Class Spotlight - Zumba Gold

The creators of Zumba build the Gold version for "older or deconditioned exercisers", which is hardly a description that gets folks beating down the door to work out, right?  I see Zumba Gold as an easy entry-point into dance-fitness.  My Gold class is just as much fun as the "regular" Zumba classes I teach, just done at a slightly less frenetic pace.  We don't jump up and down, we don't switch moves quite as quickly, but we still rock out to world music.  The slight adjustments to the regular format make Zumba Gold a great option for all sorts of people:

• pregnant/post-partum women,
• women recovering from an injury or illness,
• women looking to slow down and really learn the dance moves,
• women unsure of the Zumba format who want to test the waters before diving in,
• women seeking a lower-intensity workout, and, yes,
• older women

So, what should you expect when you give Zumba Gold a try?  Well, you still need to bring water, and wear non-running gym shoes.  We start with a warm-up before diving into the meat of the class.  We still have intervals of high and low intensity songs, with the typical blend of world and American music and dance moves.  You will find a song or two that will challenge your balance (thereby working on your core muscles) that you won't get in the "regular" Zumba classes.  We will, as always, finish out the class with a cool-down and stretch.  You won't sweat quite as much in Zumba Gold, and we rarely fog up the windows of the studio. 

I went for my Zumba Gold certification with the intention of opening up the fitness options for pregnant/postpartum women as well as for women who think, for whatever reason, that they can't take on an exercise routine.  While I find Zumba pretty darn accessible in general, I know it can seem a bit daunting after catching a glimpse of all the hard-bodies sweating up the screen on the commercials and infomercials that are out there.  Zumba really CAN be for EVERYONE, and Zumba Gold helps broaden the circle. 

What's the best way to figure out if Zumba Gold is a good fit?  Give it a try!  Will I see you at the studio next Thursday morning?  9:30 am - we'll be ready for you!