I Survived: Zumba Senato™
The thought of having to go to a dance style class makes me wiggle and squirm and a few years ago you couldn’t have paid me to go to one. Then one day, when I was invited to try a dance style class I came to the realization that I ask people to step out of their comfort zone every day and was being a hypocrite by not trying something that intimidated me.
Now, every time the opportunity to take a dance style class presents itself. I timidly “say yes, sign me up!”
Last night, I headed to the Kips Bay Crunch Gym to take a brand new class, Zumba Senato™ taught by Beto Perez. In case you aren’t familiar with the background of this workout, Beto created Zumba®. I should also mention that Zumba Senato™ utilizes a chair as part of the workout. Talk about intimidation and stepping outside of my comfort zone!
After class with Beto
Last night’s class was a preview for the program that launches at Crunch Gym in New York in February and nationwide this summer. The workout utilizes a chair to strengthen abs, upper body and glutes while using choreography to keep your heart rate up.
While I was embarrassed to notice people in the gym peaking into the windows near where I was standing throughout class, I managed to make it through to the end without physically injuring myself or anyone else. I actually was proud of myself for making through the entire class without quitting.
Some people worry about quitting races. I worry about quitting workout classes that take lots of coordination.
The workout was fun and required me to move in ways my body doesn’t know how to move. Beto and his crew were super motivating. The music was upbeat and the vibe was such that it didn’t matter what you were doing, as long as you were moving. Plus, the chair actually helped because it meant I wasn’t dancing the entire class.
Am I ready for a full hour of Zumba®? No.
Would I go back to try another Zumba Senato™ class? Yes!
Your assignment for the weekend: Sign-up for the class or workout style that intimidates you the most and then go in there and own it!
{I was not compensated for this post. I received a gift bag at the event. All opinions and klutziness expressed are my own.}
Going Back For {the} More {Fitness Magazine 1/2 Marathon}
What memories do you have of your worst running race?
Did you learn anything from that race?
What made that race stand out from other “bad races” that made it your worst?
Thanks Jess, for such a positive start to this blog post.
If you’ve ran a number of races you probably have one race that stands out as being “the bad one”.
My bad run happened on April 25, 2010 at the More/Fitness Magazine 1/2 Marathon. You can read all the glories details here or spare yourself with a quick summary: It was raining and cold. I felt like $#!T. I complained a lot, then I cried and cried some more.
When you ran that bad race, did you plan revenge or swear that specific race off forever?
I don’t know about you, but I did the mature thing… I swore that race off for good.
That was until a few weeks ago. When in my inbox was a lovely email from someone at Fitness Magazine asking if I was interested in covering the race (for FCITC) or running the race.
To me, that email was a call to action. I could hit delate and pretend I never saw it. Or I could take it on as a sign that this was a race that was meant to be conquered once and for all.
Guess what I did?
I didn’t hit delete. Instead I said “sign me up, cause I’m going to own the More/Fitness 1/2 marathon and teach Central Park a thing or two.”
You’re right, those weren’t my exact words, but those are my exact thoughts.
I’m planning revenge and it happens on April 15, 2012.
{FTC: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary entry to the race from Fitness Magazine.}
Class Review: Inner Strength @ Equinox {instructor Nadia Zaki}
Class: Inner Strength
Class Location: Equinox at 19th & Broadway
Instructor: Nadia Zaki
Class Description: “Created by Nadia Zaki to help you strengthen and stretch, this dance-based conditioning class includes exercises that target balance, focus, posture and alignment” (From the Equinox website).
Reviewer: Laura
Favorite things about the class:
- The instructor’s focus on technique and posture throughout the class really help make the movements more effective. I was definitely sore (in a good way) afterward.
- It was a challenging class yet the vibe was relaxing as the music was more classical and soothing. Its real focus is on the strengthening.
- After class I felt energized and ready to take on the world. It was just one of those mood shifter classes that I was grateful to have taken.
Least favorite things about the class:
- It was a smaller room that it normally would be held. So space was tighter than normal.
- I wish it would be offer more times during the week (evenings)
Overall class rating: 5 0ut of 5 stars
Additional Comments: This class focuses on building inner strength through a series of core strengthening class. It is dance-based and it focuses on balance, posture and alignment.
It is similar to a barre class as a lot of the movements are ballet based. We did more movement along the class. We didn’t use any weights or body bar.
I really loved this class. I found it was the right combination of challenging yet rewarding. Nadia is a great teacher.
Submit a NYC workout review here.
