“I now keep up with my wife, rather than having to walk 3 paces behind.”
I’ve been coming to class now for nearly 12 months. I had been doing a combined fitness and nutrition class for nearly a year before I joined up. That was something I had been referred to by my GP on health grounds. But I’d got the best out of that and I was looking to move on. So I cast around, found your Zumba class and here I am. It felt reasonably familiar, I guess if I felt any doubts at all, it was would I be able to keep up with the dance routines as I am not a dancer. But I have to say, you reassuringly tell everyone that we go at our own pace, so if it takes me a few sessions to get used to a routine, that seems to work fine. It’s wonderful. You do manage to combine humour with Exercise music, that I enjoy moving to and I actually enjoy learning the new routines as well. So I have no complaints. It’s been a surprise, to both me and my wife, that my average walking speed Is now quite a bit faster than it used to be. So when we go off together shopping, walking through the park or whatever, I now keep up with her rather than having to walk 3 paces behind.
“….It’s great to know that I can still do exercises and it doesn't hurt my back…”
For many years I suffered from back pain and I felt unfit, so I decided to get back into doing some exercise and I had also been recommended by the doctor to do some exercise. I thought that maybe it is going to be really painful, but no, the class is perfect. It’s very gentle and it’s very good for people with like me with aches and pains. Erika is very professional, very enthusiastic with the class and cheerful, which does encourage people to keep going to the class, especially me. It’s great to know that I can still do exercises and it doesn’t hurt my back. One of the best things is the social atmosphere in the class. It’s very good.
“…The best thing is friendships. I have made some good friends…”
We’d just moved into the area and basically I had left work, didn’t know anybody and I was looking for a way to have fun and make friends. It’s brilliant. It is good fun. You do want to come every week, whereas if you go to a gym it’s a bit of a struggle to make yourself go. I wasn’t sure what it would be like. I had been to one zumba, many years ago, where I nearly died at, they were so very very fit and this class was just about right for me a reasonable good fitness. The best thing is friendships. I have made some good friends.
“…..My best benefit is flexibility, as you will see in my shoulders, my hips and knees….”
I used to feel pretty good & did some aerobics down the gym & some weights, but not as much as I do now at class. My main reservation was with being the only guy in the class but there is another guy in our class and not withstanding that, the ladies have all been very good. It’s been very good, always work within your own range of movement. That’s the great thing I think, anybody can do this sort of exercise, if you’re 80 or 18. My best benefit is flexibility, as you will see in my shoulders, my hips and knees. That’s been the key thing, certainly as you get older you need to get that sort of flexibility into your joints.
“… I have gained a lot of fitness and mobility but have also gained a very nice group of friends….”
I had been doing lots of dipping and diving with lots of other fitness groups but what I was looking for with something that wasn’t jumping around and lots of aerobic stuff. I needed something a lot gentler on my joints. I looked at the age group and wondered if I was old enough to come along & I gave Erika a ring and we had a little chat and yes I could go along. I’ve had a lot of fun, we’ve had a lot of laughs. It’s always good to turn up on Tuesday morning and really get the week going. The music is good the moves are good and we have fun. I have gained a lot of fitness and mobility but have also gained a very nice group of friends.
“…..Every Monday my body looks forward to coming and more or less carries me here….”
Before coming, I felt old and stiff and I was 51 and a half. I don’t really dance but I thought I’d give it a go. I saw an advert in the local paper and it looked really good and it was for a free trial. I came for the free trial and it was so good that I’ve come back ever since. It’s been fantastic. Every Monday my body looks forward to coming and more or less carries me here. One week I missed it, so I went to the one in West Bridgford, instead of this one, because it’s that good and I need it every week. I feel younger, fitter, mentally more alert. I’ve got a little girl who is 5 and is enabled me to dance a little bit with her.
“…..if you are feeling a bit down and you come you are lifted. You feel much better when you leave than you do when you arrive…”
Kath: I just enjoy coming. Its social and I would second what the others have said about keeping moving and it’s enjoyable, you dance & music & movement.
Chris: Everybody else had said what I was thinking, the music is. I go because I like the dancing. I certainly notice it if I don’t go because if your joints are a little bit stiff, you either use it or lose it so keep moving, keep dancing.
Kath: Also if you are feeling a bit down and you come you are lifted. You feel much better when you leave than you do when you arrive.
“….there’s a really light upbeat atmosphere and it’s just easy to join in…”
I’m not a natural dancer, I’m not very well coordinated and zumba was a totally new & different thing for me, so I was stepping out of my comfort zone. It was loads of fun and it was great because they are easy to follow and everyone is at different abilities and different ages. So in fact it was very easy, there’s a really light upbeat atmosphere and it’s just easy to join in. I have become fitter because I was at the point where I had stopped doing any physical activity whatsoever. So to go from doing nothing into movement and dancing I think that it had an immediate effect on my fitness and my confidence as well.
“….you might think it’s so much fun you’re not doing any good, because it is great fun. But you are,…”
For anyone who comes to the sessions, you might think it’s so much fun you’re not doing any good, because it is great fun. But you are, because you’ve only got to miss a couple of weeks and you can feel the difference. It’s really beneficial.
“…she was determined that she was going to Zumba…”
I came to Zumba because it was something I could do with my 87 year old mother.
That time she was so poorly and she wanted to get better, she was determined that she was going to Zumba. Whatever the weather, whatever, she had to go to Zumba. It’s like a discipline isn’t it?
Is it for over 60’s? Oh, over 50’s, I wasn’t sure, but a lot of the ladies that are older than me are a lot fitter than me I’m sure, so I do benefit from it & I enjoy coming.
Rosemary – I was concerned about my fitness and wanted to join Erika’s fitness class, but I was worried that I would not be able to cope with the routines and feel uncomfortable. Now I look forward to Friday mornings. It’s great fun and my fitness has improved. Erika is an inspiration to me, my husband and the other people that I have introduced to the class.
Richard – I was apprehensive about being the only man in the class but there are a few others. My physical fitness has improved and I find the class Educational, Beneficial & entertaining.
Marjory – I have been coming to class for 3 months now. I was apprehensive about coming as I thought that I had left it too late to do a class & that everyone would be slick and agile. It’s been fun & encouraging & I leave with a feeling of smiling inside.
Penny – I have been coming for nearly 4 months now. I felt I needed to do more exercise, but I was worried that the class might be cliquey and too serious. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Erika. Her instructions are clear and the dances are fun. I feel fitter.
Elaine – I woke to grey, dull skies today and really felt like having a ‘duvet day’ but I came to Zumba, had fun and left energised and ready to enjoy the rest of the day.
Thanks Erika for your motivational classes.
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Zumba today.
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