What's all the Rhumba with Zumba?

Zumba ... I've heard about it. I've seen status updates on facebook of friends at Zumba class. I've seen gym schedules with Zumba classes salt and peppered in between Body Pump and Spin Class. I even watched several of the zillions of Zumba videos on Youtube which only piqued my curiosity more. I watched one video as several unfortunately uncoordinated ladies stood out from the crowd, going right when everyone went left. I was amused and horrified for those poor ladies. I appeased my empathy by telling myself that I may have been the only one that noticed them.

Then a friend sent out an invitation to come to her gym's Zumba class. It was bring a friend free day and I took her up on the free friend offer.

So, I "Zumba'd". While I was in class, swinging my arms, flinging them up and down, jumping right then left, salsa-ing, swiveling my hips, and biting my lips, all I could do was fast forward about 20 years. When people will talk about Zumba the way they talk about "Jazzersize". In my opinion, it is basically an updated version of yesteryear's Jazzersize, set to the tune of today's hardcore rock and rap.

I consider myself a pretty coordinated individual. I'd even say I am a pretty good dancer. I have an inner ego that aspires to be on "So You Think You Can Dance". I daydream that I have an untapped talent, and dancing is that one thing that everyone would be surprised and say, "I never knew she was such an amazing dancer."

And then I "Zumba'd." I never felt so uncoordinated in my life.

I went right when everyone went left. I flung my arms up when everyone flung them down. I swiveled in so many circles I got dizzy.

Although my dreams of "So You Think You Can Dance" were dashed, I had fun. I apparently do not have the skill to watch a dance sequence once and then be able to execute it with perfection. But that's not the point. Perhaps the point is to make exercise fun. And fun it was. So to everyone out there reading, I say do it. At least once, to see what all this Zumba is about!