Spring Break

After enjoying a week off of school, it’s hard to get back into my old habits like doing homework and being productive with my free time. While meetings, papers, and tests are already covering my desk calendar, one thing I’ve been looking forward to about coming back to school is going back to the gym.

I wasn’t completely inactive over spring break, but I did take a considerable break from my workouts. All I managed to do was one run, a 4 mile walk, and a basketball game. I don’t feel bad about taking the time off though because I got to see some friends who I won’t get a chance to see again until May. To me the break is justified and has left me itching to hit the gym again.

I also decided over spring break that I am going to work out more. Nothing too intense, just an extra washboard abs class some days and now that the weather is getting nicer, I plan to go running outside when the urge strikes me. (I’ve already accomplished the first step by creating a killer running play list.)

I was finally able to cave into my workout cravings last night when I went for a run to successfully avoid the monotonous task of unpacking. I grabbed my iPod, with the brilliantly crafted playlist, and went for a run enjoying a calm, quiet night on campus.

I actually enjoyed my run. Which, coming from the girl who would only willingly run after a hot young starlet, is saying something. Normally I HATE running! Quickly getting sweaty and out of breath isn’t really my kind of thing; I just don’t find it fun. But last night, running felt good. Maybe it was due to all my pent up energy from spring break, or the small part of me that was happy to be back at school energized my run. Whatever it was, hopefully I’ll feel like that more often, so running doesn’t become a chore.

Now it’s time for washboard abs and Zumba, both of which I missed dearly.

Waka Waka!

Last week I blogged about my favorite way to work out which is going to zumba class. And when you are as obsessed with something as I am with zumba, one blog post just isn’t enough. This week I’m going to focus on a facet of my obsession.

Two words.

Waka. Waka.       

It’s not possible to just sit and listen; you have to dance.

With words like, “Today’s your day, I feel it. You’ve paved the way believe it,” and, “People are raising their expectations. Go on and feed them. This is your moment, no hesitations,” Shakira inspires all. At the end of a work out (Waka Waka is always the last song we do) it is exactly what I need. I walk out feeling empowered and like I can take on the world.

The routine is simple and repetitive (Sandra and I have it down pat) yet energetic. Incorporating some of the music video moves, the whole class feels like Shakira. And who doesn’t want to be able to dance like Shakira?

Being able to shake and jump to this inspirational song is a major confidence booster (especially when you’re one of the few people who knows it in the room and you can show everybody else up… just saying).  

Waka Waka is like a power boost to my night. The moment the song starts a new energy starts pulsing thorough my blood and it doesn’t stop until it is time for me to go to bed. After dancing to Waka Waka I can plow through homework (sometimes I just play it while I’m studying for an extra boost).

I’m surprised Sandra isn’t embarrassed to walk with me when I am constantly doing Waka Waka around campus.

Ditching the Work Out

Traditional work outs don’t work out for me. Easily bored, I find it hard to stay interested in running on a treadmill or biking in one place. Where’s the fun? How am I supposed to be excited and motivated to go to the gym every day, listen to the same songs on my iPod and run, staring at the wall, going absolutely nowhere?

The official Zumba ® slogan is, “Ditch the work out. Join the party!” Okay, well if you insist. I have no problem leaving the treadmill to stare at the wall all by itself.

Zumba is defined as combining Latin and international music in dance routines featuring aerobic and fitness interval training done to fast and slow rhythms. The word itself is Spanish slang for “to move fast and have fun.”

I LOVE everything about zumba. I get to shimmy and shake while I jump and squat. An elevated heart rate, a leg workout, and some serious sweat all accompany a great zumba class. The best part is I actually get excited to go! After a stressful day of classes and homework, going to a work out I enjoy and want to do is refreshing and energizing. Zumba gets me pumped up to go finish assignments and puts me in a better mood. I must be a sight to see when I’m walking back from the gym dancing and singing.

Zumba classes fit in to my schedule two or three times a week, and I will never turn an extra class down. We are five weeks into the semester, so I’ve attended plenty of zumba classes. There has been enough zumba in my life that I’m starting to memorize the routines. For some songs, I don’t even need to watch the instructor anymore. She puts the music on and I just dance. Having the routines memorized benefits me because instead of focusing on what I should be doing, I can focus on doing it better. I can jump more, lift my knees higher, and I’m working on perfecting my squats. Now, I get a better workout from my favorite class.

Now I feel like dancing! I’ll just put on my zumba playlist….

Obsessed much?

The actual routine we do to 'Prrrum'... although we might not be as intense: