Why I love Zumba

I've been involved in fitness for nearly 10 years.  I enjoyed running and lifting weights.  Ocassionally, I participated in group fitness classes.  I've also probably tried every workout imaginable including yoga, pilates, spin, Kangoo, Kettleball, etc.  However, I never committed myself to any of these for longer than a couple of months.  I would get bored or side tracked by more tempting things like happy hour.  In January of 2010 I found myself at the Sports Club LA looking again for a new workout or something different to motivate me. 

I heard about Zumba from a friend of mine, but I had no idea what it really was.  I saw that Zumba was being offered at my new gym and so I decided to give the class a try.  I took my first Zumba class with Wil-son Williams and fell in love with the class.  How could I have known about this sooner?  Where has Zumba been all my life? His music and moves transported me from the gym out onto the dancefloor at a club.  Not only did I have a blast but I felt like I got a really great workout.  I'm a pretty hardcore chic when it comes to working out.  I want to be pushed to the max and I definitely felt challenged by this workout.  I became one of Wil's followers and found my motivation for working out. 

My financial situation changed once I quit my full time job and I could no longer be a member at Sports Club LA.  Ahhhh, the sacrifices....  I quit my full time job to pursue my passion of being in the health field.  I decided to teach fitness part-time while I pursued Nursing School.  When I thought about what I would teach, Zumba was at the top of the list.  I never thought I could be a dance fitness instructor.  After all, I never had any sort of formal dance instruction or training.  However, I loved to dance and I loved fitness.  I think that applies to most people.  The awesome thing about Zumba is that it is for everybody no matter how much dance experience you have or what your fitness level is.  I've seen women of all ages (as old as 85 and as young as 8) having a blast shaking their booties to the "Wiggle Wiggle" song.  I can't think of anything else where I've seen so many different people having this much fun and getting a great workout at the same time. 

I've seen Zumba form new friendships.  Students start to bond with one another and become like family.  I've also noticed that among Zumba instructors there is a huge network of support. Instructors will come to others events or share choreography.  I'm really impressed by how Zumba has attracted a particular type of instructor who is caring, fun, and supportive. 

Now to the most important reason why I think Zumba is awesome is because it is such an effective workout for weightloss.  When I started taking Zumba classes I was 160 pounds at 5'5".  I've lost a little over 20 pounds since then and lost several sizes in my clothes.  I fit into things today that I haven't fit into since my "skinny days," but they fit even better because I've lost more inches.  Zumba is not just a cardio workout, but is intermittent training which spontaneously changes between high and low intensity.  This spontaneous change will constantly keep your muscles challenged.  The challenge your muscles experience effects your metabolism as you begin to build more lean muscle.  Remember that muscle burns fat and the shrinking begins!  Several of my students that are consistent with 4-5 Zumba classes a week have experienced weight loss from 5-15 pounds in 3-5 months.  I still can't believe I'm losing weight and getting in shape by dancing.

Lastly, I love the music.  Zumba is excellent if your love for music expands beyond the continent because you can use all types of music including Calypso, Cumbia, Arabic, Salsa, Hip Hop, Samba, Merengue, and Reggaeton.  What makes a good Zumba song for me is good bass, a fun beat, a little sexy, and a bonus if there are a few theatrical elements like in "Mueve la Colita." 

I know that Zumba changes lives because I witness it everyday changing the lives of my students.  It has also changed my own life.  If you go to a Zumba class, you'll know why we always say "Zumba Love."