Lucky me! I had a day off from work. Did I do something useful? Clean the house? Heck no! Instead I went to the gym to check out a zumba class.
I had no idea what zumba was, but many twitter pals thought it was fantastic. So I didn’t go in completely unprepared, I checked out some Youtube videos. I was not encouraged. There seemed to be much neon spandex.
But I persevered! I went to the class, and it was chock full, despite being at 9 am (don’t these people have work or something?). I was encouraged! Lots of people, even men, at a time most people are working (including me).
But then I noticed people were wearing jingly scarfs, like belly dancers wear. Yikes.
The music started, a latin beat that was great fun. But the instructor didn’t bark out instructions like most exercise instructors; indeed, she said little but had a big grin. No, she simply danced and we were supposed to try to follow along.
I am not terribly coordinated. I gave up on step classes because they required way too much coordination. Unlike step, it didn’t look like if I took a misstep I would break my ankle. But knocking into someone else was a real risk, because they didn’t know what they were doing either (though it was hard for me to know; my eyes were riveted on the instructor as I tried to figure out what she was doing).
Then everyone was encouraged to join in a big conga line. I tried to get into the “this is fun!” spirit, but I can’t have fun if I don’t know what I’m doing.
Then someone offered me a jingly scarf to tie to my hips. Now, even if I knew exactly what I was doing, there would be no way in hell I would be putting a jingly scarf on my hips. I’m just not a jingler. My hips jiggle enough without having jingling added in.
I’m sure if I knew what I was doing, it would have been a great workout; certainly, the instructor was sweating up a storm. Not me. I probably should have focused more on just dancing than exercising, but I was there to exercise, dammit! Exercise is supposed to be intense! It’s supposed to HURT! You’re certainly not supposed to smile or wear jingly scarves or be part of a conga line.
At the end, everyone whooped. I thanked the instructor, who astutely figured out that it was my first time zumbaing. She asked if I’d be back. Even if I didn’t normally have to work, I don’t think I’m a zumbaer.
Instead, I came back at eleven to do the kickboxing. As I kicked and punched imaginary enemies, I realized maybe I just don’t have the zumba spirit. Maybe I just need to pummel something!
But if I have another day off, should I check it out again? What should I be doing?
