Let's ZUMBA!

Move ya body!

When my gym manager sent out an email in late August announcing that Zumba classes will replace aerobics on Tuesday evenings starting in September, I was overjoyed. I’ve been hearing about Zumba for a long time and I’ve wanted to try it as well. But time constraints did not allow and besides, my gym is super convenient since we have one here at work. Finding a class elsewhere was simply too much work.

What is Zumba?

According to their website: The Zumba program is a fitness-party with a contagious blend of Latin and international rhythms that provides a fun and effective workout to a global community, either at home or in the gym…Using easy-to-follow moves and exotic, high-energy music, Zumba routines successfully tone and sculpt the body while burning fat.

I was the first one in the class. All excited to try something new. This was new to all of us, so the playing field was pretty level. And from what I heard from friends who tried it, it’s quite popular with the older crowd. So if a bunch of retirees could do it, how hard can it really be right?

I was immediately impressed by our instructor. Her wonderfully colourful outfit, think purple tights, hot pink sneakers and lime green top, was the first sign that this was going to be absolutely fun. Karen, our instructor, a petite, über-toned mother of 5, yes you read correctly, she has 5 kids and looks like she doesn’t even have one, reassured us that the hour-long class had only one rule: Do not stand still, if you get lost or can’t do a move do your own thing. Zumba is about having fun.

She wasn’t kidding.

Karen only spoke during the breaks between music changes and that was to encourage us. Such a change from regular aerobics and most definitely spin. It was both disconcerting and liberating to not have orders barked at me. After a crappy day at work, Zumba is an excellent way to loosen up and burn some calories as well.

We moved from Latin, to Bollywood to hip-hop to dancehall to a whole lot of booty shaking, the easy dance steps had us all in a party mood. Karen also said if we ever went to a Zumba class and the instructor played only Soca that it was not a Zumba class.

I was sweating so much after the “warm-up” I couldn’t believe that we were just “dancing”. I made a lot of errors, got lost many times and guess what? Nobody cared. I was laughing so hard most of the time it didn’t matter that I was turning counterclockwise instead of clockwise. Oh and those retirees are definitely on to something here!

The hour went by so quickly I couldn’t believe the class was over. Also I had so much energy afterward. I needed to keep moving. So I headed to the Savannah for a run. This is seems to be a common side effect from a Zumba class. The energy boost is incredible.

Reasons to try Zumba:

1. It’s awesome.

2. It does not feel like a workout. It feels like a party yet you are moving your whole body and after a crappy day at work, this is a fun way to burn some calories and get a good sweat.

3. Anyone can do it. It’s super easy, even if you think you have two left feet. As long as you can move you can Zumba.

4. The feeling afterward is awesome. After spin I feel like I can take on the world. After Zumba I simply feel energized and free, like all the stress of the day is left in the sweat on the floor.

5. It’s something different. If you’re in a gym rut, Zumba is a great way to add some spice to your gym routine.

Dear Stress

Zumba can teach us a lot about life. There are no manuals or instructions on how to do it, you learn as you go. There is no “right way to do it”. You just show up prepared to have fun and get moving. You make mistakes, you work hard, nobody cares if you look silly, you learn to laugh at yourself and most importantly you have fun. You keep going until the end of the class. Give it your best and have a good time. You truly have to be fully present in the moment because nothing else matters.

Tuesday evenings are now second only to Friday evenings. I absolutely cannot wait for my class next week.

I’m now a zumbaspinaerobicsyogaphile.

Do you Zumba? Don’t you just love it?

Good-For-You Green Juice

Good-for-you Green Smoothie

Good-for-you Green Smoothie

I found a simple green smoothie recipe on Pinterest and since I had all the ingredients in my fridge at the time, I decided to try it immediately. This was about 3 weeks ago. I have been drinking green smoothies at least 5 times a week ever since.

My biggest surprise was that the smoothie didn’t taste like I imagined it to with all that green stuff. It was delicious.

In my online research I’ve realized that there is no real right or wrong way to make a green smoothie and you should make your experience as fun as possible by experiementing with the fruits and veggies you like.

Here is the basic recipe I tried initially, after you decide if you like it or not and I bet you’ll probably like it better than you think…you can feel free to jazz it up and make it more you.

Basic recipe:
6oz plain Greek yogurt
2 handfuls of spinach
1 banana (it can be frozen, this will give the smoothie an ice-creamy texture/taste)
Ice

This makes about 16oz

Variations:

2 bananas makes a sweeter smoothie

I’ve tried different kinds of fruit: mango, pineapple and berries (frozen) and apples.

Of course if you use berries it will change the colour of your smoothie, still tastes great though.

Greens: Broccoli, Lettuse, Kale, Spinach, Celery

Ground Flax meal, soaked oats, even prunes for more fiber

I have also tried adding coconut milk to it. I used the milk in its natural state and I didn’t like that the spinach didn’t puree to its usual fine texture. I could still see the bits of spinach and that turned me off. So I decided to freeze the rest of the milk I had left in an ice cube tray and use maybe 2-3 cubes when I make my smoothie for the rest of the week. This worked out better than my last try. Smoothie tasted just as yummy.

I usually have my Green Smoothie for breakfast and if I have an early morning Spin class I follow it up mid-morning with an egg and a slice of toast. I’ve found, I’m not very hungry after I have my smoothie so if I have Spin at lunch I will have an apple for my mid-morning meal/snack.

There are lots of vitamins and minerals, enzymes and amino acids for healthy skin, hair, nails and teeth. In this drink form, you absorb the good stuff easily without having to eat a big salad. Who doesn’t like that?

Remember to have fun with your ingredients and enjoy doing somehting great for you body everyday.