Zumba Zumba

So... I've never been one to want to work out with other people in a class setting. Ever since I joined the gym that I pay way too much for...I've seen millions of these classes that you can do for "free" while you're in there and frankly....I'd rather run and do push up--neither of which costs any money or involves skinny, non-athletes in yoga pants and puma walking shoes. Nonetheless, now that I have friends here that ARE athletes, I've been working out with people again and...a few weeks ago was sucked into doing Zumba. We all know about my "step team" history and Amy, knowing what would get me to do, just had to say the words "hip" and "hop" and I agreed. Then... I looked at THIS website and said..."HOW haven't I heard about this already!?" Bright yellow parachute pants with a hundred pockets? Sign me up! So, I did it and i've never smiled that wide, laughed and jumped around more in my life in one hour! I couldn't stop laughing because it is, well, ridiculous...but also, it was an awesome workout and is basically what I used to do by myself in my make-shift dance studio my parents somehow let me have in our house. (that was awesome by the way). 

It's so fun, I sweat WAY MORE than the girls in the yoga pants and puma sneakers but at the same time...feel empowered because I have rhythm so I don't look like a jerk hopping around. I've already suggested it to Claudia, who has already done it and loved it so I'm now apparently the spokesperson for Zumba. Here's an actual promotion video:)

DISCLAIMER: Since I first started the Zumba class a month ago, I have ALSO been taking a Cardio Blast class which is essentially cardio kickboxing and it is the BEST workout I've ever gotten. It's not as fun as Zumba and it doesn't involve any form of hip-hop dancing but it's the most intense workout I've gotten since lacrosse preseason when I ran sprints (7ups to be exact) through the snow/ice/rain for and hour and half and threw up from it. It's not for the weak at heart but it's unbelievable--for calorie burning purposes, I like it more than Zumba but Zumba is definitely still an awesome workout. That said, if you think you hate exercise classes--don't knock it till you try it. It proved me wrong.