I have a confession.
I am a Zumba addict.
I discovered Zumba almost 2 years ago, after spotting an ad in
the local paper offering Zumba classes at a school hall, a mere 2 minutes from
home. Two prior injuries had stopped me doing anything more energetic than
hanging out the washing and walking the dog, so it’s fair to say I approached
the first class with a certain amount of trepidation. Could it really be as fun
as the ad said? I’m pretty sure that the TV ads lie about exercise. All
that exercise equipment they tell you will fold up and neatly fit under the
bed? Not true. Those washboard abs you get from rocking side to side on what
looks no more scientific than a swivel chair? Doesn’t happen.
From the minute I walked in the door of the hall and saw that
the Zumba class was a) just like a party – disco lights and all, and b)
filled with REAL people not posers, I was hooked. I danced up a storm, possibly
not in time with the music or in the same direction as anyone else, and worked
all my sorely neglected muscles. I left that first class on such a high–
co-ordination be damned!
For three days afterwards everything hurt. Anyone who thinks
Zumba is just a bit of fun dancing should try a Zumba class with Shereen
Oliver. A personal trainer and fitness guru, she makes sure her classes give
you a proper workout. I had pain in places I didn’t know existed.
Week after week I went back. I would dance on the sidelines, so
enraptured with the skill and enthusiasm of instructor Shereen that if she made
eye contact with me I would forget what I was doing and give her my best
demonstration of how NOT to do the moves. My history of short loved passions
meant I would probably give it three months and then abandon it, and yet the
love for it grew.
Over time I grew fitter and more confident. My dancing didn’t
improve that much; I just wasn’t as embarrassed to make mistakes. I was having
fun and working hard, who cared if I would never look as good or coordinated as
Shereen? I added Zumba Toning to my week, and started building some strength as
well as cardio fitness.
Shereen became a good friend who introduced me to some amazing
people who inspire me on a daily basis with their health and fitness
achievements. She can still throw me off my game when she aims her dazzling
smile my way, clearly I may never develop the skill to stop concentrating even
momentarily, but I can live with that. My ability to sing along to songs
in foreign languages with my own interpretation of the words improves daily.
I still have a way to go to be any kind of Zumba expert, but
when I think back to that very first class I am amazed at how far I’ve come.
I’ve even made it to the stage on occasion and in quieter moments have toyed
with the idea of being a certified instructor, just to have achieved it.
My injuries still give me trouble, but for the first time I
persevere through them, rather than fearing them. I am careful, I favour my
shoulder when it needs it but rather than not turn up I simply focus my efforts
on my legs. I would rather do it without ‘arms’ than miss a class, and that was
unheard of in my Pre-Zumba life. Wanting to do exercise? Insane!
I thank Shereen each and every day for introducing me to Zumba.
For while the reality is that while Shereen looks like this:
and I
fear I look a lot more like this:
I love it.
To join Shereen for
Zumba, check out Krave Fitness in Penrith. When you get there,
come say hi. I’ll be the one up the front with the big grin (potentially
dancing in the wrong direction).
