeveless shirt (so my arms can move freely) and yoga pants or capris that move and breathe easily. Some people wear skirts, etc. Whatever makes you most comfy is great. You WILL sweat!
3. No one is looking at you while you dance. That's right. No one is paying you any attention. So it's ok if you don't know what you are doing. Everyone has been or is still there :)
4. Ok this next tip is one that I found incredibly useful personally. However, it is by no means necessary to do in order to attend Zumba classes or pick up the moves. I took a salsa class with the infamous Luci :) I found it great that she taught a variety of Latin moves like salsa and merengue, etc. The basic moves are used often in Zumba classes taught by all different instructors. So, you will see, that although every instructor is incredibly different, I am comforted knowing that I can usually pick up on the song.
5. Some instructors break down the steps before the songs start and some do not. DO NOT FRET. Just because you have never done the dance before and it isn't being taught to you does not mean that you can't do it. Stand and watch the instructor or folks in front of you and you will pick it up. I promise. I think for me it takes on average 5 times watching a dance before picking it up completely. Ask the instructor or someone in class to show you the dance after class. I'm sure they will be more than happy to.
6. Zumba is an exercise class. So don't focus on what you "can't" do but instead on what you can do... shake it! Just keep moving! This point is a favorite one offered from 2 of my favorite Zumba gals (AKA instructors), Leslie Anderson and Tanja Cole. "Just shake something," they would say. :)
My final tips were submitted by Tanja Cole who teaches at Joy of Movement studio in Pittsboro and Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill. Her class is a lot of fun and she can get those girls moving!
7. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Bring lots of water and take small sips in between songs. You'll sweat more than you know and dehydration is not a good thing.
8. Bring a friend. It's always more fun to try something new with a friend. And some classes may offer perks when you bring a friend to class.
9. Have fun. Laugh. Move your body. Don't be afraid to mess up. Don't push your body beyond what it's ready for. It's not about keeping up with the instructor or the gal next to you. It matters more that you let loose a little and move your body to the music and have fun doing this "exercise in disguise". Everone has a first time and if you watch closely, you'll catch the instructor messing up here and there and laughing at herself.
10. Try different instructors. Every instructor has a different personality, prefers different song choices, has a different energy level, instructs differently, and moves their body differently. Find someone you love and stick with it. Consistently come to any zumba class at least twice per week for the best over health/body results. Also try different instructors because you'll get a better workout, since you'll work different muscles in different classes. Go to zumba.com to find classes/licensed zumba instructors near you.
11. Oh my gosh!! I almost forgot to mention that Zumba simply improves your mood. So if you're having a crappy day and the last thing you can do is round up enough motivation to go to Zumba class, well by golly, go!!! I speak from personal experience :) - Andrea
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Recent Zumba class reviews
So a little late is better than never right? Here is a run down of recent Zumba classes I attended....
1. I went to a class with my friend at O2 Fitness in Chapel Hill and an instructor named Aaron Edwards taught the class. I have to say. Whew! That girl can move. She reminds me a lot of Luci but blonde :) Anyways, it was a blast. I had to stand behind my friend so I happened to be right in the middle of class. Having been the first time I attended that class, I was nervous since I wouldn't know her dances. Luckily her moves made sense and I could follow. I would totally attend this class on a regular basis, however, this was her last class being taught in the Triangle. She is moving out of state. Sigh... A personal favorite was some song that had the words "take your shirt off" repeatedly in it. It was kinda neat because she did a move that kinda looked like taking your shirt off. It was rather liberating! haha.
2. The same week I attended a class with a friend at Lifestyle Fitness in Apex. Wow, I was impressed with the facility. The staff were super friendly, it was a large building with lots of machines with personal TVs on them and the group fitness room was the perfect size for a rock star performing Zumba instructor. I'm not sure who usually teaches the class there, but a sub named Julia taught this particular day. The good news is I did break a sweat and a lot of people seemed to be having fun. However, it was completely different from what I'm used to. You know how I've referenced those "cheesy" songs that sound like they may have come off of some Zumba CD, and you know how I love "booty shakin'" songs? Yeh... well you get the point.
If you were a beginner and wanted to learn the basic steps of salsa, merengue and other latin dance moves, you might be able to pick them up with this instructor. However, there was a lot of repetition and not a lot of moves that flowed well from one to another. I was also surprised with a song was repeated later that we had already done. Anyways, some people seemed to love it and that's all that mattered.
3. I attended a class just the other night at the Brightleaf club house in Durham. While it was a tiny dance floor, it seemed to be just the perfect size for the number of people attending the class. I was excited to try out this class because I checked out this instructor's Web site before I visited her class. She looked spunky based on her profile and a video of a Zumba event she participated in.
Half of the small class had never attended Zumba before. She seemed to cater to that group with her routines. For my cautious Zumba beginner friends out there, I would recommend this class. She will begin teaching on Tuesdays next week. She taught on Monday of this week. Her class time is 7. She does a lot of basic routines that are easy to follow. If you are move advanced, I would recommend you stick with your favorites or the ones I attend led by my favorite Zumba gals! :)
Oh I almost forgot, the instructor over at Brightleaf is Alicia Betancourt.
4. Last but certainly not least, I went over to Infuzion last night to attend class usually taught by one of my favorite Zumba gals (Angela Howell: review to come later on her and my other favorite gals). I was pleasantly surprised to see a sub, the infamous Gaby Zinn. I knew the class would be fun as I attended one of Gaby's classes before over at Meadowmont. This class was a blast! Gaby, well let's just say, another ball of energy, does a lot of authentic latin dance steps in her class. That is what I love about her. I mean I did start out with Zumba because of my love of Salsa dancing! But, even better, she threw in a few hip hop moves/songs here and there. All in all, a great time was had by all in the class. Of course we miss Angela, as she is a favorite, but if we can't have Angela, well we were treated well! I am going to try to attend more of Gaby's classes at other times. :)
So there you have it... recent reviews of others' classes. Hope I didn't leave you too confused. One is great for beginners, the other is great for beginners or more advanced dancers.
BTW, hey ya'll.... do you have any of your own beginner classes to recommend? I have quite a few friends who want to try out Zumba but are looking for pretty basic beginner style classes. If you do, please comment on this post.
Thanks!!
1. I went to a class with my friend at O2 Fitness in Chapel Hill and an instructor named Aaron Edwards taught the class. I have to say. Whew! That girl can move. She reminds me a lot of Luci but blonde :) Anyways, it was a blast. I had to stand behind my friend so I happened to be right in the middle of class. Having been the first time I attended that class, I was nervous since I wouldn't know her dances. Luckily her moves made sense and I could follow. I would totally attend this class on a regular basis, however, this was her last class being taught in the Triangle. She is moving out of state. Sigh... A personal favorite was some song that had the words "take your shirt off" repeatedly in it. It was kinda neat because she did a move that kinda looked like taking your shirt off. It was rather liberating! haha.
2. The same week I attended a class with a friend at Lifestyle Fitness in Apex. Wow, I was impressed with the facility. The staff were super friendly, it was a large building with lots of machines with personal TVs on them and the group fitness room was the perfect size for a rock star performing Zumba instructor. I'm not sure who usually teaches the class there, but a sub named Julia taught this particular day. The good news is I did break a sweat and a lot of people seemed to be having fun. However, it was completely different from what I'm used to. You know how I've referenced those "cheesy" songs that sound like they may have come off of some Zumba CD, and you know how I love "booty shakin'" songs? Yeh... well you get the point.
If you were a beginner and wanted to learn the basic steps of salsa, merengue and other latin dance moves, you might be able to pick them up with this instructor. However, there was a lot of repetition and not a lot of moves that flowed well from one to another. I was also surprised with a song was repeated later that we had already done. Anyways, some people seemed to love it and that's all that mattered.
3. I attended a class just the other night at the Brightleaf club house in Durham. While it was a tiny dance floor, it seemed to be just the perfect size for the number of people attending the class. I was excited to try out this class because I checked out this instructor's Web site before I visited her class. She looked spunky based on her profile and a video of a Zumba event she participated in.
Half of the small class had never attended Zumba before. She seemed to cater to that group with her routines. For my cautious Zumba beginner friends out there, I would recommend this class. She will begin teaching on Tuesdays next week. She taught on Monday of this week. Her class time is 7. She does a lot of basic routines that are easy to follow. If you are move advanced, I would recommend you stick with your favorites or the ones I attend led by my favorite Zumba gals! :)
Oh I almost forgot, the instructor over at Brightleaf is Alicia Betancourt.
4. Last but certainly not least, I went over to Infuzion last night to attend class usually taught by one of my favorite Zumba gals (Angela Howell: review to come later on her and my other favorite gals). I was pleasantly surprised to see a sub, the infamous Gaby Zinn. I knew the class would be fun as I attended one of Gaby's classes before over at Meadowmont. This class was a blast! Gaby, well let's just say, another ball of energy, does a lot of authentic latin dance steps in her class. That is what I love about her. I mean I did start out with Zumba because of my love of Salsa dancing! But, even better, she threw in a few hip hop moves/songs here and there. All in all, a great time was had by all in the class. Of course we miss Angela, as she is a favorite, but if we can't have Angela, well we were treated well! I am going to try to attend more of Gaby's classes at other times. :)
So there you have it... recent reviews of others' classes. Hope I didn't leave you too confused. One is great for beginners, the other is great for beginners or more advanced dancers.
BTW, hey ya'll.... do you have any of your own beginner classes to recommend? I have quite a few friends who want to try out Zumba but are looking for pretty basic beginner style classes. If you do, please comment on this post.
Thanks!!
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