Happy New Year!

I apoligise for stepping away from this blog for quite some time. Don't think I have been slacking on my Zumba. I'm still very active when it comes to zumba and dance, however this past December, I had to cut down a bit, as I was simply too busy. However, I did manage to go 6 times, which is close to nothing, when you think of my regular schedule. But as off tomorrow, I will get back to my usual schedule. My Zumba & Dance schedule as of January 2nd. is:

Monday: Zumba

Tuesday:

Wednesday: Zumba

Thursday: Zumba & Afro Power Dance

Friday: Salsa Fitness

Saturday:

Sunday: Zumba

 

January means crowded gyms, as a lot of people start the year with a lot of intentions of working out. I'm proud to say, that thanx to Zumba, I have been going to zumba regular for 3 ½ year and have been a member of my regular gym for more than 4 years! I heard that zumba has started to fade out in some countries, but I'm pleased to see, that it hasn't happened at my gym! There's always a waiting list for the Zumba classes, and I make sure to sign up for a class 3 weeks in advance, to be sure of a spot! My Zumba instructor has started as a step and body fit instructor as well, meaning, she has cut down on some of her Zumba classes, but with 4 Zumba classes, and an Afro Power Dance class at the gym, my work out routine can continue. Afro Power Dance is a new dance class provided at my gym. I love African music and although I don't always seem the point of the strange routines the instructor comes up with, compared to the way I normaly would dance to the African music, I enjoy it. I realy like to be among other people, dancing to African music, compared to my usual doing it alone. So funny to see how different we all are. African music is not something most people in Denmark ever listen to.... Except me. Friday I start my Salsa fitness class again, after a short break. I like Salsa fitness as it's a form of show dance the zumba way, one on one. I stay away of couple dance as it's just not my style, no matter the dance style.

 

Here's to a Happy Zumba Year 2014 :)

 

 

 

 

Nathan Blake workshop

I never got around to tell you about the Nathan Blake dance Work shop in May. The workshop was in one of the studios offering zumba in town. It had been a while since I was last there, since I am signed up in another gym. I like that the zumba comunity is always connecting and sharing the news if a workshop or master class is being held. That way everyone can join them.

My own instructor joined the workshop as well and 2 other women from my gym came along. The Work shop was great, but I will never get used to zumba with no mirrors as I'm so used to watching the instructor from the back, which makes it easier for me. My biggest problem is turning around to the right side. I always end up going to the wrong side, if there are no mirrors. I recon people who're used to no mirrors, will have trouble if they're with an instructor having his back to them as well.

Nathan Blake has his eyes on everybody and you can be sure that he will tell you to try harder, if he thinks you can do more. He does not point at you or call your name, he just stare at you and makes a body language meant for you to copy. He also gave special instructions for the ZINs giving them tips as to how to make the routines work in the classes and tips for "all the dancers" as to how they could play a bit more with the movements. I concider myself a dancer, eventhough I never took an actual dance class, but I always like to play with my movement, so I gave it my best.

 

When the workshop was over, we made a Group Photo, which I actualy never got to see.. Spontaniously, people started singing and Nate made a video for his youtube chanel.

I felt so energized leaving the workshop, that I decided to walk to town, which really wasn't that long a walk, but it felt good knowing that I just burnt off a lot of calories and still was able to walk off some.

Nathan Blake Workshop tomorrow

I know I've been away for some time, but I'm still active, doing my zumba and salsa classes every week. My schedule just seem to be constantly changing, due to the instructors... But I make it work and these past weeks, I've been joining 4 Zumba classes a week and 2 salsa. So I try to make it work, when ever there's a change in my schedule, so that I'll atleast do some sort of dancing, if possible.

Tomorrow I'm going to a Dance Workshop with Nathan Blake. I've been to his Zumba Master Classes before, but I belive this will be my first Dance Workshop. As always, I'll bring my camera and see what happens. I heard we'll be doing this one (starts at 2.20).

How too much Zumba almost knocked me out

As feared, salsa was cancelled last weak and this weak, givibg me time to join the Wednesday Zumba class instead. That left me doing 5 Zumba classes and 1 Dance Fit class.

Monday I bought 4 neopren ankle supporters. I suffer from weak ankles and the once I already had, were starting to wear. Little did I know, that by Thursday I would be needing my ankle supporters quite a bit.




Some people might say that I should be fit for switching out 2 salsa freestyle classes for 1 Zumba class. But if the routines are always the same, it weakens my joints. My Zumba instructor is good at coming up with new choreographs, but for some reason, this past weak she's been bringing up "Hela Decale" more and more. With the many small jumps on one leg, my left ancle was not having it. Luckily Friday and Saturday were my "off" days, but Sunday I was back at Zumba. In the break between my first and second class, the instructor came to me and asked if I was ok, as she noticed that I looked troubled... So I told her about my bad ankle. Being the trained Zumbanista and knowing my own body, I already knew not to jump on that feet, but instead bend my knee, which was the advice she also had for me. In the end of the last class, one of the other women tripped and sprained her ankle, so we had to cut the class and go straight to stretching out, while our instructor took care of the woman and her sprained ankle. I do see that happening every now and then and I always come to the conclusion, that it's because of the shoes people wear. I know that the shoes from the famous sport brands are very popular, but most of them are not designed for dancing. Modt of them has a pattern under the sole, which I would logicaly think, would prevent the shoe from sliding!!??! Because of my weak joints, I take my footwear very serious. For Zumba, I prefer the "Space."



2 weeks ago, I bought my 5th. Pair of Skechers "Shape Ups." Shape Ups are pefect for my weak ankles! They're soft and help me strengthen the joints. Sadly, it looks like I have to wait a bit with wearing them, as winter and snow still seem to stick over here. Shape Ups are not made for rain or snow, as the sole will disolve.

Yesterday I woke up with a stiff neck, from sleeping on my arm. Ugh! I didn't go to Dance Fit. It's still stiff today, but a lot better. My theory is that Zumba tonight will cure it! I'm sure I'll forget about the pain while having fun. That way Zumba will loosen up my shoulder and neck. We shall see.

January adjustments

With the beginning of the new year, it's a given, that more people start going to the gym. I've been going to the gyms for years, and know the drill. However, our Zumba instructor is so popular, that her classes are always super crowded. Especialy Sunday mornings... I prefer to be in the back right corner, as that is the way my brain has chosen for me to read the zumba routines the easiest way. But with the many newbies, I often find myself in a new spot, because they all want to be in the back.

 I remember the feeling of going to Zumba for the first time. It makes me proud when I think about how Zumba changed my life 2½ years ago! I always look at the newbies and think "I wonder if they will stay at it like me.." Zumba is keeping me busy and I love it. When I think back on how my life was before zumba, it makes me sad. I remember the dayly trip to buy chocolate on the way home, then sitting down in front of the tv for the rest of the day. Now I hardly ever watch tv, cause I'm never home. I simply keep myself busy and it's the only thing preventing me from getting back to my old habbits. Instead I allow myself the treats now, because I go to the gym. I lost a lot of weight within the first 6 months and have been able to keep it off for 2 years. But that's not all. People say I look more happy now. Someone even told my mom that I had so much selfesteem now, which is something I never seemed to have before, so that made me realy proud. To know that other people can see that I like being me now, is such a great feeling. I'm not afraid of what people think of me anymore, because I know that I work hard at the gym every week and am damn proud of it!

I must admit, there were 2 weeks after Christmas that I didn't go to zumba. but I didn't feel bad about it, cause I knew  would get back once I found the time for it again and as I had been sick for a while, with a cough, that may have been the cold flu, I think my boddy was begging me for a break. I know allow myself breaks!! I'm not super woman so anything I feel like doing or not doing, I decide.

As Zumba class on Fridays was taken off the program, I felt the need of another 1 hour work out. As dancing seems to be the only thing I realy enjoy, I was pleased to see that there was a new Dance Fit class on Tuesdays, which normaly would be my "day off." I must admit, that dance fit class is very boring, but as I find myself thinking time flies fast, I decided to stick with it. Because I have such a busy schedule after work, I had to write down exactly which bus to take where and when, to make it to the gym in time. Without that, I would be lost.

Here's my January work out schedule:

Monday: (Too lazy to leave the house after 19...)
Tuesday: 1 hour Dance Fit
Wednesday: 2 hours salsa freestyle (salsa work out)
Thursday: 1 hour Zumba
Friday: (Sadly no more Zumba)
Saturday:
Sunday: 2 hours of Zumba
- So with 3 "Non work out days," I've still been able to work out 6 hours a week :)

Because we don't have zumba on Fridays any more, our instructor promised to me some zumba events every now and then. So January 25th. we had a 1½ hour "Zumba pop songs edition" event. It was a lot of fun.

The last week of January, I didn't get to do any work out at all. this time it wasn't because I was ill, but because my instructors were. That's what happens. Luckily every instructor was working again this week and I've enjoyed 6 hours of work out.. I know it could've been 7, but I decided to skip Tuesday's dance fit. I plan on going to all scheduled classes next week. There is a risk that my salsa will get cancelled, though.. But I hope my instructor will find a new location for our salsa before Wednesday.

December was: Zumba, Zumba, Zumba and a little bit of Christmas

I apoligise for not writing in months... I can honestly tell you, that I've been busy.

I went to a lot of friends' and family birthdays in November, but of course I also found time for my Zumba and salsa.

December was spent with Zumba, Zumba, Zumba and.... Oh yeah... That thing called Christmas.

December 1st. I went with my friend to see a Kenyan dance show called "Out of Africa." I realy enjoyed it. It was a show about the evelopment of Kenya since day one. I was thrilled to find out that we could buy the show on dvd during the break. So since I got the tickets for free, from my work, I decided I would spend some money on the DVD cause I thought it was a great show. The music, the singing and the dancing. It was very emotional!

 

December 8th., my friends from "Team Betty Denmark" had a fundraising show, to collect money for Susan G. Komen, breast cancer organisation. I was among the performers as my Zumba class made a show team that voulenteered to do Zumba for an audience. I also made cupcakes with one of the other girls, that was sold at the event. The event took place at a small theater in town and it was my first time to stand in real theater lighting and boy was that hot. The sweat was dripping off like never before and you could not see anything due to a bright white light blinding you. But hey, we did it for a good cause and we all had fun.

 

The next day, December 9th., my old Zumba instructor came back and we had the pleassure of his top professionel Zumba with a dash of Axé, Zouk and Salsa, just the way we like it. He was only in town for a couple of weeks, so we did what we always do when he's in town. Get together and have some intensive training 2 hours a day. Wednesdays were my "salsa days" so the other days of the week was occupied by Zumba. In total I ended up with having 17 classes in 10 days. Yes, it was crazy. I'm glad that I managed to have most of my Christmas shopping done in November, cause otherwise I probably would've been too stressed to find the time for that much Zumba. But it was awesome as always.

 

December 19th. I went to Copenhagen for a couple of days and that was the beginning of my "Zumba Break." Because I had been so busy in the beginning of the month, I allowed myself to take some time off and be with friend and family and enjoy Christmas. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, but I must say. This year, I've been too busy to enjoy. I did have a nice time in Copenhagen and went to see a Christmas Fair at Tivoli, that was realy awesome.

somehow managed to catch something that could've been the cold flu virus. I never got sick, but suffered from coughing for 3-4 weeks during Christmas. Never the less, I had a lovely Christmas with my family. Celebrated Christmas eve with my parents, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, my twi grandmas and my cousin and his wife. December 25th. is my brother's birthday, so he and his girlfriend invited everyone for brunch the next morning.

And as always when my young cousin spends Christmas with us, Santa stopped by.

December 29th. me and my friend Tina had a visit from the Dutch girl we went to see in the Netherlands in Spring. She came to celebrate New Years Eve with us, so we spend a couple of days together before she went back home and I started working again.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!



 

My first impression of Zumba Sentao

October 6th. was my first time to try Zumba Sentao, when ZES Donna Giffen was doing a master class at the Zumbathon.

20 local instructors were on stage to do the warm up, before everyone grabbed a red chair and lined up for Zumba Sentao. I didn't know what to expect and as Donna showed us the routines, I found it more and more to be "Feminess" - a chair based dance routine to make women feel more feminine. Local gyms have offered this type of dance before. But ok, I saw the Zumba dance styles.. However, dancing merengue around an empty chair, just does nothing for me. I say, put a guy in the chair and dance around him, now that sounds more inspiring to me. The chair was moving, so I realy think there should be some sort of weight put on to the chair, if you have to dance around it. When Donna Giffen finaly made us sit in the chair, I finaly saw it. It's harder than you would think, to lift your legs up, when sitting on a chair. I see how Zumba Sentao could benefit people working in an office all day. But when you work like me, standing and walking all day... Regular Zumba is fine. I prefer to dance!

 

 

 

 

In the picture above, you see the three local Zins with Zes Donna Giffen, handing two women from the Danish Cancer Orginazasiton a cheque with the value 20.225 DKR collected at the Zumbathon for the Brest Cancer Campaign. I'm proud to say I have been at all 3 Zumbathons for this campaign!

 

Tomorrow I'll join the master class with Steve Boedt. He was so much fun the last time, so I'm predicting I'll have a lot of fun! Will try to take pictures, but it's hard to take good pictures in big rooms that are have a lot of lamps. I will try to catch the feeling on camera if it's possible.