Lately, I have been asked many questions about the skill level needed to take Zumba. People have asked me all sorts of questions about necessary levels of fitness or coordination needed in order to take Zumba. My answer is always the same - you just need to have enough strength and courage to be able to walk through the door to your first class. I cannot emphasize enough the fact that I never exercised before I took my first Zumba class. I was so out of shape and averse to exercise that I would drive to the 7-11 in my neighborhood which was only 1 block away! In all of my Zumba classes, there are people of all ages, sizes and fitness levels. Zumba is designed to be accessible to all fitness levels. All you need to do is move to the music. You don't need to follow the teacher exactly or at all. I would say I have a pretty close to 100 percent success rate of going left when the teacher is going right. In one recent class, I was attempting to bend over backward in a bellydancing move and am pretty sure I saw a student practicing her golf swing. I've seen students march in place or sway their arms to the music. I try to keep moving although it is hard sometimes. When I am able to lose myself in the music and just dance, it is truly a joyful experience.
At times, I cannot follow along no matter how hard I try. The Samba music starts playing and my teacher Elena's hips start moving and I think to myself, "Oh, hell no. I'm never going to be able to do that!" Sometimes I just stop and look at her in wonder and think, "Am I at a dance concert at the Kennedy Center or Zumba class?" So I understand everybody's anxiety about going to Zumba and possibly not being able to follow along. I take Zumba nearly every day and can't follow along some of the time! For everyone that is very anxious about taking Zumba, I understand - really I do. Just today, Elena reassured me that she has been dancing Zumba for a much longer time than me (years), and not to get too worried about not being able to do the Samba!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Plunge into Zumba
Although my first Zumba class had been extremely difficult, I decided to return. I felt totally uncoordinated and definitely could not follow all of the teacher's moves, but loved the music and the dancing. My teacher, Tanya Nuchols, was so encouraging too. She told new people to just do whatever they can. Tanya also made me laugh. She would go so wild and crazy during class with her dancing, that she just inspired me to want to dance. Although I was struggling to keep up, I was determined to stay and finish the class. About 20 minutes into class, I was just about ready to pass out. I was also convinced the clock had stopped working. Surely, it hadn't been only 20 minutes! It felt more like a week. Tanya kept me laughing during class, so I kept going. Tanya would encourage me to smile. I remember thinking, "It would be so much easier to smile if only I could breathe!"
After a couple of weeks, I decided to try to go to 2 Zumba classes a week. I was having so much fun. The music was hypnotic and made me just want to move. Tanya was such a wonderful teacher I began to look forward to my classes with her so much. Tanya always said, "It doesn't matter that you follow along exactly as long as you are moving!' When I started going to 2 Zumba classes a week, something amazing happened. My stamina was increasing. I used to be worn out by the warm-up but I could now make it 20 minutes without looking at the clock or thinking Tanya was trying to kill me. Tanya just made the classes be so much fun that I began to forget I was even exercising. I still had trouble moving around in class. I couldn't even bend over during the cool down. As much I had grown to love Tanya as a teacher, sometimes she would demonstrate new moves and I remember looking at her and thinking, "Oh, hell no! There is no way I am doing that!"
As my endurance increased, I became curious about other Zumba classes offered in the Washington, DC area. I learned many places offered a 'first class free.' I tried to take advantage of as many these free classes offered as I could. Well, all I can say is my teacher Tanya was a very act to follow. I took Zumba at lots of places and did not like any of the classes. My friends teased me fairly mercilessly about this situation. Apparently, I was beginning to talk a bit excessively about how much I loved Tanya's Zumba class. People would say my whole face would light up when I talked about Zumba with Tanya. I couldn't help it! I was having a blast in Tanya's classes and beginning to notice changes in all kinds of ways. One day I was reading a book out loud to a five year old friend and made it through the whole book without stopping. I used to get so out of breath doing this, and was embarrassed when I would have to stop to catch my breath. I began to sleep easier at night and also be less stressed out. I began to go through a supply of Advil quickly too!
Perhaps most importantly, I had learned in Tanya's class that exercise could be fun. My entire life I had been given advice to find an exercise I would enjoy in order for activity to become a regular part of my life. Were these people crazy?? Enjoy activity?? So, I began to take Zumba in other places. I was just as scared to go to one of the first classes offered at another facility as I was at my first Zumba class but went ahead anyways. The teacher was very nice and greeted me- a good sign. The class went downhill from there. The music was so soft I could barely hear it. Where was the music that made just want to move? Hmmm. . . The teacher said she liked to keep it soft. Then, the teacher moved us progressively through some calisthenics which brought back vague and disturbing memories of junior high gym class. Then, she had us do jumping jacks followed by running from one side of a very small room to the other. Did I mention there was no music?? The teacher also stopped the class repeatedly to talk at length about various things, which seemed just bizarre to me. I stayed for the whole class just to be polite.
I took classes at several other places but just couldn't find another Zumba instructor that I liked. Some instructors had just very different styles than what I had become accustomed to with Tanya's class. Others were very focused with stopping class repeatedly in the middle of a song to offer corrections or tell me, 'You are doing it wrong.' One of the reasons I loved Zumba was because there is 'no wrong' as long as you are moving. I had grown accustomed to the laughter and fun in Tanya's class and was not finding any of the classes to be as enjoyable. I was convinced I would not find another Zumba class I liked.
I decided to give it one more a try. Although I do not usually read the classifieds, I happened to glance through them one day. Among all the services and things for sale was a tiny ad offering one free Zumba class during a two week period in April at a local dance studio. I was wary of another trying out another Zumba class. After taking so many other Zumba
Full of trepidation, I made one last attempt at finding another Zumba instructor I liked. I went to the class which was at the DC Dance Collective, a dance studio about 15 minutes away. I signed in and stood around thinking to myself, "I can still flee at any moment!' The teacher came in and introduced herself to me as Elena. I liked Elena right away, even though she had not done anything but introduce herself to me! There was just something about her. She put me right at ease and the class hadn't even started yet!
As soon as Elena began the class, I knew she was the one. 5 minutes into her class I was in love with her style of Zumba. Elena smiled constantly and laughed a great deal. She had boundless energy. The music she played was incredible. She was so enthusiastic in her dancing, I could not help but get swept up in all the excitement. I wanted to hop, jump and kick. I could not do everything Elena did but it did not matter. Elena was so encouraging. I remember her telling the class not to worry about following in the same direction as her or on the same foot as her. I felt woefully uncoordinated in all my Zumba classes still, but Elena's encouragement increased my confidence and willingness to try new things. Elena had such a joyfulness about her when she danced. It helped me forget how hard I was working or how out of breath I would get. When my first class with Elena was over, I was very happy. I went up to her to thank her and tell her how much I loved the class, and to ask her if she had any oxygen!
After that first class with Elena, I knew I had to return. I was hooked!! The only problem was I had worked my way up to taking 4 classes with Tanya and didn't want to give up any of those. There was only one solution - more Zumba! I added one class with Elena to my schedule at first. Once I became used to taking 5 Zumba classes a week, I added 1 more with Elena. I took 6 classes for awhile but was beginning to want to take more classes with Elena. Eventually, I worked my way up to taking 4 with Elena and 4 with Tanya per week.
Three months after taking my first Zumba class, and I was now taking 8 classes a week. Sometimes I took only six, and felt like such a slacker. Friends began to worry about me and tell me to ease up, but I did not want to stop. I loved all of my Zumba classes, was thrilled to have found two great instructors, Elena Menshutkina and Tanya Nuchols.
After a couple of weeks, I decided to try to go to 2 Zumba classes a week. I was having so much fun. The music was hypnotic and made me just want to move. Tanya was such a wonderful teacher I began to look forward to my classes with her so much. Tanya always said, "It doesn't matter that you follow along exactly as long as you are moving!' When I started going to 2 Zumba classes a week, something amazing happened. My stamina was increasing. I used to be worn out by the warm-up but I could now make it 20 minutes without looking at the clock or thinking Tanya was trying to kill me. Tanya just made the classes be so much fun that I began to forget I was even exercising. I still had trouble moving around in class. I couldn't even bend over during the cool down. As much I had grown to love Tanya as a teacher, sometimes she would demonstrate new moves and I remember looking at her and thinking, "Oh, hell no! There is no way I am doing that!"
As my endurance increased, I became curious about other Zumba classes offered in the Washington, DC area. I learned many places offered a 'first class free.' I tried to take advantage of as many these free classes offered as I could. Well, all I can say is my teacher Tanya was a very act to follow. I took Zumba at lots of places and did not like any of the classes. My friends teased me fairly mercilessly about this situation. Apparently, I was beginning to talk a bit excessively about how much I loved Tanya's Zumba class. People would say my whole face would light up when I talked about Zumba with Tanya. I couldn't help it! I was having a blast in Tanya's classes and beginning to notice changes in all kinds of ways. One day I was reading a book out loud to a five year old friend and made it through the whole book without stopping. I used to get so out of breath doing this, and was embarrassed when I would have to stop to catch my breath. I began to sleep easier at night and also be less stressed out. I began to go through a supply of Advil quickly too!
Perhaps most importantly, I had learned in Tanya's class that exercise could be fun. My entire life I had been given advice to find an exercise I would enjoy in order for activity to become a regular part of my life. Were these people crazy?? Enjoy activity?? So, I began to take Zumba in other places. I was just as scared to go to one of the first classes offered at another facility as I was at my first Zumba class but went ahead anyways. The teacher was very nice and greeted me- a good sign. The class went downhill from there. The music was so soft I could barely hear it. Where was the music that made just want to move? Hmmm. . . The teacher said she liked to keep it soft. Then, the teacher moved us progressively through some calisthenics which brought back vague and disturbing memories of junior high gym class. Then, she had us do jumping jacks followed by running from one side of a very small room to the other. Did I mention there was no music?? The teacher also stopped the class repeatedly to talk at length about various things, which seemed just bizarre to me. I stayed for the whole class just to be polite.
I took classes at several other places but just couldn't find another Zumba instructor that I liked. Some instructors had just very different styles than what I had become accustomed to with Tanya's class. Others were very focused with stopping class repeatedly in the middle of a song to offer corrections or tell me, 'You are doing it wrong.' One of the reasons I loved Zumba was because there is 'no wrong' as long as you are moving. I had grown accustomed to the laughter and fun in Tanya's class and was not finding any of the classes to be as enjoyable. I was convinced I would not find another Zumba class I liked.
I decided to give it one more a try. Although I do not usually read the classifieds, I happened to glance through them one day. Among all the services and things for sale was a tiny ad offering one free Zumba class during a two week period in April at a local dance studio. I was wary of another trying out another Zumba class. After taking so many other Zumba
Full of trepidation, I made one last attempt at finding another Zumba instructor I liked. I went to the class which was at the DC Dance Collective, a dance studio about 15 minutes away. I signed in and stood around thinking to myself, "I can still flee at any moment!' The teacher came in and introduced herself to me as Elena. I liked Elena right away, even though she had not done anything but introduce herself to me! There was just something about her. She put me right at ease and the class hadn't even started yet!
As soon as Elena began the class, I knew she was the one. 5 minutes into her class I was in love with her style of Zumba. Elena smiled constantly and laughed a great deal. She had boundless energy. The music she played was incredible. She was so enthusiastic in her dancing, I could not help but get swept up in all the excitement. I wanted to hop, jump and kick. I could not do everything Elena did but it did not matter. Elena was so encouraging. I remember her telling the class not to worry about following in the same direction as her or on the same foot as her. I felt woefully uncoordinated in all my Zumba classes still, but Elena's encouragement increased my confidence and willingness to try new things. Elena had such a joyfulness about her when she danced. It helped me forget how hard I was working or how out of breath I would get. When my first class with Elena was over, I was very happy. I went up to her to thank her and tell her how much I loved the class, and to ask her if she had any oxygen!
After that first class with Elena, I knew I had to return. I was hooked!! The only problem was I had worked my way up to taking 4 classes with Tanya and didn't want to give up any of those. There was only one solution - more Zumba! I added one class with Elena to my schedule at first. Once I became used to taking 5 Zumba classes a week, I added 1 more with Elena. I took 6 classes for awhile but was beginning to want to take more classes with Elena. Eventually, I worked my way up to taking 4 with Elena and 4 with Tanya per week.
Three months after taking my first Zumba class, and I was now taking 8 classes a week. Sometimes I took only six, and felt like such a slacker. Friends began to worry about me and tell me to ease up, but I did not want to stop. I loved all of my Zumba classes, was thrilled to have found two great instructors, Elena Menshutkina and Tanya Nuchols.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
From Couch Potato to Double Zumba
4 months ago I was a total and complete couch potato. Not only did I never exercise, I could barely walk to the corner without stopping to rest. Everything hurt when I had to walk somewhere including my back and knees. Somewhere around my 42nd birthday, I went to the doctor for a check-up. The doctor had some startling words for me. Of course, I had heard all of it before, "Lose weight, exercise, blah, blah, blah." We talked about my family history of heart disease. Nothing really settled into my consciousness until she said, "Your father died at age 40 from a heart attack. You are 42." This was very sobering to hear so I decided to do something about it. I was a 'walking heart attack waiting to happen.'
I had lost weight on Weight Watchers before but regained it. I had exercised but always hated it. The gym was so boring. I was too out of shape to attempt joining any kind of sports team, even a recreational one. I lived in a beautiful neighborhood but any walk I took outside always ended up at the bakery or pizza store. So I was desperate for a new form of exercise. I looked on the Weight Watchers Facebook group for ideas for exercise. Someone on this FB group wrote about the joyfulness of Zumba. Exercise=joyfulness??? I was convinced it was a typo. But, I went ahead and sent the poster a message. I will be eternally grateful always to this individual, Christie Hoffman, for introducing me to Zumba. Christie told me how much fun Zumba was and how much she looked forward to it. After talking with Christie, I decided to give it a try.
Conveniently enough, there was a place right near my doctor's office that offered Zumba, the Joy of Motion Dance Center. Hmmm, more joy. I was still unconvinced but I went ahead and called. I was so scared I would be too out of shape, or uncoordinated or too big to even attempt Zumba. The woman I spoke with at the studio could not have been nicer or more encouraging. She encouraged me to come and do my best. I was reassured when I hung up the phone but began to panic within about 2 seconds. I decided to ask a friend to come with me to the first class. I proceeded to make her promise about 30 times that she would not cancel on me. Seriously, I was petrified!
The day of the first class arrived. I remember driving there thinking, "I can still give up this crazy idea!" Somehow, I made it to the dance studio even though every instinct I had was telling me to flee. I opened the door to the dance studio and the first thing I see is two flights of stairs. Ack! I struggled up the steps, arriving out of breath to check in for the class. My friend arrived and we huddled in the hallway. I kept thinking, "I can still go home and eat a hot fudge sundae." But my friend and I went in the class. I stood in the very back, near the door. Did I mention how SCARED I was?
The teacher, Tanya, introduced herself to the class and began the warm-up. About 5 minutes into class, I was convinced I would pass out. Everything was hurting, and I was barely following along. Even though I was struggling, I was shocked to admit to myself I was having fun. Tanya danced with such enthusiasm and joyfulness. It was impossible not to get caught up in the excitement. I loved the music that Tanya played too. I could not breathe and was dripping in sweat, but could not stop moving. I was exercising and happy? This did not compute. After the class was over, I went up to thank Tanya for the great workout. Um, I was thanking her for what now??
The date of that first Zumba class was four months ago. I have fallen totally and completely in love with Zumba. Although I was pretty sure I needed an EMT and a stretcher after that first class, I have worked my way up to taking 7 Zumba classes a week. Last week, I took 3 double Zumba classes. I take Zumba with two great teachers now, Tanya and Elena. I have many adventures along the way and have been requested to write a Zumba blog. If anyone has any questions, please let me know. Thanks!
I had lost weight on Weight Watchers before but regained it. I had exercised but always hated it. The gym was so boring. I was too out of shape to attempt joining any kind of sports team, even a recreational one. I lived in a beautiful neighborhood but any walk I took outside always ended up at the bakery or pizza store. So I was desperate for a new form of exercise. I looked on the Weight Watchers Facebook group for ideas for exercise. Someone on this FB group wrote about the joyfulness of Zumba. Exercise=joyfulness??? I was convinced it was a typo. But, I went ahead and sent the poster a message. I will be eternally grateful always to this individual, Christie Hoffman, for introducing me to Zumba. Christie told me how much fun Zumba was and how much she looked forward to it. After talking with Christie, I decided to give it a try.
Conveniently enough, there was a place right near my doctor's office that offered Zumba, the Joy of Motion Dance Center. Hmmm, more joy. I was still unconvinced but I went ahead and called. I was so scared I would be too out of shape, or uncoordinated or too big to even attempt Zumba. The woman I spoke with at the studio could not have been nicer or more encouraging. She encouraged me to come and do my best. I was reassured when I hung up the phone but began to panic within about 2 seconds. I decided to ask a friend to come with me to the first class. I proceeded to make her promise about 30 times that she would not cancel on me. Seriously, I was petrified!
The day of the first class arrived. I remember driving there thinking, "I can still give up this crazy idea!" Somehow, I made it to the dance studio even though every instinct I had was telling me to flee. I opened the door to the dance studio and the first thing I see is two flights of stairs. Ack! I struggled up the steps, arriving out of breath to check in for the class. My friend arrived and we huddled in the hallway. I kept thinking, "I can still go home and eat a hot fudge sundae." But my friend and I went in the class. I stood in the very back, near the door. Did I mention how SCARED I was?
The teacher, Tanya, introduced herself to the class and began the warm-up. About 5 minutes into class, I was convinced I would pass out. Everything was hurting, and I was barely following along. Even though I was struggling, I was shocked to admit to myself I was having fun. Tanya danced with such enthusiasm and joyfulness. It was impossible not to get caught up in the excitement. I loved the music that Tanya played too. I could not breathe and was dripping in sweat, but could not stop moving. I was exercising and happy? This did not compute. After the class was over, I went up to thank Tanya for the great workout. Um, I was thanking her for what now??
The date of that first Zumba class was four months ago. I have fallen totally and completely in love with Zumba. Although I was pretty sure I needed an EMT and a stretcher after that first class, I have worked my way up to taking 7 Zumba classes a week. Last week, I took 3 double Zumba classes. I take Zumba with two great teachers now, Tanya and Elena. I have many adventures along the way and have been requested to write a Zumba blog. If anyone has any questions, please let me know. Thanks!
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