Ducks @ Oregon - University of Oregon

ZUMBA

Katie D.

January 31, 2010 - 7:37 PM

Hit it!

Zumba is a little hard to describe. I keep telling people that it's basically Jazzercising to Latin American music. It's salsa, hip-hop, and a little tango. It's shimmying and shaking. It's wild arm movements.

It is the highlight of my week.

I'll try to get some video up here for you in the coming weeks. For now you'll just have to imagine: something like 60 college-aged women and one brave man arranged in loose rows in a large room in Gerlinger Hall. Then picture our Zumba instructor, grinning like crazy and wearing a little microphone, walking us through the various hip shaking and spinning dance moves. Then imagine all of us trying to copy her elegance in wild and ungainly joy.

That's my one-credit Zumba class, and is the reason I'm maintaining mental health this term.

Like any other college student at a loss for words, I went to the internet for a more specific definition. I stumbled upon the zumba.com website, which is quite the experience in and of itself. It also includes this great description:

"Let's face it, working out can be healthy, rewarding and beneficial. Working out can be lots of things, but it's never been known to be an exhilarating experience...UNTIL NOW!

The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba® Fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life!"

The description continues, complete with the history and origins of Zumba (which started in Columbia) and various techniques, classes, merchandise, and locations.

I first Zumba-ed with my mom last summer, when we went to a couple of classes at our local rec center in Littleton, Colorado. I thought the whole experience was a hoot: a bunch of women flailing around and trying to shimmy to fast-paced music. It was great. I wasn't graceful, and I spent most songs desperately trying to decide whether to attempt the arm motions or to focus on the footwork. It took me three classes before I decided that perfection was a ridiculous goal, and that I'd just give it all I had and love it.

There are very few chances for me to let go of all my plans and worrying in an average week, and just dance like mad. Rock climbing serves this purpose, as well, but I haven't climbed yet this term because the University was gracious enough to provide a beautiful new rock wall that unfortunately is running behind schedule. Until I hit the wall again, it's Zumba or nothing for my workouts.

I have three major reasons for loving Zumba:

1. The music. Mostly in Spanish, often hilarious remixes. I love it.
2. I love dancing. Always.
3. I'm not a good dancer. Not falling over takes so much concentration that there's no extra space to worry about essays or event planning. It's just music and movement.

This term has been one blessing after another. I am so happy about all the opportunities and plans and new experiences. I am more and more excited about my internship as time goes on, and am so glad I was a part of Sister Helen's visit. I have so much to be grateful for, and so much that occupies my mind.

But this can also become a burden. It is all too easy to become consumed by all the work and all the scheduling. It's easy to stress out. Even when I'm walking from class to class, I'm often rushing to make a couple of phone calls or trying to remember my list of things to do. I need some fast-paced music to drive the worries out of my head. I need an hour every Tuesday and Thursday during which I cannot possibly be productive.

Students are busy people. We have hundreds of demands on our time. We are constantly torn between school work and jobs, between friendships and internships, between today's classes and tomorrow's GREs or Grad School applications. I love that I can take a PE class and have structured time to exercise and let go of my daily concerns. I head to the rec center and leave classes behind me. I go to oggle the rock wall and completely forget about whatever important thing I have left undone.

This summer I learned that one of the University's "Big Five" initiatives for the coming years is Health and Human Performance. This is such an important thing. We so easily slip into the trap of productivity, and forget that without caring for our bodies we cannot accomplish anything. We let exercise routines slip in favor of the many other demands on our time and energy.

Lindsey, our Zumba instructor, dances out every move of every song. We'll be salsa-ing away, and she'll yell "Hit it!" and we'll freeze in place for a body roll or shoulder shimmy. And she'll grin at the room full of us, all concentrating to our best ability.

Hit it! Shimmy the troubles away.