I just have to share this because I too am a fan of Zumba. We have one instructor here on base, Elaine, whose non-judgmental and infectious enthusiasm always makes me glad to be in class, even if I’m slipping in my own sweat and achy the next morning.
Unlike a dance class, Zumba takes you where you’re at and isn’t so much about getting the “right” moves as it is about getting you to just move. Although our classes range greatly in age and ability, we all find common steps to follow and then add our own flavor.
The salsa, cumbia, merengue, cha cha, and reggaeton music really gets you moving. Even if I’m just playing the music at home I get an urge to move. And frankly, most of us do just need to be inspired to move. Obesity is no joke, folks, so Zumba the calories away!
I like to tell people that half the calories burned are from laughing at yourself in the mirror. A friend once asked me why I looked so stern in class sometimes and I realized it was because I was trying desperately not to start laughing because once I start, well, that’s it. Nowadays I try to keep my face relaxed, and if I need to giggle, I let it happen.
