My Zumba Class.
Did you by any chance know that, at any given Zumba class, one can burn around five hundred and fifty calories? Neither did I. However, after agreeing to regularly practice this fitness routine, I learned that tidbit and much more. I would even go as far as to say that this class has definitively changed my life for the better. I am a different person now than the young man I was before—all thanks to this Zumba class.
The person who first recommended Zumba to me was my Grandma Melinda. She is a loyal member of 24 Hour Fitness, who goes to exercise classes regularly. Because of her, I now have a regular Zumba routine. I often walk to class. The gym is located roughly a mile away from my house. I know this because my handy Apple Watch keeps track of all the steps I take. The evening before class, I make sure to get out my exercise shorts, fill up my water bottle, and tuck everything into my compact but fashionable Occidental canvas tote bag.
After entering the gym, I am almost always immediately greeted by the Zumba instructor himself, José, who always makes sure to arrive early as a gesture of respect to his students. If I could use just two words to describe José, they would be the following: “gifted” and “enthusiastic.” I have never had a fitness teacher so knowledgeable before. He is always incredibly positive and encouraging toward his students, while at the same time, not afraid to push them. The number one reason why I always find myself getting so much exercise at Zumba is because of him. Not a class goes by without me seeing José drenched in sweat by the very end. His energetic attitude is always infectious, and I always look forward to seeing him every Monday and Wednesday at 24 Hour Fitness.
In addition to the exercise, I have found that Zumba classes have the benefit of putting me physically close to others who are in my same position—others who also desire to get a good workout. The social connections I have made through this class have been life-altering. I have become so close to some of my classmates that I even invited them to celebrate my thirty-first birthday with me at the restaurant Kabuki, back in April. Everyone in class is so kind to me, and they know me so well that they often offer to give me rides back home from class every Wednesday, when they know that Melinda is not there to drive with me.
For those of you who do not know, a typical Zumba class consists of fast-paced dancing, often to powerful and motivating music—in my case, music that José carefully selects. He makes sure to painstakingly choreograph each and every move we make. Copious water breaks are interspersed between songs, and every class concludes with stretches. After several months of taking this class, I have definitely seen signs of improvement in my physical fitness. It is easier and more rewarding for me to break a sweat than it was before.
I wish to continue this post with a narrative about me getting out of my comfort zone a couple of weeks ago. Every class, José randomly selects a few students and asks them to come to the front of the room, where there is a small podium. They then co-lead the class with him. Melinda and I always joke that that experience is not for us. However, just the other day, when Melinda was on vacation, José politely summoned me to the front of the class. I immediately agreed to go forward.
Once I made it to the podium, my first thought was: How does José do this?? However, before I panicked, I made eye contact with some of my classmates, and my second thought was: There is so much love and support in this room. And with this support, I could never go wrong. My eventual third thought was: This is awesome! I’m so proud of myself! The only way I can properly describe my experience is likening it to riding a roller coaster. Before you get on the coaster for the first time, you are understandably anxious to face the unknown. You are apprehensive about the ride you will have. You don’t know if you can handle it. However, while you are on the ride, you eventually get used to it. The anxiety goes away. Then, all of the sudden, you find yourself enjoying it. You scream and have a good time. You then get off; proud that you tried something new. Your final thought is: I would love to ride that coaster again!
To conclude, this Zumba class has definitely benefited me in my quest to become a healthier and happier person. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to get out of their comfort zone, get good exercise, or even meet new and like-minded friends. What has worked for me simply must work for others. If you by any chance ever decide to undertake going to a Zumba class yourself, please feel free to reach out to me so we can discuss together how it has benefited you, and whether or not you would personally recommend it. I think you will find that taking this important and crucial step will be one of the best choices that you could ever wish to make.