The Comfort of Zumba
We visited Zumba classes regularly in our old life in Newton. Lifetime Fitness was a short drive from our home and super convenient. It had all the luxuries a fitness center could offer and we tried to visit it at least three days a week to stay fit. Our future plans depended on our health.
One of our go to courses was Zumba. Lifetime Fitness had multiple classes led by a variety of instructors both male and female. On average, the room filled up with 25 women and a few men (who understood the fitness fun of dancing to Bachata, Salsa, and Merengue). We loved the Latin rhythms, although near the end of our stay in Newton, the Zumba playlist strayed into pop and hip hop and less the Latin music that drew us in.
Weeks before leaving, one of our classmates, a socialite named Sheri, threw a Saturday afternoon party for the Zumba regulars. It was a pot luck soirée filled with familiar faces, a variety of different dishes, desserts, and drinks (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic). Some of the really hardcore class attendees started an impromptu Zumba session which quickly fizzled out as most of us were there more to socialize than to exercise.
On the road, it is our desire to be near a gym and continue our fitness regimen. Although our life plans changed somewhat, our fitness needs haven’t. We take advantage of the exercise opportunities when available. We had planned to do more in-room workouts but haven’t found our rhythm for that yet. You really need a room with space to spread out.
In Mūrren, Switzerland, we spotted a flyer hanging on an activity board in the center of town that Zumba classes were being held at the gym of a local elementary school. We called the number associated with the ad and registered to attend.
We passed the Zumba instructor at the gondola lift on the way to the school. She spotted us based on our garb and introduced herself. We were the only tourists requesting to participate. We stepped to mostly Latin music, and got excited when we heard a familiar song from our Newton classes. Most comfortably, we recognized many of the dance moves as we followed our Zumba instructor, muscle memory kicking in. We gelled perfectly with the four locals who regularly attended the class.
Having no time or opportunity for such luxuries through out all of Italy, our fitness came mostly through walking and hiking. In various Malaysian hotels, we had the use of fitness centers of varying standards, but nothing with classes.
We are currently staying long term in a Shanghai-La hotel in Taipei, Taiwan. We have access to a rooftop heated pool and an excellent fitness center that reminds me a lot of Lifetime Fitness only a short walk away from our room. How convenient is that! Even more exciting, they have different classes each day of the week. And they have Zumba every Monday!
Our first Zumba class in Taipei was an absolute blast. The room filled up with locals who attend every week. Gitty and I were the only tourists in the room which generated some excitement. I was the only man present, of course.
They welcomed us into their group and when the familiar South-American music started blasting from the speakers, we moved to the groove of our new Zumba leader falling into familiar patterns as one organic throng. We felt a bit like back home again. There was even a Chinese song on the playlist to break up the Latin beat with - for us - something exotic. And as the class wound down, we stretched using familiar techniques, bending and pulling at our muscles, during the final slow song.
Interesting note: halfway through class, we had a five minute break where participants socialized and Margaret, an Asian Sheri, shared some homemade cookies with us as others gossiped. There’s always a Sheri in the group to make you feel welcomed everywhere in the world.
Merry Zumba Christmas
