Zumba Love

Okay, so I was worried for nothing, Zumba was FABULOUS. I bought a monthly pass to go to an unlimited number of classes for the entire month, and I’m totally stoked about it. It was FUN, and definitely didn’t feel like a workout at ALL. I highly recommend!

From the moment we walked into class, (I went with my friend E.) the vibe in the air was tangibly electric. Everyone was upbeat and friendly, and there were a LOT of first timers in the room, so that definitely took the pressure off! They meant it when they said that class would have a variety of ages and sizes in the group, and yes, while there were the obligatory beautiful skinny girls with abs I could only dream about, there were plenty of normal, healthy, curvy women that looked a lot like me. It made me feel a LOT less self conscious about my own body issues, and I could just relax and dance.



That’s what Zumba is – it’s dance. Call it a cross between latin dancing and country line dancing. We salsad, merengued, cumbiad, reggaetoned, and sambad our way through class. Yes, some steps were far too complicated for my white-girl feet to understand, but it was okay – other people were having the same issues and there was TOTALLY no pressure to be perfect. There were two instructors (both so friendly and bubbly I want them to be my new best friends), one for the advanced chicas (who had gypsy scarves on their waists – WANT!) and one for the beginning chicas like me. Yes, I had my moment midway through where I was concerned I might not make it, but I just looked over at my friend, we laughed at ourselves and our two left feet, got a drink of water and pressed on. It was challenging, but it was also fun, and I didn’t feel like beating myself up for being so out of shape at the end. It was a completely attainable goal, and a really fun group of women that I can’t wait to get to know.

Today, I still feel great! I have loads of energy and I’m not sore. Well, I’m a LITTLE achy. But nothing like I thought I was going to be. I’m a little bummed about having to wait till Monday to go back to class, but hey. I’ll make it through!

(And hey, ps, being bummed about NOT being able to go work out? That’s saying something, right?)

ZUMBA LOVE WEBSITE


SHIELDMAIDEN CHALLENGE UPDATE:
You have walked 3 miles.
You have passed Bywater.
It is 4 miles to the next landmark.
You have 455 miles to reach Rivendell.
Little of all this, of course, reached the ears of ordinary hobbits. But even the deafest and most stay-at-home began to hear queer tales; and those whose business took them to the borders saw strange things. The conversation in The Green Dragon at Bywater, one evening in the spring of Frodo's fiftieth year, showed that even in the comfortable heart of the Shire rumours had been heard, though most hobbits still laughed at them.