Zumba!

Back in the summer we joined the YMCA. The original purpose was so that DB could have a second swim workout if she wanted to, but didn't have to feel bad about not going to club practice when she was pooped and thus wasting money. By spending a little less money the whole family has access to the Y. At first I was going to yoga classes from time to time and took advantage of the free services of a personal trainer, but I got slack and wasn't too consistent. DB swims from time to time but, again, not too consistent. DA isn't much on exercise of that type, and she's had one rehearsal or another almost daily since we got the membership, so she hasn't really been much either.

Toward the end of the year John started going regularly to swim or workout and then sit in the hot tub. Then he found this class called Body Pump. He loved it, so I decided to go with him. It's a lot like some of the P90X workout videos that the neighbor and I did together for several months, and to be honest I hate it. I'm really not all that interested in building up my arms, and I am very interested in working my legs and abs which are almost ignored. I went to the class 4 times to be supportive. All 4 times I wanted to walk out before it was over, but I didn't want to be a quitter or let John beat me.

This past Thursday (after 2 Body Pump classes this week) the girls and I went to a Zumba class. It was one of the most fun exercise classes I have been to in my life. It's Latin dancing with some added umph to make it an exercise class - though not too much umph is needed to make it seriously aerobic. DA and DB stood behind me in class so they could laugh at me. I'm sure they had trouble keeping up with the instructor because they were spending so much time critiquing my skills. When I would get a glimpse of them in the mirror or as we turned around, they always looked pretty good. And even if they didn't DA puts on her musical theatre smile which she claims makes it so you can't see her feet mess up. (It must work because she never looks like she's messing up.) I, on the other hand, was having some serious trouble getting my arms, legs and hips to do all the right things at the same time. I could manage the basic hand and foot combos, but adding in those wiggly hips about did me in. How can a person vibrate and bend that way? What is it going to take for me to avoid looking like an idiot? I've decided I'm going to continue with this until I can get it right and look half way decent doing it. It may take me the rest of my life. And if DA and DB are going to laugh I may just drive away and leave them there. The up side is that I'm laughing so hard most of the time that the class has to be good for my health even if I don't get any actual exercise done.