Zumba - Class 2

If you missed it last week, go here first to see how my first Zumba class went.

For those of you who did read and comment, a HUGE thank you!  For me it's not so much about what other people are thinking about me, it's what I'm thinking and how I feel.  I don't like to not understand things; feelings of frustration make me want to break down and bawl.

So after the big day Sunday of scrubbing the walls of wallpaper glue and not getting a great nights sleep, I was pretty much looking for an excuse to not go to Zumba last night.  I couldn't come up with one, so I got dressed and went.

One of my girlfriends didn't make it because she was under the weather, so it was just 2 of us.  This time I was there with the more experienced dancer friend, which had me feeling a bit intimated.  Not that she would ever judge me based on Zumba, but I still have feelings of living up to her standards (I know, the way I think is retarded).  Last week she tried to teach me this simple foot movement that I just couldn't get... I felt so embarrassed when she took the time to slow it down and I still couldn't get it.

So I get there early this time so I can stretch out and maybe chit-chat with my gf for a few before class starts... we get in a few good minutes of gossip and laughter at a 'friends' expense, and then we make our way out to the gym floor.  Ironically (or not at all ironic, just kind of a fun fact) - this Zumba class takes place in the school where I went for grades 7-8.  Sadly, I don't remember any of my gym classes in these gyms we're in.  I do, however, remember the smell of the school, which has not changed since I went there... 15 years ago.  Isn't it funny how smells can bring back such vivid memories?
I digress.

We do some small little steps that we learned last week as a warm up - easy peasy!  Then she goes into other things we did last week, most of which I nailed last week.  So far, so good!  We then go on to do some other stuff we learned last week and I pretty much got all of it.  The little step that Abbie tried to teach me last week, I actually did it!  Abbie looked over at me and said "You've got it!"  I told her to not watch me because as soon as she looked over I messed it up!

Overall I just took the approach of doing what I understood and simply not worrying about the rest.  When she'd do some foot movement and add arms to it - if my arms didn't get it, I just focused on the feet part.  The rest will come.  Being honest, some of the arm shit she does really doesn't match the beat of the music OR our feet.  So... I'm chalking that up to her being off a beat in the membrane! ;)

She did teach us some new moves - a few easy as pie, a few that took me a minute and a few I still don't get. I'm not worried though, I'll get there, and if I don't... oh well.  I'm not being graded on this.

I feel 100 times better about last nights zumba than the first night.  I still plan to stick with it and hopefully I'll get everything eventually.  The best part was that I actually broke a sweat last night, which felt REALLY good!  I feel a little sore today, hard to say if it's from zumba or from scrubbing the walls..

I'm proud of myself for sticking with it and I'm already thinking about what I'm going to do when these 7 weeks are up... a good hour of working out to someone else's beat is good for me!

Zumba - Class 1

So on Monday I went to my first Zumba class - and I didn't like it.  I'm all for trying new things these days and I plan to stick with it, but I feel like it's WAY over my head.  Luckily for me, I know how to have fun (or at least act retarded when I'm embarrassed).

I get there, right on time, and see my two girlfriends standing there waving me over.  I run over and stand there rip roaring ready to go.  The instructor is having some music issues, so us girls chat about the awesome news in our lives.  Music issue resolved, let's get started.

She then busts into the fastest explanation of what we're doing I've ever seen... for a moment I questioned if maybe I signed up for an advanced Zumba class.  Everyone else seemed to not question it, so I decided to not be that girl and say "I don't get it".  I stood there moving my feet and arms as fast as they'd move to keep up.  Then she starts in with this ...5-6-7-8, which, to me, is structured dance counts... me?  I'm used to shaking my ass in the club, club dancers don't ...5-6-7-8.  So now I'm really freaking out thinking what the fuck have I gotten myself into...  I still haven't come up with the answer to that.

This chick is moving all fast and she has huge boobs so that is a major distraction (mostly because I'm curious how she is not in pain with all the bouncing - I need to find out what type of sports bra she is wearing).  She's sweating and I've barely broken a sweat... what am I doing wrong here?!  Both of my girlfriends have dance in their backgrounds, one more than the other, but still.. they've both had disciplined dance teaching - my arms move the opposite way of my feet.  I can do most of the stuff she is doing if it's slow because she did slow down a few times to show us exactly what was going on - I rocked it.  Until she turned on the music and sped it up 10 times laster than what she taught.

I left feeling extremely frustrated but trying not to show it because I was there with friends and I didn't want to be a baby - in reality I just wanted to cry.  I cry when I'm frustrated and feel like a dummy.

Like I said, I'm going to go again on Monday - and in my head, at this moment - I plan to stick it out for the 7 weeks that it runs.  I just really hope I catch on to it soon or I learn how to stand there doing jumping jacks while everyone else is doing sexy dancing.

I'll keep ya posted.

I've lost my Mojo but replaced it with Zumba

So, we finally got the internets at home last night.  Well, we got it on Saturday, but we got our wireless set up last night and I was finally able to use my precious lap top again.  I have no pictures of the house yet, but soon - I fucking promise (yeah, just like pictures of Hawaii, right!?)!
Anyhow - I signed up for Hulu Plus - so I can watch my favorite TV shows on our TV through the PlayStation 3 using the Hulu App... ya dig?

I also signed up for a Zumba class through community education - I'll be taking it with a couple of girlfriends once a week starting in roughly a month.  I'm super excited to do it - super scared too.  Zumba is a dance based workout.  I don't really dance, other than in the clubs (and that's more like dirty dancing than anything else) - but I'm excited to learn something new while I get my workout on.  Because of the move and trying to save money, I've cancelled my gym membership based on the acquisition of EA Sport Active for the Wii and a few other workout things I can do at home.  I figure it's better to do the stuff at home, even if I have to buy stuff once, over paying monthly for the gym.  Now I've just got to get the damn Wii hooked up and get my ass moving.  Spring being right around the corner, I hope to start taking advantage of walking outdoors.
Anyhow - the zumba class is going to be interesting...

So this weekend I went out for a friend birthday - Steve and I just met up for a cocktail or two (and by that I mean, I had none and Steve had many).  Not the point ... I was talking with someone I've known on a casual level for several years - we gots to talking and he said to me "Angela, you become more and more reserved every time I see you.  What happened to your craziness?"  This made me sad.  I don't even know what to say about it.
I immediately jumped on the defense and tried to come up with some excuse... oh, blame it on the fact that I have a boyfriend now - he didn't accept that reply.  So I toyed around with a few more and finally settled on the fact that maybe I'm just growing up... which he seemed to congratulate me on.  I wasn't looking for congratulations; I was looking for something I've apparently lost.  It left me feeling out of sorts and, while I know it's okay to grow up, I really hope I haven't lost my true self.
My weekend was spent shopping at Lowe's, comparing paint samples, and having lunch with some family... 5-6-7 years ago it would have been spent drinking and dancing the night away at the club or whichever bar had good music and a dance floor.

I know it's okay to grow up... it just kind of hits you like a ton of bricks when someone calls you out on being lame.