Ok, first of all let me just say that I thought the Emmys were really good last night. I like Jimmy Fallon and Modern Family. Now with that out of the way, please read this amazing story.
Last week I had a woman that came to me, who had been attending my Zumba classes 2-3 times a week for over a month, and ask if she could share something with me. This particular person I say hi to when she comes in, and if I see her leaving we exchange good-byes. She was always a bit quiet and shy.
This woman whom I will call "Shea" from here on out (not her real name) told me that she had always worn a certain sized shirt for the last 27 years. The size had not ever changed in all of that time. Shea wanted me to know that this week she put on the next size down for the first time in 27 years!! I was so happy to hear this, and was so proud of her accomplishment. This news was enough to give me goose bumps, as do all of the wonderful stories that I have been hearing about since January.
Wait! That's not the end...
Shea then told me that she was in a bad car accident 27 years ago, and her right foot was cut off! A doctor re-attached it, and she couldn't walk for three months. I told her I couldn't believe she was walking now! I had goose bumps on my goose bumps!!
Shea told me that Zumba was the only exercise that has helped her bring that size down. I could have cried because I know that Zumba can do this for people. I can't wait to see how she progresses. I can already see her coming out of her shell. How wonderful to be able to feel that!
I think the moral of this story is that no matter how bad you think you might have it or what struggles you face in life there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. How badly do you want to reach that light, and what sacrifices are you willing to make? Personally, I think Zumba is the best exercise you can get that will work your mind, body and soul. You can take care of all three in a one hour class. How cool is that?!!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Welcome to my Zumba blog
Those who know me know that I have a passion for Zumba. How did this come about? Let me share my story with you.
I was very active and very involved in many things in High School; choir, Theatre, Basketball, Tennis and various other things in between. The High School years were awesome. When I went to college I began a slippery slope of keeping up with my eating, and forgetting about the exercise that I took for granted in my formative years. Thus, you guessed it; the weight came on and on and on. I just couldn’t believe I was having trouble fitting into my clothes!
Throughout the years after college my weight would flex up and down, and of course, after babies it was even harder. I managed to walk, and then run and even workout to videos with weights to try to keep it off. Most of the time, I did the workout just to work off the weight and not because I liked the workout itself. The running was really taking its toll, but it was the only way to keep the heart rate high enough to burn the fat.
I joined Weight Watchers. Not once, but twice. I am a Life Member now. One day at a meeting there was talk of Zumba. A Latin Dance based fitness. Hmmm, I thought, probably just another aerobics type class. Oh well, my Aunt really likes it so I’ll give it a try. Why not? If I didn’t like it I didn’t have to go back. You may be able to guess what happened, but I’ll explain anyway. HOOKED!!! The first song to the last was a blast, and I was sweating like nobody’s business. How can this be? Running never made me sweat this much. Can something I like so much, be such a great workout? I don’t have to run anymore, or make myself get up at the crack of dawn to do video/weight workouts? I can burn calories, and get toned with something that I love to do???
I went back again and again, and was always disappointed when it was over so fast. I wanted more! Wait a minute. I work at a skating rink that my parents own. Hey mom! Come check out Zumba with me. She did, and loved it as much as I did. Hmmm, We have times at the rink that we don’t skate. I wanted more and more Zumba…could I get licensed and teach? How many people could benefit from this the way we were benefiting? This was life-changing. Skating is a great heart-healthy exercise, and Zumba would fit right in at the rink.
Thus, my Mother and I became licensed Zumba instructors and in January 2010 started Zumba classes at B&J Skate Center. I now have 6 classes per week, and Zumbatomic for kids coming up September 10th!
So this is the start of my blog. The most interesting thing is not about how I started Zumba, it is the impact that Zumba has made on the lives of people who come to my classes. I want to share some of those stories here. Changing people’s lives for the better (and healthier) is really what it’s all about.
I was very active and very involved in many things in High School; choir, Theatre, Basketball, Tennis and various other things in between. The High School years were awesome. When I went to college I began a slippery slope of keeping up with my eating, and forgetting about the exercise that I took for granted in my formative years. Thus, you guessed it; the weight came on and on and on. I just couldn’t believe I was having trouble fitting into my clothes!
Throughout the years after college my weight would flex up and down, and of course, after babies it was even harder. I managed to walk, and then run and even workout to videos with weights to try to keep it off. Most of the time, I did the workout just to work off the weight and not because I liked the workout itself. The running was really taking its toll, but it was the only way to keep the heart rate high enough to burn the fat.
I joined Weight Watchers. Not once, but twice. I am a Life Member now. One day at a meeting there was talk of Zumba. A Latin Dance based fitness. Hmmm, I thought, probably just another aerobics type class. Oh well, my Aunt really likes it so I’ll give it a try. Why not? If I didn’t like it I didn’t have to go back. You may be able to guess what happened, but I’ll explain anyway. HOOKED!!! The first song to the last was a blast, and I was sweating like nobody’s business. How can this be? Running never made me sweat this much. Can something I like so much, be such a great workout? I don’t have to run anymore, or make myself get up at the crack of dawn to do video/weight workouts? I can burn calories, and get toned with something that I love to do???
I went back again and again, and was always disappointed when it was over so fast. I wanted more! Wait a minute. I work at a skating rink that my parents own. Hey mom! Come check out Zumba with me. She did, and loved it as much as I did. Hmmm, We have times at the rink that we don’t skate. I wanted more and more Zumba…could I get licensed and teach? How many people could benefit from this the way we were benefiting? This was life-changing. Skating is a great heart-healthy exercise, and Zumba would fit right in at the rink.
Thus, my Mother and I became licensed Zumba instructors and in January 2010 started Zumba classes at B&J Skate Center. I now have 6 classes per week, and Zumbatomic for kids coming up September 10th!
So this is the start of my blog. The most interesting thing is not about how I started Zumba, it is the impact that Zumba has made on the lives of people who come to my classes. I want to share some of those stories here. Changing people’s lives for the better (and healthier) is really what it’s all about.
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