For some of you, even the thought of going to the gym sounds horrendous. Having to deal with not knowing how to work the machines, judgment from others working out, or the cost may not be your cup of tea. You still, however, may be desiring some form of exercise to keep you in shape. Well, if you enjoy having fun while working up a sweat then keep on reading. Here at Flagler College, we have a gym, which I am sure is very nice, however, I have yet to step foot into it. It is not that I am a lazy person, I just prefer to exercise in a different way. Zumba has become my favorite form of exercise. When people initially hear Zumba, they automatically only think of dancing and are turned off by it. Zumba, however, is so much more.
When I initially heard about Zumba, I was a little hesitant because I had never done it, but I thought I would give it a chance. After my first class, I fell in love. Of course in Zumba we do a variety of different dances, but we also get to work our core muscles, do different types of squats and master the plank challenge. During this class, we can burn up to 1,000 calories in this short hour! That is at least two meals burned off!!
Zumba is also a time where you get to interact with friends. Unlike the gym, at times you are so focused on the machine you are working on that you do not always have time to converse with your peers! Zumba is also fun to tease your friends and laugh at yourself during the dances. Zumba is a relaxed environment where everyone is welcome at any time. Though the dances can be complicated at times, they're so fun that you'll learn them in no time! Also, the Zumba environment made me want to come back because they were so welcoming even when I kept forgetting what came next. People often think that in order to go to Zumba, they have to be the best dancers, but I can assure you that, that is not the case. People who have never danced in their lives come to Zumba and wind up having a blast! Aside from the sweat dripping down your face, you often forget that you are exercising because you are focusing on keeping up with the dances or laughing too much.
Occasionally, during Zumba classes we will also have Circuit days where we do a variety of exercises such as Burpees, Tridips, Jumping Jacks, and more to help build our muscles while also including cardio. I do not particularly enjoy these days, but it is still fun to embrace the pain with friends. The best part about Zumba is that we can do these exercises anywhere and everywhere. We do not need to go to a specific place in order to get in our exercise for the day. We could have our own Zumba "class" in our dorm rooms if we wish to, which we have once or twice.
So, if the gym is not for you, try some new forms of exercise for a change. You might be surprised on how much you enjoy Zumba. Come on out because "A little sweat ain't never hurt nobody" (Beyonce).
