Stop wearing shoes to Zumba!

In the last few months I have tried to go to Zumba several times.  I am not the best at dancing, following choreography, or looking sexy so Zumba is most definitely out of my comfort zone.  But I love cardio and running more than 5-10 miles per week takes too much of a toll on my body, so I like to mix it up with cardio.
One reason I wasn't a huge fan of Zumba is that it hurt my ankles, knees and hips.  For a runner, protecting your knees is on the importance meter right next to your children or parents.  It's a big deal.  So I shy away from anything that hurts my knees.
Then I took the Piloxing certification class.  Piloxing is done barefoot for the same reason so many have started running barefoot.  It helps with form, balance and strength.  If there is a giant rubber outsole and foam insole between your foot and the ground it makes it hard on your joints when you turn, twist and stop quickly, like you do in Zumba.

Piloxing didn't hurt my knees or any other joints, so I couldn't wait to try Zumba barefoot.

I went to a Zumba class last Saturday and took my Toe Sox with me.  Surprisingly I was not the only shoeless Jane in class.  I even convinced my gal pal to wear Toe Sox with me! You could do the class completely barefoot, but I prefer to wear Toe Sox, with the little grippies, because who knows how clean the floor is, right?
I enjoyed the class SO much more and experienced no joint pain.  I also felt safer when it came to stopping and turning because I wasn't babying my joints.  The balls of my feet are a bit sore, which is natural when you begin any sort of barefoot training, whether Piloxing, Zumba or running.  

Have you done Zumba barefoot?

Do you do any form of exercise sans shoes?

Will you be trying barefoot Zumba soon?

Zumba and Me, week 2

I did it!  I went back to Zumba on Saturday!  Plus I had lots of friends there which made it extra fun.

JF and E came with me.  They did amazing!  I can honestly say that a lot of my friends husbands wouldn't go to Zumba.  Yay me!  
JF even said he didn't hate it and would go again.
E kept up very nicely but he wasn't a huge fan of the booty-shaking.  I can't blame him.  I doubt most 10 year olds are.

Real men do Zumba!

My friend Angie also was there!  We have known each other for over 10 years!  We met working retail together and she also happens to be a fitness addict.  She has come to lots of classes at the Studio and was in my first ever Zumba class years ago!
We chatted after class and agreed that, while this super-huge Saturday class is lots of energetic fun, there were also advantages to our 3 and 4 student classes back at the Studio.  The instructor(s) of the smaller classes could really break down each movement, tell us what we were working, why and how. In the larger class it's all about keeping up, but the crowd makes it fun, and easy to hide!

I felt a little more in control of my body in this second class.  JF mentioned that I looked like I was trying really hard and I was!  First class was all about not falling over.  Second class I felt like I could try, TRY I said, to look a little less robotic and a little more at ease with the steps.

Real friends do Zumba...
and all sorts of other fitness classes you tell them about.
Thanks, Angie M!

Okay guys...bad news bears time.
The bad news:  I won't get to go to Saturday Zumba this week.
The good news:  I am getting PILOXING certified!  About a year ago I took a class and loved it.  We tried to offer it at the Studio but our instructor moved away.  This Saturday there is a workshop and I will be there!  So, even though I am missing Zumba I will be training to teach Piloxing (gulp!) learning to teach choreographed fitness moves (double gulp!)
Of course, I will let you know how it goes!

Zumba and Me

Last fall I started teaching at a community center.  I subbed a Saturday morning Yoga class and, during Savasana, had several students packing up to leave.  This is not typical.  Yoga students love Savasana.  It's the treat at the end of class. Several minutes of absolute silence, a time to relax and breathe.  So, when class was over and these students were rushing out the door, I had to ask where they were going.
"Zumba!"  they all shouted with smiles.
And, sure enough, as I left the Yoga room I heard the trademark blaring music, claps and shouts of a Zumba class.  
Zumba can burn hundreds upon hundreds of calories in an hour.  It's a workout that feels like a party.  It is also quite intimidating if you aren't a dancer or are, in any way, self-conscious.  Yes, I can teach a room full of students.  Be on TV and give presentations. Run races.  But that's not--dancing.  So, that Saturday, I didn't stay.  I was also in flip-flops or Ugg boots, or some other form of non-Zumba footwear.

Up until yesterday I had only done Zumba two other times.  I am not very coordinated when it comes to dancing so seeing me in a Zumba class is pretty funny stuff.
I haven't avoided Zumba on purpose, but I also haven't made a true effort to go to class.  The times it was at the Studio it was on the schedule either on my only day off or immediately following a shift for me that involved teaching 4 or 5 classes in a row.  So it just never really worked out there.

Yesterday I subbed the same Yoga class and decided that I would stay to Zumba.

As I have written a little about here, I need to lose 10 pounds to get back to my happy weight.  I haven't  cut out any of my exercise.  I haven't changed my eating to awful much.  I think part of it is that my body has hit a plateau.  So, time for something new.  Plus, I like the idea of getting cardio in a way that isn't running.  I LOVE running, but I am aware that my body needs to be surprised every now and then.

So.  I stayed for Zumba with the idea that it would help shock my body back into losing weight.  I ended up realizing that Zumba is so much more than burning calories.

This Zumba class is done on half of a basketball court.  7 or 8 rows of 10-15 people.  Great energy.  And easy to hide.  I chose a spot in the back corner.  The instructor started the music.  It was, of course, a Pitbull song.  We began with chest shaking and side to side movements.  I laughed at myself, felt a little self-conscious, but then started having fun. The class moves so fast that if you take to long to be embarrassed then you get stuck not moving at all.  Every third song or so the front two rows went to the back and the next rows moved up.  No one hides in the back in Zumba.

What I feel like doing Zumba

What I actually look like doing Zumba

Did I get every move perfect?  Absolutely not.  My hips just don't move like other peoples can.  My feet can't find certain rhythms.  But I can follow along okay.  And watch the more experienced students.  And laugh when I get off track.

I went to Zumba expecting a great calorie burn but it's so much more.
I spend so much time teaching and doing Pilates and Yoga.  "Mind-body" exercises.  Leave your worries at the door and focus on your body and breathing.  Guess what?  Zumba is a mind-body exercise, too.  I was so busy thinking about which way to step and which arm to wave that any and all worries or excess thoughts escaped my mind for that hour.  If I got embarrassed by a dance and tensed up, my knees and ankles would catch or hurt.  So, just like it Pilates, I told myself to be engaged without being tense.
As I was Zumba-ing I also realized how great it is for coordination and mental well-being.  I often worry about losing my memory as I age.  Research has shown that learning new things can help.  Zumba is perfect for that, as well.
I made up my mind during class that I will be going to Zumba every Saturday in March.  I will, of course, be sharing it with you!
Next week JF is going with me! 

Have you done Zumba?

What did you think?

Do you have any tips for me?

Will I be wearing neon pink, lime green and turquoise to work out in come the end of March?