Free Fitness Week: Zumba

“Ok!Is everybody ready? Let’s go,” a young female instructor yelled out from the front of the room.

“No,” I muttered to myself, but the music began anyway, blaring over my inner dialogue that had me questioning why I had shown up for the class. I’m not a fitness junkie. Occasionally, I might go for a casual run, but only after I’ve ignited some guilt about neglecting my body. But when I came across the advertisements for the free classes, I figured I had nothing to lose. Besides, there’s nothing like a new school year to delude yourself into believing that you can change your ways. Exercise seemed like the perfect new hobby to pick up half-heartedly.

Despite my initial concerns, the fifty minutes passed quickly, and I even found myself enjoying the class to my disbelief. Pam, our instructor, slowly demonstrated the moves, and I diligently attempted to copy them. With a view of myself in the wall of mirrors at the front of the room, I began to critique my own form as I fell behind the instructor’s quick pace. I clearly wasn’t a professional dancer, but Pam’s upbeat nature and her constant encouragement kept me trying throughout the class as I struggled to make my body move as effortlessly as she did. The instructor is perhaps the most important factor of a Zumba class, as the music and the dance routine are completely at her discretion. Pam’s enthusiasm kept me going, and her energy made me forget that I probably looked completely uncoordinated.

By the end of the class, I felt good. I had broken a sweat and felt that I had gotten a decent workout. Don’t get me wrong – Zumba is not on the same full-body workout level as a good run outside, and I would hardly call what I had just done intensive cardio. For those of you out there who are new to working out or find more traditional forms of exercise boring, this is the class for you. The constant movement does burn some calories, and the focus on dancing makes the exercise feel more like a party than a run of the mill “fight the flab” session. It is the kind of class you’d like to invite friends to attend. As the music is playing, you can each make your best efforts to dance along and laugh with (or at) each other.

Which leads me to my next point: Don’t be so obsessed with watching yourself in the mirror. You may struggle with the moves, but Zumba is more about reveling in the experience. No one is expecting you to shake it like Beyoncé during your first class. Yes, you may get lost once or twice – salsa steps left me feeling like a twisted mess of arms and legs – but there is a distinct sense of fun. Regardless of whether you’re a merengue expert or cha cha newbie, Zumba is an amusing way to burn off those late meal calories.