They needed only ten sign ups to get started. I was the 13th. When the class began a week later, only seven people showed up. The instructor was keen to get started with the small group, despite. A quick look around the class with my hypermetropic eyes, told me all the details I needed. The average age of the group was 35. The average weight, 70 kilos. I could feel six pairs of eyes scanning every curve (or not) of my body when I wasn’t watching. I wasn’t too badly off, having shed a little over ten kilos in excess that I had carried on me, the first time I tried Zumba, six years back. I was now four years short of fifty, fitter and fired up! (You are an inspiration, Nigel!)
I discounted four people right away. They were no threat to my ego. However there were two others who could potentially be contenders, to be the instructor’s favourite or (my mind was exaggerating the possibilities) even be the Zumba poster woman for the condo club house. One more close look and I discounted one of them; 20 something, college going enthusiast and probably the youngest woman in the group. I knew she would be more nimble footed and agile than I was at 46. I was only envious of the other lady in the group who was 2 years older, looked sure of herself and definitely fitter than I was. The brief conversation with her that I had outside of class told me she was no Zumba virgin.
The instructor was a skinny-twenty-something young lad, who was raring to go. He had brought with him a monstrous portable wireless PA system and an mp3 player and got busy with picking songs to play for the class. He prepared us for what to expect and assured us that the tracks he had chosen were all suitable for the age of the class. Did I sense sympathy there? There was a good natured collective giggle from the participants at the mention of ‘age’ as they looked at the person next to them with a ‘he is talking to you’ expression in their eyes.
The instructor was talented, passionate, patient, had a good sense of rhythm, ‘flowed’ with the music and made it look so fun. He was everything that we weren’t. The first few minutes were awkward as many of us realized we had two left feet. But since the music was upbeat, my contemporaries and I, kept at it. Our timing and coordination got better with every class. We grew more confident, knowing fully well that no one was judging the other. After all, there is no right way to Zumba. The rest as they say, is history. One class led to another and we have had so much fun grooving to music for over three months, thrice a week for an entire hour, burning a crazy amount of calories. I have made new friends and we share inside jokes. At the end of the first few weeks, someone who joined the class then, even mistook me for the instructor when I began explaining what to expect!
I have taken both my nieces to a class each, on different occasions. Spoorthi said I over did the moves (I did tell you I love to dance but I am no booty shaker) while every body else in class, according to her, danced subtly. As though to prove her point when we got home, she demonstrated some steps to my ma, who laughed till her sides hurt. Spoo herself danced like it was going to hurt the ground if she put her feet down too hard. While Kriti, my other niece didn’t judge me…openly. So I won’t either.
Three months is a good time to have mastered some of the hip hop, EDM and Salsa moves. I have realized that you can reuse the same steps to dance to any upbeat, energetic music track. When I am listening to a new song on my Wynk Music app, I choreograph and piece together an entire routine in my mind like a Zumba instructor.
My walks give me the cardio workouts I need, I have made a small start with my yoga practice again and I regularly use the 7DailyMoves for body weight training.
As for Zumba, I will use a quote of the 13th century Persian poet, Rumi - “When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy”.
The End.
Foot Note: If you love to dance and think Zumba might be a form of exercise you want to try, then check out Dance Fitness with Jessica on YouTube. She has some really nice videos that you can play in the confines of your bedroom and dance like no one’s watching. Also follow The Body Department on Facebook for some fun dancercise videos.
Disclaimer 1 : Zumba is only a cardio vascular workout. It burns calories but it might not give you the same benefits like weight training ( Right, Sonam?)
Disclaimer 2 : Please check with your doctor if you can join a Zumba class, especially if your intention is to lose weight. It can take a toll on your knees if you have a history of knee problems.
Disclaimer 3: No person dead or alive should take any offence from any reference or mention in this blog. It was done for the pure purpose of entertainment.
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