Zumba Zen

There I was trying desperately to keep up with Manuel as he salsa-ed and macarena-ed his way through another speedy dance number. Zumba, I have come to find out, is not only an exercise class… it’s an ego check. Just in case, when you walked through that studio door you were operating under any delusion that you had dancing skills, Zumba is here to show you otherwise. Maybe not Zumba as a whole, but at least my Zumba class, led by my booty shaking-arm swinging- hip gyrating master, Manuel.

I constantly am asking myself, “If he can get his hips to move that way, why can’t I? He is a guy after-all!” Is there some sort of introductory course in this technique that I missed? But even with my apparent lack of skills, I love going to Zumba. Like other fitness classes, Zumba is a great way to workout for an hour, which I may not do on my own. Also, I love how fun it is. Even if I am tripping over myself 60 percent of the time or staring with envy at the one woman in my class who apparently has Latin dance experience, it’s still a great time. The upbeat Latin music gets everyone excited, even the 60 + year old ladies in my class.

And if anything, Zumba has taught me not to take myself too seriously. No matter how hard you try there will always be someone better than you at something (ehem, Manuel). There’s no point in getting down on yourself, because the idea is to do something you enjoy not something you have to be the best at. So don’t be afraid to try that new class be it Zumba or yoga or step, and don’t be afraid of what you are going to look like, because let’s be honest, 95 percent of the class is focused on one thing only, and that’s themselves and how they are not going to fall over like a fool. No one is sitting there judging you, because who has time for that between step, step, cross, cross, and shimme? Never be afraid to try things you are interested in because of what other people will think, because 9 out of 10 times, they aren’t thinking about you at all anyway.

So whether it be a dance class, lifting in the boys section of the gym (you know the one), joining the archery club or what not, just get out there and try it and don’t forget it’s not about how good you are, it’s about how good it makes you feel.