Finals Week Schedule

Hello everyone!

For those of you that take my classes, remember that next week's schedule is different because of finals.

Here's the schedule:

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are quickly approaching, so today I'm gonna talk about how you can stay healthy and still have lots of fun during this season.

First of all, we like to incorporate holiday music into our Zumba classes.  Check it out:

Aqua Zumba

Today I'm going to tell you about Aqua Zumba...that's right folks, you can Zumba in the pool, too.

I got certified to teach Aqua Zumba about 18 months ago.  I've been teaching about once a week ever since.    

Check out this video for a better idea of what Aqua Zumba actually is: 

Aqua Zumba, or water-based fitness in general is a great option for people who are severely overweight or have bad joints.  There is less gravity in the water, so it is not as hard on your joints to move around in a pool.

But it's still a great workout (if you do it correctly).  If you are completely inactive and have a daunting amount of weight to lose to get to a healthy level, Aqua Zumba is a great way to start moving.  

But, it's not for everyone.  In fact, it's my least favorite class to teach at the Rec because we don't have a  huge clientele for water-based classes.  Let's be honest...not very many college students have time to change clothes and get into the pool just for their workouts.  Plus, most college-aged people are looking for a more intense workout.  

It's worth a try for everyone, though.  Even if it's not your favorite workout, it's a whole lot of fun!  Bring a friend and jump on in!       

Dance Marathon

Today I'm going to tell you about a cause that I think is really fantastic, and if you like to Zumba you'll really enjoy getting involved with it.

It's called Dance Marathon, and it's exactly what it sounds like: hours and hours and hours of dancing without stopping.  What makes it a good cause?  It's a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

There are bunches of Dance Marathon Fundraisers across the country every year.  I got involved with DM on my college campus last year.  I participated as a dancer, and danced for 12 straight hours (without sitting down!), all for the kids.  I also taught an hour long Zumba class that was part of the marathon.

Needless to say it was a blast and a half!  And, the marathon raised over $76,000 for the children's hospital!

So this year, I'm trying to get as many people involved in Dance Marathon as I possible can. Luck for me, a lot of my best friends are involved directly with the executive board!  A few weeks ago, they asked me to teach a free Zumba class as a part of DM's recruitment week.  It was awesome!  If you were wondering who the crazy people dancing behind the student center were, that was us!  Pictures to come very soon, I promise.

In this blog, I talk a lot about finding what you like to do, and then doing it to keep your body healthy.  Well, that can be applied to a much larger scale.  Use your talents and the things you enjoy to help the greater good.  If what you enjoy is dancing, check out Dance Marathon!  

Like Mother like Daughter

 A lot of people ask how I decided to become a fitness instructor.  It was a really easy choice for me because I've been in gyms and around group fitness classes my whole life.  Why, you ask?  My mom is a fitness instructor, too!  

When I was a baby, my mom joined a gym so that she could have time to take a shower while someone else held the baby.  It didn't take her long to figure out that she'd be really good at teaching classes, and next thing you know she got certified.  She's been teaching aerobics ever since.   

Having a fitness professional as a parent can be strange sometimes.  Like, when you're in the gym's nursery and hear your mom's voice but can't figure out where she is.  Really, she's shouting on a microphone in another room.  

But, I learned a lot of skills, too.  I learned how to effectively cue a class and keep energy and morale high.  I learned how an instructor should treat students and handle different situations.   

My mom knew that teaching would be a great part time job for a college student.  So, when I finished high school my mom gave me a fitness certification course as a graduation present.  And I've been teaching ever since!  

So, that's how I got into fitness.  Like mother, like daughter.     

Keep dancing! 

Let's get some shoes.

As with most forms of exercise, footwear is VERY important if you're going to get serious about Zumba.

Look for a shoe with little or no tread on the bottom.  You should be able to twist and turn on the dance floor without sticking.  Although it's ok to try out your first class wearing your running shoes, if you want to make Zumba a routine you need to invest in better shoes.  Running shoes with tread on the bottom are designed to keep your foot in one place and in a straight line.  In Zumba, you're going to be moving your foot out of that line.  Wearing the wrong shoes over and over again can put your ankles and knees in danger.      

I wear Nike cross trainers.  Check it out- almost no tread on the bottom.

If you're going to be attending a lot of Zumba classes, you might want to consider two different pairs of shoes.  Since I teach between 5 and 7 classes each week, I alternate between two pairs of shoes.  I've found that dancing in the same shoes day after day makes my feet sore.  It also led to a nasty case of achilles tendinitis in 2011.

Don't be afraid to dance around the store when you're trying on shoes!  Here's a list of motions you should try out BEFORE you invest in a pair of Zumba shoes:

• Jumping up and down
• Twisting your feet from side to side
• Turning around
• Running
• Salsa step 

My last piece of advice is to not be afraid of splurging on a good pair of shoes.  A quality shoe will last longer than a cheap one, and it will be kinder to your feet.  It's absolutely worth it to buy a better pair of shoes.    

Keep dancing!

Zumba Rhythm

In my first post I told you that Zumba is a latin-dance based cardio workout.  What I didn't tell you is what kind of latin dances we do in Zumba.  When you become a Zumba instructor, you learn the 4 basic rhythms: Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, and Reggeaton.

The difference is the beat.  It's hard to explain in words, but easy if you listen.  Here are some examples of the four different rhythms:

Here's Merengue:



Salsa:



Cumbia:


Reggaeton:

As you can see, there are different steps that are characteristic of each rhythm.

But don't worry...if you come to a Zumba class you don't need to know the difference...leave that up to your instructor!  You just follow along.

Keel dancing!

If you like Zumba...

Then you'll LOVE The Color Run!

This morning I ran a 5K called The Color Run in my hometown Nashville, TN.  Every kilometer, they throw colored powder at you so by the time you reach the finish line, you end up looking like this:

It was a blast!  There were about 15,000 runners and music playing the whole way, so it really seemed more like a crazy paint-rave than a workout.  And since one of my best friends, Anna, ran with me it was even more memorable.

Now, let me get one thing straight...I am NOT a runner.  At all.  I don't really like running and I am not good at it at all.  But, if you add in friends, loud music, and about a ton of colored powder...running a 5K doesn't seem so bad.  In fact, it's actually really enjoyable.  

Exercise is more fun when it's fun.  And yes, I know that's redundant, but seriously!  Find something that you genuinely enjoy doing and getting yourself to the gym will suddenly become a whole lot easier.  For me, it's dancing or anything with music because it seems like a party.  Do you love to play basketball?  Cycling?  Badminton?  Jump-roping?  AWESOME!  Go do it.

Get up.  Find something that makes you want to move.  Keep dancing!

  

Bebé Bonita

I've got new choreography for you today!

I first heard the song "Bebé Bonita" by Chino y Nacho this summer when I was living in Guatemala.  I've been wanting to choreograph a Zumba dance to it ever since then, and the moment has finally arrived!

The focus of this dance is intervals- I tried to include sections that were challenging cardio-wise and sections to take a short break.

Enjoy!

On the microphone: being the instructor

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love teaching Zumba classes. But, a lot of people don’t understand how hard the instructor is working both in and out of class. 

Here’s the best comparison I can offer you: teaching a group fitness class is like going for a run while belting out your favorite songs (if it’s an Aqua Zumba class, add to that the heat and humidity of an indoor swimming pool room).  Talking (and yelling) through a whole class adds a whole new level of cardio intensity.  Add to that the difficulty of always having to think about what step comes next; it’s a workout for your brain, too.    

But teaching a group fitness class is not just a workout, it’s a performance.  When you’re on the microphone, it’s your responsibility to keep everyone’s morale and energy levels high.  So, even when I get tired, I can’t show it.

Another thing that a lot of people don’t realize instructors do is choreography.  We all spend way too much time listening to new music and dancing around our bedrooms, just to come up with a fun dance that will make our participants want to get up and move. 

For me, the hard work and exhaustion is 100% worth it.  I love participating in Zumba and I love teaching it even more.               

But, if you’re into Zumba (or any group fitness classes, for that matter), I encourage you to take some time to thank your instructor.  She (or he) is working VERY hard for you. 

Check back next week for some new choreography videos!  Here are the songs I’m working on:

Keep dancing,

Bridgit 

Zumba-thon

Welcome to my Zumba blog!  For those of you that don't know what Zumba is, it's a latin dance-based cardio workout program.  Zumba's motto?  Ditch the workout- join the party!  It really is more like a dance party than a workout.  You don't even realize how much you're sweating because you're having so much fun.  Check it out!



I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to teach Zumba at my university's rec center.  Even though teaching is not what I'm planning on doing for the rest of my life, I very easily could.  It's the best job in the world!  I get to dance with my friends every single day, and help people become happier and healthier.

I could talk about teaching Zumba for hours and hours, which is why I decided to start this blog chronicling my adventures as a Zumba teacher.

This week's topic...Zumba-THONs!

Yesterday I taught at the Rock the Pink Party, a 3 hour Zumba fitness event that was a fundraiser for Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.  The event was held on a basketball court at the rec center and about 200 people showed up.

A few other teachers and I taught three separate half-hour exercise sessions.  I absolutely love teaching big groups because the energy is unbelievable.  Everyone was dancing and cheering and having a great time.  I am exited to find out how much money we raised for the cause.  

If you're organizing a fundraiser, I highly recommend holding a Zumba-thon.  It's a great way to get people moving and having fun all for a good cause.  For more information about holding a Zumba-thon, check out Zumba's website.

Keep dancing,
Bridgit