I mentioned a little while ago that I won a contest that earned me a free Zumba instructor training, as well as $200 worth of Zumba gear. Well, in case you wondered what that looked like, here it is! (Well, technically I paid $6 in shipping…)
My hubs and I went to a Zumbathon this past weekend at our gym. Much to my chagrin, the hosts thought it was a “nice day”, and thus decided to hold the event previously slated for the gym outside in the 85 degree heat. I’m not gonna lie, my attitude was far from stellar upon receiving this news. I’m not a fan of being out in the sun, let alone exercising in it. I ran back to the car, grabbed my sunscreen and sunglasses, and made the most of things. On the plus side, I managed to win another contest, and when given the choice, I chose this snazzy hat.
I realize neither of my previous two paragraphs are on point for the subject line of this post, but I promise I’ll get there. I’ve been experimenting with different types of fitness classes lately, and I’ve been attending group fitness classes since I was old enough to have a gym membership at New Lady Fitness. I’ve learned that fitness instructors come in all shapes, sizes, and skill levels.
Having attended fitness classes both as a couch potato and fitness enthusiast, I’ve learned the importance of demonstrating different levels. Someone brand new to fitness is going to be overwhelmed if all you’re doing is jumping, lunges, squats, etc. At the same time, if all you do is step touch and the same 4 moves for an entire 4 minute song, a more fit person will quickly grow bored and annoyed that you’re wasting her time.
Right now, as I contemplate taking serious the idea of being a Zumba instructor, I am paying close attention to the things I respect about great instructors, as well as the things that frustrate me as a student. One of the most important things for me when actually showing up for a class is that I want to work. If I am going to take an hour out of my day to dedicate to fitness, I want to feel like I’m doing something. This past Saturday, I was the crazy person adding jumps and skips while everyone was casually following the instructors lead. I was doing everything I could to get my heartrate up.
When taking a fitness class, part of the responsibility is on the instructor to give you a great workout. The other responsibility is on you, to follow his or her lead, and to push yourself. If showing up is all you can do some days, awesome. But if you’re feeling good, it is up to you to take your body further than is comfortable. Deepen that squat, lift a little heavier, jump a little higher. Whatever it means to you, make the most of your time. This same concept applies to your regular workouts. Ultimately, you are the only one who can push yourself. Even the best personal trainer and best instructor cannot do the work for you. Showing up is the hard part. Once you’re there, there is no reason to not make the most of it. Find one way to take your workout to the next level, even if only for a short bit, and as Nike says, just do it. After all, we are all works in progress.
