Friday, September 13, 2013 – Dance , Magic Dance (My kids will get the reference.)
OMG! (Oh my Google!)
I had the best day ever (since the last best day ever – but still.)
I participated in the Instructor Training for Zumba Basic, and our instructor was Ricardo Marmitte http://ricardomarmitte.zumba.com/ . He is an Internationally Known Dancer and a World Famous Zumba Performer and Teacher. And truly, a Very Sweet Lad. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK_NsS98PH4
*****
I confess, last night I was really worried. I’m 56, my memory (for steps) is terrible, my agility is worse, and I was worried I’d be too tired to get through the classes.
Well, the night before, I set my clock, packed a suitcase of food and water, and waited for 7am…
Poor Laurence. It is his greatest joy to go to bed early on Thursday evenings, and sleep in on Friday’s until 7:45 am. I was up until midnight, up again at 5 am, and up for the day at 7:15. (That’s three wake-ups.) Then I, out of habit, brought him his orange juice, then his coffee. Next I headed into the shower. (Three more wake-ups.) Then I went in and out of the bedroom a few times, making sure I hadn’t forgotten my extra gym shoes, a second set of shorts and a T-shirt, and, after that, my calendar. We were up to 9 sleep interruptions in 45 minutes when Laurence finally said, “When are you thinking of leaving?!”
*****
I got to the location – the YMCA – and parked in the Older Adult Centre parking (half-price) and found my way to the gym. Just as I expected, all the other participants were in their 20s. And when we started the Master Class workout (I had only ever done Zumba-Grannies before this) I could see that everyone had been doing Zumba for a long time – they knew the music and the moves. And I learned that many of them had been dancers or gymnasts.
AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP UP, NO PROBLEM!
Granted, I was not as graceful – not even close – and I missed some of the steps, but I never felt I wanted things to be over. I was actually sad when we did our final cool-down of the day. Zumba is both the drug and the cure for many illnesses, methinks. Tonight I will dream of Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia and Reggaeton.
In theory, I now qualify to be a Zumba Instructor. In practice, I am nowhere near ready. I would have to do months of intensive Zumba classes to feel comfortable with the steps and body movements. (Not that I would ever be comfortable dancing to “Blurred Lines,” but that is another thing.)
Tomorrow I may not feel quite as enthusiastic. I expect I moved a number of body parts that I haven’t used in the last 30 years. My usual Saturday exercise format is to go fast-walking for an hour while listening to the CBC shows about the worst of national and international politics. Occasionally, I turn it to a commercial station only to have to hear the gossip and music of some of the world’s shallowest and most vulgar performers. Gah!
Happily, later on Saturday afternoon, the French CBC Two has a jazz program on – and I love to listen and tap around to it.
What is it Friedrich Nietzche said? “We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”
I had the best day ever (since the last best day ever – but still.)
I participated in the Instructor Training for Zumba Basic, and our instructor was Ricardo Marmitte http://ricardomarmitte.zumba.com/ . He is an Internationally Known Dancer and a World Famous Zumba Performer and Teacher. And truly, a Very Sweet Lad. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK_NsS98PH4
*****
I confess, last night I was really worried. I’m 56, my memory (for steps) is terrible, my agility is worse, and I was worried I’d be too tired to get through the classes.
Well, the night before, I set my clock, packed a suitcase of food and water, and waited for 7am…
Poor Laurence. It is his greatest joy to go to bed early on Thursday evenings, and sleep in on Friday’s until 7:45 am. I was up until midnight, up again at 5 am, and up for the day at 7:15. (That’s three wake-ups.) Then I, out of habit, brought him his orange juice, then his coffee. Next I headed into the shower. (Three more wake-ups.) Then I went in and out of the bedroom a few times, making sure I hadn’t forgotten my extra gym shoes, a second set of shorts and a T-shirt, and, after that, my calendar. We were up to 9 sleep interruptions in 45 minutes when Laurence finally said, “When are you thinking of leaving?!”
*****
I got to the location – the YMCA – and parked in the Older Adult Centre parking (half-price) and found my way to the gym. Just as I expected, all the other participants were in their 20s. And when we started the Master Class workout (I had only ever done Zumba-Grannies before this) I could see that everyone had been doing Zumba for a long time – they knew the music and the moves. And I learned that many of them had been dancers or gymnasts.
AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP UP, NO PROBLEM!
Granted, I was not as graceful – not even close – and I missed some of the steps, but I never felt I wanted things to be over. I was actually sad when we did our final cool-down of the day. Zumba is both the drug and the cure for many illnesses, methinks. Tonight I will dream of Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia and Reggaeton.
In theory, I now qualify to be a Zumba Instructor. In practice, I am nowhere near ready. I would have to do months of intensive Zumba classes to feel comfortable with the steps and body movements. (Not that I would ever be comfortable dancing to “Blurred Lines,” but that is another thing.)
Tomorrow I may not feel quite as enthusiastic. I expect I moved a number of body parts that I haven’t used in the last 30 years. My usual Saturday exercise format is to go fast-walking for an hour while listening to the CBC shows about the worst of national and international politics. Occasionally, I turn it to a commercial station only to have to hear the gossip and music of some of the world’s shallowest and most vulgar performers. Gah!
Happily, later on Saturday afternoon, the French CBC Two has a jazz program on – and I love to listen and tap around to it.
What is it Friedrich Nietzche said? “We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”