Recently, I went to Tampa, FL for a Zumba instructor training workshop. I knew that Zumba was a type of aerobics done to Latin music. I thought Zumba would be a nice class to add to my repertoire, since I am already an aerobics instructor and a Latin dancer (both in the sense that I am from Latin America, and in the sense that I teach and perform Latin dances.) I have taught work-out session myself to Latin music and with Latin steps. My expectations for the course were simply good, but not truly high. I felt like I already knew what it was going to be all about, but I was up for a surprise.
First of all, I was not expecting the cardiovascular exercise to be so intense. I knew that dancing salsa can give people a work-out, but this was a completely different thing. I could feel the sweat dripping down my stomach, and my hair was all wet. It had been years since I had taken off my top after dancing and found it so soaked I could squeeze the water out of it! I must have burnt countless calories, because I was also starting to death when we took a break for lunch.
Nevertheless, how much energy and sweat I put into dancing Zumba, was not the most amazing part. What was truly remarkable was the fact that I enjoyed it so much. I could not remember the last time I had had so much fun in either an aerobics class or a dance class. I was having such a good time that I did not realize how intense the exercise was, until after it was all over. The music was really good, the type of energetic Latin music that totally pumps you up. Plus, we had a life drummer to add onto the excitement. It was some sort of mass hysteria in which nobody cared any longer about what the people around them thought. We just moved insanely to the music, bringing our bodies to the point of exertion. I must have been on a adrenaline high for about an hour after each one of the two intense work outs we had that day.
The superior level of organization in Zumba Inc. and the Zumba Instructors Network also surpassed my expectations. I had not realized the potential Zumba has to become a considerable secondary income. We were provided with promotional materials (including pre-made editable flyers, emails, and posters, as well as a concept video clip) to publicize our Zumba classes and events. Additionally, we will receive new music and choreography on the mail monthly. I have also been extremely surprised by the number of people I meet who already know about Zumba or even own the DVDs. I tell them that if they like to Zumba in their living-room following the TV screen, they would absolutely love to be in a life class with many other people, and an instructor prepared with new music and choreography.
I went to that instructor training workshop looking for a new class to teach at work, and left with a new passion. I am ready to teach classes and workshops. I can not wait to spread what I have found. I GOT ZUMBA, I’ve been Zumbafied!
