It’s around six o’clock when you make your way to your local gym. It’s packed with the after-work rush of people on every single machine and nearly every weight is being used. Luckily, you notice that there’s one more elliptical left as you quickly make your way to the locker room. Before you get there, you notice the activity room where they usually hold fitness classes. There is loud music bursting through the entryway and people are dancing shamelessly along with the instructor at the front of the room.
If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably thought about doing Zumba or considered what it would be like to burn over 800+ calories in a one-hour session of movement and lively music, but you’ve always been too nervous to put your foot through the door and try it.
As someone who now attends Zumba twice a week, I want to let you know that you are not alone in your fear of trying something that is way out of your comfort zone. Zumba can be nerve-wracking the first couple of sessions because you don’t know the moves like most of the people in the class who have them memorized and it can seem a bit embarrassing. Here are a few tips when it comes to curbing the embarrassment and about being comfortable at your local Zumba class.
1. Wear comfortable/flexible clothing
Perhaps this is obvious, and perhaps it is not. When I first started Zumba I would wear my casual gym attire, but the movements you do in Zumba require an outfit that is snug against your waist so that when you are moving around your clothes do not fall or slip. Make sure you are wearing pants that will stay up, preferably pants with a string so that you can tie them tightly around your waist. If you are comfortable and don’t have to waste time worrying about a clothing mishap during the routine, you can dance freely and confidently.
2. Stand toward the back with a good view of the instructor
If you are nervous about people laughing at your terrible dancing (they won’t), start off standing towards the back—as long as you can still see the instructor. As you become more comfortable, make your way towards the middle and then to the front. This way, you can give other newcomers a chance to be comfortable in the back. This way, you won’t have the anxiety of being judged as much because everyone is focusing on the instructor at the front.
3. Don’t focus too much on getting the moves right
Once you start focusing too much on getting each and every move right, you will constantly mess up on the moves as the dance goes on. If you try too hard to get them correct, you will fall behind and continue to mess up and feel off-beat. Spend the first couple of classes focusing on the flow of your body with the routine instead of focusing on perfectionism. Even if you don’t get the moves totally accurate, you will have plenty of chances to get them right in the future.
4. Don’t eat right before the class
Whether your Zumba class is in the morning or at night, try to avoid eating beforehand. Give your stomach a few hours to digest. You don’t want to feel bloated and uncomfortable from cramping because it will impact your dancing, your comfort, and your confidence. Since Zumba is an intense cardio workout, I suggest a plain bowl of spinach or a food high in fiber a couple of hours before going to Zumba. It will provide you with the proper energy for an intense cardio session and make you feel amazing.
5. Add a lemon to your water bottle
Lemons are a wonderful source of vitamins and a good way to ease the feeling of dehydration during a high cardio workout such as Zumba. There might be a time during Zumba when you feel dizzy, tired, and weak. To ease that feeling, you can add a lemon to your water before going to class, and it will give you more energy and electrolytes to help you finish your workout.
Trust me, once you get into the Zumba routine, you won’t be able to skip a single class!
