I have never been a mover and/or shaker. For one thing, I can’t tell left from right; the hokey-pokey’s hard for me, forget real dancing. By the time my brain has processed “ball change, shuffle, allemande!” the dance is over and the band’s gone home.
Sure, I took one semester of jazz dance… but once you’ve been GRADED on your ability to prance whilst swinging a cane and wearing a red sequined top hat, it takes real courage to face another thirty-foot mirror.
Luckily, real courage is my hallmark. (Yes, it is. Just decided.) So when Annie invited me to a free Zumba class, I girded my loins with sweatpants and shook what my mama gave me. Weeks later, some of it’s still shaking. 
As much as I hated the [gimmicky, overhyped] idea of Zumba, I loved the reality. I always walk out of class feeling happy, brave, and strangely sexy. Yes, me! Really!
Here’s What I Learned:
1. Don’t judge a book/person/fitness program by its cover/name/ad campaign. Give new things/people a fair chance.
2. There is a time and a place for fleshiness; if I were bony, what would I shake during Zumba? Latin dance and hip hop were designed with jiggling in mind, and it feels great.
3. Don’t think so hard. While doing Zumba, I catch myself overanalyzing. You know, trying to mentally notate syncopations and wondering how dance pedagogues classify various body movements. Years of college have warped my brain. FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD, LADY, WILL YA JUST DANCE?!
There you have it.
Kirstyn would be proud! Hey-maybe she reads this?
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What? not capoeira??
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I’m sooooo happy for you! This is a big thing, in my opinion. To think of Ms Beck shakin’ her… anything is exciting and motivating. It’s out of your “box” and I like it! :D Keep it up!
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Leslie – We discussed it on Facebook, and she WAS proud.
James – Only if you’ll teach me!
Celia – It’s such a tight, cramped little ‘box.’ Can’t stay in forever.
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I don’t embarrass easily but Zumba nearly did me in! I felt neither sexy nor happy with the one exception of the class I had a glass of wine before. I guess I just can’t shut my brain down enough to shake my money maker!
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Rebekah Reply:
October 8th, 2011 at 11:46 AM
It’s definitely not for everyone— I attended my first class with a friend, and she broke down crying afterward. She just couldn’t keep the pace, and she was so mortified and overwhelmed… usually I’M that person. Don’t worry, your money maker has… other skills? Other things to do? Shutting up now.
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