Afraid of Zumba? Just shake it ‘til you make it!
Julie Bitely
| 2 min read
Think Zumba is only for the rhythmically gifted? My two left feet can personally attest to how wrong you are.
I recently shook off my inhibitions and inclination toward my favorite dance move, the wallflower, to try the dance-based workout. If you’re not familiar, Zumba is like interval training, except the intervals are made up of fun dance moves set to mostly Latin and international music.
Traverse City instructor Angie Pierce teaches sessions at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, Munson Medical Center, and Nourish Nutrition Club. She organized the first ever Zumba by the Bay at this year’s National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, of which I took part.
Pierce offers sage advice to dance-averse newbies.
“I say just try it. If you just keep moving, it doesn’t matter,” Pierce advised before class.
She’s had participants in their 80s who love their Zumba time.
“Anyone can do it,” she said. “I feel like everybody has that beat inside them.”
So, how did I do?
Well, I didn’t always make the right turns. My shaking abilities are, um, questionable. In the world of internet memes I would definitely be the “what you really look like doing Zumba” picture.
However, from the moment the outdoor class started until the last beat dropped, I realized I’d had a huge grin on my face the whole time. The music, the energy from other dancers, and the movement – as awkward and ungraceful as mine may have been – really did stop me from thinking too much about looking like a fool. In short, Zumba was a blast!
And if that wasn’t enough, knowing I can burn up to 1,000 calories per class might just have me looking for a local Zumba class in Grand Rapids.
Ever tried a fitness trend you weren’t sure about and lived to tell the tale? Tell us about it!
Photo credit: Julie Bitely
