When I whined about this Zumba debacle to my lunch buddy, she leaned forward just a bit and in a whispering voice (apparently intended to soften the blow), stated rather matter-of-factly, “Carol, perhaps you never could really dance to begin with.”
My angst was compounded the next day when my exercise instructor announced she was abandoning our little independent exercise group to teach classes at the Zumba studio. “It’s not about the money,” she said.
Yeah, right.
I think she was going to start with the Can’t-We-Still-Be-Friends speech, but I left. I just didn’t have the stomach for it. Or, in my case, I guess I have too much stomach for it.
So now I have to find another place, but this time, I won’t make the same mistake of trying to build friendships and muscles at the same time. Lesson learned.
I’m fairly confident I can find a suitable place to work off those extra pounds. Now if I can only figure out a way to shed the stereotype as well.
Article comments
1 - fiona
You took one class and abandoned it? I've always had 2 left feet (and I'm older than you!). Just go at your own pace, learn the moves - it took me three classes to even get close! Nobody is looking at you, nobody is competing, just get with the music. Try again - even just moving to music will help your fitness.
Try yoga classes in between - the stretching will feel good. Don't give up!
2 - carolyn banks
Fiona, you were supposed to LAUGH, not lecture!
3 - Fabi
..well, I guess, I missed the joke as well. =( I felt sad that your got turn-off after your 1st class. I grew up thinking I had two left feet. And was a "closet dancer". It took me several classes to not feel spastic! lol. ..and to accept that no one was watching me. I would recommend ZUMBA GOLD it's a great workout for beginners. Best of luck. *smiles~Fabi*
4 - lyna
Hello ladies (and gentlemen for that matter!!)
I am a Zumba instructor in the UK and can understand how you can feel this way!! IT'S NORMAL!! Like any work out, you need to get used to it, from the fastest to the slowest of all ( I would not inflict on you my story about my Yoga trial!! Let's just say that my body was saying:" NO you are not putting me in that position missy!!" LOL)
Zumba is the same, you need to get used to the music specially if you are not familiar with latin rythms, then the choreography (I am from a dancing background and still needed few sessions) . Your muscles need to get used to the moves. Who cares if you're getting it the first time or if you're looking cool??? NO ONE!! Contrary to gyms ... So you go the wrong way?? you might be lucky and find yourself smiling at the lovely lady or man next to you!! You need to go at your own rythm as long as you are pushing YOUR LIMITS, noone else's. Bottom line: just enjoy yourself and in no time you'll find yourself smiling and sweating like no tomorrow!! Oops forgot: zumba might have some side effects. It creates a larger circle of friends and is highly addictive. To be used without caution (unless you have a medical condition, like all other fitness activities)
5 - Carol Richtsmeier
I really appreciate all the comments… I guess the unsettling part about Zumba to those of us non-Zumba-ites is the lack of "instruction." Instructors just point as if you are suppose to know what to do. So, you guys keep cha-cha-cha-ing! And me? Well, give me a good kickboxing class. Who knew hitting things could be so much fun!