Shake Ya Tailfeather
I’m not one to continue a workout regiment for a long period of time. Not because I don’t like working out, but because I get bored very easily. Running on the treadmill for 30 minutes is awful if you ask me. I like working out when I don’t realize I’m working out. Weird, I know.
So in my search to find the ultimate non-workout workout, I stumbled across Zumba. One lazy Sunday morning while flipping through the channels, this infomercial caught my eye. I don’t typically buy things off infomercials, because they seem like slimy politicians with an outspoken agenda. But after I found myself still glued to the television 20 minutes later, I figured I’d give it a try.
I’d always had a secret wish to be a dancer – like Britney Spears before she lost it. However, I’ve finally admitted to myself that I’m just not that coordinated. However, I can do Zumba. The Latin/Spanish dances are fun and easy to pick up. Their tag line is “Ditch the workout, join the party,” and that’s just what Zumba is all about. The DVD set that you can buy online comes with 4 DVDs that include two 1-hour workouts and two 20-minute workouts. So, you can switch things up depending on your mood. At first, I felt a little funny dancing in my bedroom by myself, but now it’s something I look forward to. According to the video, you can burn up to 1,000 calories in an hour. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I certainly am drenched by the time I’m done, but I never feel like I’m struggling to get through it. The cardio workout is great, and because the focus is often on your core, the tummy melts away. All without feeling like you are walking to no where!
The gym here in Gainesville has started offering live Zumba classes 4 days a week. I went to my first one last Friday, and it was great. It was nice to switch it up and spend a class with other people. Plus, the hardwood floors were a lot easier to move on than the carpet in my bedroom.
I would highly recommend Zumba to anyone interested in having fun and loosing some weight. As soon as I get to ATL, my buddy T-Baggs is going to hook me up with some of her non-workout workouts. I’ll blog about those and let you know the good ones I find. Hopefully I can also find a gym in ATL that offers Zumba classes so I can keep up with the flava!
In all, my non-workout workout searching has taught me something very valuable: Being healthy is not about killing yourself. It’s just about making small adjustments and getting out and moving around. Have fun, and I’ll see you soon minus some of those L-Bs!
For more information on Zumba, check out their Web site.
