This morning I lost all the remaining dignity I possessed (and believe me as a mother you’re not left with much). And guess what? I frickin’ loved it!
No I didn’t go to work with my skirt tucked into my pants, or feel my hold ups slip to my ankles as I pounded the city streets (that was last week). No, this morning I tried Zumba.
Oh my God dear lovely Milk readers – it is absolutely amazing. I am so excited I feel like a 5-yr-old loaded up on e after a birthday party.
It’s a mixture of dance styles – latin, african, caribbean. It is as high-energy as a nun on steriods, as raucous as a donkey on heat, as embarrassing as pole dancing in front of your granddad. But my God is it liberating.
It reminds me of a time when I was travelling in Mexico and we’d decided to take a short, unscheduled hop across to Isla de Mujeres in Belize. An amazing place with a real laid-back caribbean feel. We’d ended up at a bar on the beach, 3 white girls attracting some attention. One particular smooth belizian man was coaxing me into dancing with him, hands on my hips guiding me this way and that. “Loosen’ up ladeee, feel the rytherm”. Let’s just say within 5 minutes he’d handed me back my drink. My european ass just didn’t move like he wanted it to. More cement than sweet syrup.
In any case, I’m sure this is exactly what I looked like this morning. A caucasian nerd with as much rythym as an ageing lab rat. In my head I was Shakeera, all snake hips and bouncing booty. To the mirror, a pole-dancing nun. More Asamoah Gyan than Justin Trousersnake.
20 years ago I would’ve run out of that gym covering my face with my hands and shouting “shame”, but now that I’m in my 30s, I embraced my inner dork with gusto.
Just be sure not to tell Dita that Milk’s on the prowl, there’s no saying what might happen.
I’d love to try Zumba. I must admit I am a little concern about how it would probably make me realise just how unfit I am!!
forget about the fitness, it’s all about the hips.
haha, ever since I have watched the zumba adds (they used to go on forever between night programs), i have been thinking “huh? sure, it’s fun, it’s just latin dancin’” and i still think it’s a bit of a ripoff to sell it as a great discovery. but i guess it’s actually a lot of fun in a gym too.
good on ya
not a great discovery but very acessible and you don’t have to go anywhere near Waynem the 55 yr old single man with clammy, wandering hands…
Oh god. I have no rhythm either. Is embracing one’s utter lack of rhythm a sign of maturity? Or premature senility? I’m still a bit teenage about mine…
did i say i had no rhythm? i’m a spanish seniorita, umm, with clogs on
lol-think i need to try it.
defo. it’d give you a whole load of stuff to write about on your blog!
What a coincidence! A new fitness place has opened near me & they are advertising Zumba! I might go along now that I’m one year away from the big 60!
So do it J!
Most of the people at our class are over 50 – i think the older you are the more you throw caution to the wind and leave your dignity at the door – and you need that!
x
I love this post- I watch the Zumba class through the window at my gym every week as it’s just before the Body Pump class I go to- the instructor is amazing and dances like a sexy latina seductress, but most of the class just look like they’re muddling through and having a great time! I would love to have a go but I’m terrified!
yep, we all look utterly ridiculous, but that’s part of the charm. get in there and shake your booty girl ;<)
excellent, so pleased you enjoyed it! i have booked my 6 week session starting on monday after yonks of trying to get there. its good to hear positive stuff about it in the flesh as it were, the you tube clips look amazing but i was half expecting it not to be so wonderful in the actual classes!
you’ll love it. i have to say, went again yesterday with a different teacher and it wasn’t so good, so find one that really rocks the house!
I love that comment on the video “it’s not even the funky chicken, it’s the unfunky chicken”. I would feel braver about going to a Zumba class if they called it Unfunky Chicken.
that’ such a good idea. i so wanna be an unfunky chicken – BUCUCK!
I went last week for the first time too! Mine was in the local community centre and I was one of the youngest there so felt positively slutty the way I was shaking my ass but I figured id get my moneys worth you know..
That’s my life. Zumba and wanting a slow cooker.
SLUT! i love dancing like a slut – it is so liberating, he he
Let’s be clear though, I *do* wear pants to Zumba. I’m not that much of a slut.
My local gym runs free summer zumba in the park… so waddya reckon… totally embarrass myself in a public place??
xx
Yes Simone, you should, wear some tassles and shake that ass
Hmmm. I’ve heard good things about Zumba before. Might be worth giving it a go myself. You may have started a trend here!
zu zu zumbaaaa!
I’ve done a few Zumba classes and I have to admit that it’s the most fun I’ve had with my clothes on in years! I attend a small Zumba class with 5 other ladies that I know and it’s an absolute blast. Probably easier to do Zumba in a public place where you don’t know the other class members if you’re really gonna shake those hips and throw your dignity to the wind! It’s a fantastic workout too, wish I could find a more regular class. Go girls, what do you stand to lose? You’ll laugh so much that after the second song you don’t give a damn!
Everywhere I look people are talking about Zumba. I want to do it but I’m not sure it has infiltrated Lancashire yet – well, certainly not round here anyway. I want to do it so much that I almost (ALMOST) bought one of those special DVD’s and all the bits and pieces from an early morning infomercial on some weird Sky channel
Zumba is something I want to try …. but in the privacy of my own home.
nooo get out there and shame yourself! you will be liberated, i promise. x
Oh how I wish you’d videoed that!
I’m pondering trying Zumba but I’m not sure I’m “loose” enough for it!