Wednesday 17 August 2011

Om shanti shanti....or ye-ho!

I used to love yoga - and I have done yoga for years. In fact, I did yoga up to 34 weeks pregnant with the twins and up to today I am convinced that it was a contributing factor to the success of the pregnancy. I started yoga at a small studio ran by a little Indian man with a squint eye.He was totally brilliant and by week 8 or 12 weeks he had you doing a head stand. He also taught me deep full yoga breathing and to listen to my body. Later I moved to a well known Pretoria yoga studio,which I loved. But now I have a gym membership at one of the national gyms, connected to our medical aid. And sadly, I find gym yoga a very watered down version of what yoga should be. Never the less, I jump at the opportunity to go to a class when I get the chance but as most parents Hunter and I have to play tag-team in order to get to the gym.

On Saturday morning we got up just too late for him to make the 7:10 spinning class or for me to make the 7:00 yoga class. But when he offered me the chance to go to gym I jumped at the opportunity and at the chance to attend my first Zumba class. Gosh, I was plain scared but grabbed my big girl panties and stormed ahead. I did warn the instructor that it was my first Zumba class and that after months of colds etc my fitness was doubtful. And I started planning a blogpost on how hard it was etc.

But gosh, so much the opposite. I loved it! Totally loved it. And I made it through the whole hour without having to rest. Yeah! Ok, I did nearly die, but I think the smile never left my face - I had so much fun! This was the most fun I had in a gym in many many years.  I was rather stiff and sore in some places on Sunday - notably the upper abs. So now I am addicted - I find myself scanning the surrounding gyms for Zumba classes at times I may be able to go.Even just possibly. So the toss up will be yoga class or Zumba class!

But let's face it - pretending that you are Shakira for an hour, all sexy and samba-like, without anybody laughing at you is the best feeling ever!

12 comments:

  1. As you know I love ZUMBA. Ok I have to use the DVDS as for the moment I live in the sticks. I have been doing the dvds about 4 times a week for 45 min. Kind of on and off because of the flu season but with very little change to my diet I have lost 12cm around my waist in 12 weeks and that includes 5 weeks where I maybe got in one workout a week. It really works and I am totally addicted. I aslo used to be a yoga fan and I think I will continue with yoga sometimes but Zumba is just so much more fun.

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  2. Zumba...that is something I want to do...it looks like so much fun.

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  3. Wow - you go girl.  Awesome feeling sexy like Shakira and not caring about what anyone may think
    :-)   Not that I know much about it, but now I'm curious and will need to go find out more.

    Hope you having a fab evening!

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  4. I am happy to hear that you loved the Zumba. 
    I on the other hand, don't like it. I just can't get the steps right and that frustrate me tremendously. But we are all different and I am just happy that you found something that is going to make you fit :)
    Well done

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  5. I loved being involved with the Zumba challenge through Girl Guides. And knowing how the first routine made me feel, I'm sure you'll be going back for more soon! xx

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  6. I have started yoga again but at gym with 2 new instructors and I am loving it. The one lady does a really amazing class!!

    My old instructor does zumba and I loved her - its a bit too fast and co-ordinate for me but it looks fun :)

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  7. Sounds wonderful. I've been doing yoga for 13.5 years... but I think you have just convinced me to try ZUMBA! I like a bit of fun. How co-ordinated do you need to be?

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  8. Go you! The endorphins clearly love you a lot. I am VERY unco-ordinated so Zumba didn't work so well for me. I am thinking of trying it again once I have more fitness level. 

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  9. I've never had the guts to step into a zumba class (because I have at least 7 left feet) but it always looks like loads of fun. 

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  10. @8e4f28b7f7ce893d594efa691e0cd2c2:disqus I actually think you should be fine, being a horse person and so!

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  11. Jane Fraser I am really not a dancer and I did fine. Just very basic co-ords and she showed us all the moves in between routines.

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  12. @526350ebf642a2873ae5bbb618e71f90 I am sure you will be great at it.

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So what's on your mind?