Friday Night Zumba

I love Zumba, because the music is hot, I get to work on my natural rhythm, and I burn an insane amount of calories in the class, all while having fun.

I’d been going to a Saturday morning Zumba class with Lollo that I loved, but I haven’t gone to that one in awhile, for a few reasons – Medifast (too few calories for that intense workout), LC cancelled her club membership (no partner in crime), and the club is being remodeled (it opens again tomorrow!). I went to one class the week before last where the instructor was on speed, and then I decided to try a new class last night at 6pm, because I figured it couldn’t be any faster/harder than that one was.

Zumba on a Friday night at 6pm had to be either really fun or really lame, right? Either there would be a fun crowd of people or it would be like crickets because everyone with a life was out with other plans. Am I ever glad that I gave it a try and found the former to be true!

I knew it was going to be an interesting class when I saw the neon bricks and stage.

And say what you will about the bricks, cuz I was thinking it ;), but the stage itself was great because I could see the instructor no matter how tall the person in front of me was.  The room itself was huge, too, which was a big surprise because this club is actually one of the oldest I’ve been to and I wasn’t expecting much.  It’s got the best group exercise class room of any of the clubs I’ve been to.

Getting ready to take the class. I'm getting so tan!

I also really loved the mix of people who were taking the class.  All ages, sizes, shapes, and colors. That big, African American guy was so light on his feet and really new the dance steps, so I spent most of the class following him.  I thought he’d been dragged there by his girlfriend, but I think he might’ve been the one to bring her, judging from how good he was.

Joe Valdarrama, Zumba instructor extraordinaire!

When you really get down to it, the instructor is what makes the difference between a class you look forward to and one you can’t wait to finish.  Joe’s class is fun and lively, just like him.  One of the regulars in the class said that he’s got over 3000 FB friends, and I can see why.  He pumps the music up loud and never says a word, but is able to model the moves better than most instructors I’ve taken.

The class is fast paced, but not ridiculously so.  The moves are very club-y, which was fun; I got to bring back some of my ghetto-fabulous dance moves from back in the day.  (Not that I was ever ghetto; I just dance that way, LOL).  I am sure that once I take the class a few more times I’ll have the moves down pat.  The music was fun – everything from Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita” to the latest Reggaeton hit, and everything in between.  Plus, it seemed like Joe was just back from a Zumba conference, and had a bunch of new music, which means he keeps things fresh.

So while I’ll always love Lollo’s Saturday morning class, and I know I’ll attend it from time to time, I think I found my new Date Night activity, at least until I have a better offer.  And who knows, if I keep going to a Zumba a  couple of times a week, maybe I’ll eventually fit into the cool Zumba-branded clothes.

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