Zumba classes heat up the South Shore

If Zumba is new to you, allow me to make the introduction.  Zumba is a hot dance/exercise class that combines Salsa, Merengue, Samba, with just a touch of hip-hop flavor. If you look around during any session you’ll find mostly women, a few brave men, trained dancers, gymnasts, 30-somethings, 40-somethings and beyond. There will be those who get the beat and those who live in a rhythm-less nation — but It doesn’t matter, we’re all here every week and loving it.

  Why Zumba?  I realized it was time to get my butt out of the Lazy Boy and get my blood pumping again. The alternatives were a gym membership I’d never use or a personal trainer I couldn’t afford. 

Admittedly, I was more than a little scared on the first night of classes. The instructor, Lilly Leon entered the gym with a smile, dressed in a black tank, cargo pants and sneakers. As the speakers boomed to life, Lilly started moving and we fell in line, like obedient mice following her lead.

I didn’t want to embarrass myself dancing around like an uncoordinated fool. However, after a few minutes into the class, I realized I would be OK.  There can be as many as 100 people lined up in rows, and Lilly moves around the room so that we can all keep her in view.  The choreography is pretty simple, but it works every body part. Self-conscious at first, but eventually you forget about everybody else, and it’s like you’re at home with just your favorite radio station for company.

  The hour-long class consists of several 5-to-8-minute sets, taking you through an eclectic menu of Latin, Caribbean, hip-hop and sometimes a little Tina Turner. After each set is a break just long enough for a sip of water and a swipe of your towel before the music starts again.  I’ll admit the first class was hard work and I didn’t think I’d last the whole hour (keep in mind that Zumba is, after all, aerobic exercise, which is not easy for a recovering couch potato, like me). In the end however, it was Lilly’s energy and the partying demeanor that kept me going.

  Zumba classes for one night a week for eight weeks costs less than $100. I found this to be a worthy investment and a welcomed escape.  Where else can I go dancing without having to dress up?  Where else can I listen to the kind of music I like without my teenagers changing the station?  Get moving — try Zumba.

Michelle Somers is a freelance writer living in Baldwin.