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Zumba
Aug 11, 2014 19:16:59 GMT
Post by evelynr on Aug 11, 2014 19:16:59 GMT
I don't think I've ever been so excited about exercise! Does anyone else zumba? I've always struggled with weight but have basically been active most of my adult life, mostly using my treadmill - - - boring. The music at zumba is so much fun, the classes are full of energy, it is just really, really fun. I always look forward to classes, I did it 3 times this week, hoping to lose weight again. Only problem is that my knees seem to be kind of sore, it is a lot of high energy jumping.
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Zumba
Aug 11, 2014 19:28:30 GMT
Post by peajays on Aug 11, 2014 19:28:30 GMT
I LOVE Zumba! Our instructor is amazing, and her choreo is fun! There is a lot of pivoting with zumba, so that might also be why your knees are hurting....its best to wear "non" running shoes, or wear dance socks over your shoes....you can improvise dance socks by cutting the tops off of a pair of thin socks, and just putting them over the toe part of your shoes....there are several people in my class that do this.
Glad that you've found something that will keep you motivated and having fun!
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,595
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 11, 2014 19:28:28 GMT
Post by MDscrapaholic on Aug 11, 2014 19:28:28 GMT
I did a Zumba class at work a month ago, six weeks of fun! Boy did they make me sweat! Love Zumba, was sorry when the class ended.
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,770
Location: So. Calif.
Jun 25, 2014 23:22:29 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 12, 2014 0:03:39 GMT
Post by garcia5050 on Aug 12, 2014 0:03:39 GMT
I try very hard to go to a class once a week, and then do the wii (zumba) at home another couple of times during the week. My knees have never gotten used to it, so I've started doing some 'low impact' version of moves, just to keep me from stopping. I've only been going for a year. The oldest lady in the room is about 60. She goes 5 times a week and does a low impact version throughout the whole class. She looks fantastic. I asked her how much weight she has lost in the past year and she said she has only lost 5 pounds, but has gone down 4 sizes. From 16 to 10.
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ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,020
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 12, 2014 0:07:11 GMT
Post by ddly on Aug 12, 2014 0:07:11 GMT
I did it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. That instructor stop teaching and a new class started but I didn't care for the instructor. I stopped going.
Lisa D.
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Post by evelynr on Aug 12, 2014 0:18:03 GMT
Yes, I find different instructors make a different class too. I never thought about getting dance / zumba shoes. When you mention it peajays, yes it seems to be the pivoting that hurts. Thanks so much!
This message board is just the best. I am always overwhelmed with the amount of great, helpful advice I get on any number of things. So glad I found this 'refugee' version, don't know what I would do without you all!
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Post by Merge on Aug 12, 2014 0:19:53 GMT
I like Zumba but most of the instructors I've tried want to mix it up with hip hop dance. I'm pretty bad at Latin-style dancing but utterly ridiculous at hip hop.
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Post by missfrenchjessica on Aug 12, 2014 0:20:21 GMT
I love the idea of zumba. Actually DOING it is a different story. I have very poor coordination. I often tell other students in the class to give me a wide berth and not follow me 'cause it doesn't matter if I've taken the class 1 time or 100 times, I still forget what to do, where to turn etc. I did, however, finally figure out that zumba is the newly packaged aerobics classes of the '90s, imo. Once I thought of it that way, I found it slightly easier to follow the moves. I am, however, not all that nice to look at--I lack the girating hip action gene that's needed for the class! LOL!
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kateb
Shy Member
Posts: 36
Location: Connecticut
Aug 1, 2014 2:03:58 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 12, 2014 1:57:44 GMT
Post by kateb on Aug 12, 2014 1:57:44 GMT
I have been doing Zumba for a year and a half. I still love it. I use Ryka sneakers - I believe they are the Infusion style and they help with pivoting. My gym also offers Yoga classes and I really love that class too.
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bugsy
Shy Member
Posts: 10
Jul 1, 2014 2:22:52 GMT
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Post by bugsy on Aug 12, 2014 2:07:03 GMT
Yes!! I loved Zumba so much when I started a couple of years ago that I became an instructor last fall. It was the only exercise I could stick with for the longest time. It's kinda like the gateway drug of fitness though because I like so many other activities now! LOL I've lost almost 100 pounds and teach 3-4 Zumba classes per week. My knees bothered me quite a bit in the very beginning and right after I started teaching. A couple of things that helped me were building up the muscles around my knees (squats, etc.) for support and taking glucosamine sulfate 2x a day. Now my knees don't bother me at all.
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Post by jlynnbarth on Aug 12, 2014 2:24:02 GMT
I love Zumba too! I don't go to classes though, I do it in my living room i have all the Zumba cds so I just mix them up so I don't get bored. I have lost 60 lbs and have kept it off for 2 years. I do it 5 days a week.
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Zumba
Aug 12, 2014 2:47:50 GMT
Post by cadoodlebug on Aug 12, 2014 2:47:50 GMT
I do Zumba Gold every Tues and Fri morning. I love it!
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Zumba
Aug 12, 2014 19:18:48 GMT
Post by finsup on Aug 12, 2014 19:18:48 GMT
Yes!! I loved Zumba so much when I started a couple of years ago that I became an instructor last fall. It was the only exercise I could stick with for the longest time. It's kinda like the gateway drug of fitness though because I like so many other activities now! /quote] Same here! I've been an instructor for about 2-1/2 years now. For those of you whose joints hurt, a few more suggestions in addition to the other good ones: modifying your moves is a-ok. Or you could try a Zumba Gold class. Or try more than one, actually, because some are very slow but others are high-energy sweatfests but with low-impact moves. Or try an Aqua Zumba class since that's not as hard on your joints. Even if your joints don't bother you try an Aqua Zumba class because it's a blast! (Although as an instructor that's hardest one on my knees--we stand outside the water to teach.) For those of you who think you're not coordinated enough for Zumba, untrue! My class motto is "There are no mistakes, only solos!"
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 9, 2024 10:16:37 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 12, 2014 19:28:46 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2014 19:28:46 GMT
I loved Zumba when I did it. I really need to go back. It was so much fun, made me sweat and I lost inches.
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Zumba
Aug 12, 2014 19:33:49 GMT
Post by rumplesnat on Aug 12, 2014 19:33:49 GMT
I'm am unbelievably uncoordinated when it comes to Zumba. Give me tae bo, kickboxing, tabata or HIIT any day. I'm a freaking buffoon within 4 steps of a Zumba routine! I have great respect for those of you who can do it!
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,720
Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Aug 12, 2014 19:36:13 GMT
I take Zumba about once a week and have a lot of fun. However, when I look at myself in the mirror during class, I always think of myself as a "Pinterest FAIL" or one of those of memes that says "What I think I look like. . . what I really look like!" It ain't pretty. . .
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Post by khaleesi on Aug 12, 2014 20:21:10 GMT
Talk to the instructor about some low impact ideas for your knees or even some modifications that can be made.
I love Zumba and sadly have gotten away from it. It isn't pretty and I have no coordination but I love how addictive it is and I figure even if I'm not doing it "right", I'm still getting exercise!
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maurchclt
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,646
Jul 4, 2014 16:53:27 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 12, 2014 23:25:23 GMT
Post by maurchclt on Aug 12, 2014 23:25:23 GMT
Used to do it and really miss it, having knee issues right now
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Post by monicad on Aug 13, 2014 1:00:02 GMT
I love Zumba! Started going late 2012 but got really into it last year. I belong to a YMCA and we have a couple of wonderful instructors that I LOVE. I typically go twice a week but sometimes more. The songs are so good I've bought a few for my workout playlist. It's such a fun class!
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 13:07:27 GMT
Post by AussieMeg on Aug 15, 2014 13:07:27 GMT
I really loved it when I did it. They used to do Zumba classes at the Curves that I went to. One of the instructors was male (it was a bit odd having a male in a women only gym) and he was so awesome, he had the MOVES baby! And he was so funny. I wish I knew where he did classes now, I'd go again. I'm glad you posted this, because I really need to start exercising again, and I would love to get back into Zumba. ETA: There was a gorgeous 80yo woman who went to my gym, and she sometimes did the Zumba classes too. It was so wonderful seeing her giving it a go. Obviously she did a modified gentle version of it. She always looked like she was having so much fun.
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oblibby
Full Member
Posts: 211
Location: Bonnie Scotland
Jul 10, 2014 10:30:12 GMT
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Post by oblibby on Aug 15, 2014 13:10:14 GMT
I'm in the minority here I think. I did a few classes when it first became popular but came away feeling like it was just another aerobics class, perhaps because the 2 aerobics instructors I used to go to were ex dancers, so their classes were quite dance based anyway
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 13:15:17 GMT
Post by monklady123 on Aug 15, 2014 13:15:17 GMT
I've always wanted to try it but have been too afraid to go. lol. I have NO desire to be the old one in a class of "sweet young things". Yes, I know that older people take it, some of you mentioned that in this thread. But with my luck I'd get the class with all 20-somethings who know how to do all the moves and who look great in their dance clothes. No thank you. If I ever saw an ad for a Zumba class for ages 50+ I'd be there in a heartbeat.
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Post by shanni on Aug 15, 2014 13:28:04 GMT
I would recommend getting shoes that are just for zumba. I love my Ryka's. They make it so much easier on the knees. Also, I don't jump. Not only am I too out of shape for the high impact moves, it hurts my knees too much. So I just modify the moves a bit. I HATE seeing myself in the mirror during zumba. I do everything I can to avoid that. Most of the ladies there are super fit and coordinated. I feel (and look like!) a whale out there trying to move my flubber. The women there are so nice and encouraging though, and never make me feel like I'm too fat to be doing this. I find that the best way to enjoy zumba is to not take myself too seriously! If I can just laugh and have fun, I'm fine. If I try to get all the moves just right and think about what I must look like, then it's a miserable class. For those thinking about trying it- give it a go! It really is a lot of fun!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 9, 2024 10:16:37 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 13:36:51 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 13:36:51 GMT
I've always wanted to try it but have been too afraid to go. lol. I have NO desire to be the old one in a class of "sweet young things". Yes, I know that older people take it, some of you mentioned that in this thread. But with my luck I'd get the class with all 20-somethings who know how to do all the moves and who look great in their dance clothes. No thank you. If I ever saw an ad for a Zumba class for ages 50+ I'd be there in a heartbeat. I don't do Zumba, but something similar. I have been doing Jazzercise for about 1-1/2 years now. It is the only exercise I've ever stuck too. Lots of popular music, dance type moves, very fun. The age of people in the classes I go to are 20s to 70s (I'm in the middle in my 40s). Lots of women in their 50s too.
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 14:21:14 GMT
Post by annabella on Aug 15, 2014 14:21:14 GMT
I love it! But I prefer teachers that play current music of all classic latin.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,899
Jun 26, 2014 22:49:09 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 15:41:21 GMT
Post by tracylynn on Aug 15, 2014 15:41:21 GMT
I'm going for the first time tonight!! Kinda excited. If I like it I'll probably try and go once a week or so. I'm not a member at this gym so it's a $5 drop in each time, which I'm told for Zumba is actually really cheap.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 9, 2024 10:16:37 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 16:02:02 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 16:02:02 GMT
I love Zumba! I'm not doing it right now because I've been training to walk my first half marathon and I'm too tired to go. Once the half is over in 2 weeks, I plan on going back 3-4 times per week! Good teachers can make all of the difference so if you don't love Zumba, you should definitely try another class or teacher. They can be really different.
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 16:11:13 GMT
Post by gizzy on Aug 15, 2014 16:11:13 GMT
This is me, too! My kids laugh at how bad I am. I haven't got the courage up to go to a class yet. I do the wii at home.
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 19:21:45 GMT
Post by evelynr on Aug 15, 2014 19:21:45 GMT
I know what many of you mean about the mirrors and trying to avoid them. Some of the classes I take are "mirror-less" and that is fine by me. I also urge you shy peas to try the classes versus the home zumba because the energy of the group is what makes it so much more fun. Nobody really looks at anyone other than the instructor so don't be shy.
BTW, I haven't been able to find real zumba shoes yet, but one website suggested duct tape on the pivot points. I tried that on Wednesday night - I think it helped a bit.
Thanks!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 9, 2024 10:16:37 GMT
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Zumba
Aug 15, 2014 19:23:59 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 19:23:59 GMT
Can you wear jazz shoes for Zumba? I would like to go when I have time but don't have proper footwear.
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