Zumba

My knees only allow me to run about four days a week most weeks before they start to revolt. We have come to an agreement that if I cross train on the other days and don't run they will behave (try to not swell up too much AND we can get some good runs in on the days we agree to). Now generally my knees are kind and follow by this agreement and so I try to reciprocate. I have gotten creative with my cross training - in the winter I did a ton of swimming and recently (as you have probably read about several times) I got a new bike.

I am loving biking and I do still enjoy a good swim however, last weekend at synod assembly a friend of mine introduced me to Zumba. I had tried it once or twice before but nothing really, I had tried it in a huge group of ladies who all knew one another and apparently were professional dancers, or so it felt like to me (the one who had no clue what she was doing and felt like she was just flailing around in the room and looked ridiculous). My friend brought his laptop and a Zumba DVD and one night as we were all hanging out he said he was off to do Zumba, between our snickers I was intrigued. I wanted to try it. I wanted to try it outside of a ridiculously large group of people who all knew the routines like the back of their hands.

So another friend and I joined him, we tried it. AND I LIKED IT, seriously when I wasn't under the pressure of all the other people in the room and I didn't feel like someone was criticizing my inability to dance  we had a great time, worked up a serious sweat, and laughed at ourselves during many of the moves.

My friend gave me a zumba DVD before we left as a gift! I was jazzed. I have already done the DVD a couple times at my house and LOVE it! What a fun and new cross-training option.


What types of workout DVDs do you enjoy? (I do love all of Jillian's workout DVDs)
Have you tried Zumba? At home or in a gym?
What do you think of it?

New Fitness Class

          This morning I did it, I feel like I can pat myself on the back just a little for a moment. Yes, I am a pastor, yes it  people person, however I HATE going new places/to new things alone! Seriously I don't know why but it seems like the worst thing ever to me. Unless it is a state park or something where I can take Dakota and we can go off and hope to not see anyone. (I love people, but I also love time with just Dakota and me.) Anyways, back to the point of this story, for months (literally months) I have been telling myself that I should go try the group power class at the ymca here in town in the morning, and for months I have been making excuses: I don't want to get up (class starts at 5:40 am and you have to set up your weights and stuff starting at 5:30 am), I don't know anyone, I don't feel like it, blah blah blah insert lame excuse here. Well today I did it! I went to bed early last night (some days a small miracle to be home at a decent hour to go to bed early enough to get up to get to class) and set my alarm for before the crack of dawn.
          This morning as my alarm went off I knew it was time to make a decision, to go to class or not. I couldn't come up with a lame enough excuse to keep me in bed, so I got up, let the dog out (she was not happy to see that it was still dark out and begged to be put back in her kennel before I left), ate a small breakfast, and was off to the ymca. I pulled into the parking lot, there was a handful of cars, none that I recognized (I secretly was hoping that I would know someone), and proceeded inside. After dropping my sweats in my locker I headed into class nervously. People were hussling and bussling setting up weights, bars, benches, and filling out little cards. I had no clue what was going on.
        After all of about two seconds looking around someone recognized me, someone I teach swimming lessons with on occasion (she subs from time to time). I felt like I had almost walked into the Cheers bar off of tv, everyone knew everyone's name and were rapidly catching up on life, after a few introductions, a quick overview from an instructor, we were off and going for the next hour. While confused from time to time, it wasn't impossible to catch on to (which I had convinced myself time and time again that it would be [I Zumba-ed once - I am a rotten Zumba-er]), the work out was wonderful, I am certain I will feel it later, and dare I say I enjoyed the class and look forward to going back again.
         Trying something totally outside my box wasn't as totally awful as I imagined it would be, it wasn't horrible and scary, and while lost for moments at a time, it was totally possible to catch on and I look forward to more group power classes. If I had a sticker chart for myself today I would totally have given myself one for trying something new.


How do you feel about stepping into something new and different?
Do you like group fitness classes?
What is your favorite group fitness class?