Fiesta Friday! New Zumba video (Don Juan)
Hi friends! Happy Friday! I’m so happy you liked the Focus On post– I always love to write about different class formats! I also love guest posts about fitness topics/classes that I’m not as familiar with, so if you’re interesting in writing one I haven’t covered, please let me know.
Yesterday, I had the chance to get licensed in a new-to-me version of one of my all time favorite classes: Zumba, but in the POOL.
As you guys know, I’m not much of a swimmer, so learning to teach aqua classes was challenging for me. Eventually I got comfortable doing it- the more you teach, the easier it gets- and am now to the point where I have a lot of fun out on the deck instructing. When I heard that a few of us were being sent up to Phoenix for Aqua Zumba certification, I knew I’d be a huge fan. Not only would I get the chance to add another Zumba modality to my belt, but it’s something else that would make me look forward to teaching pool classes.
A main difference between Aqua Zumba and regular Zumba (besides the very obvious) include the fact that your arms stay under water for the most part, so the movements are lower on your body. The water adds extra resistance to the music, so in addition to making lateral moves more challenging, it also gives the opportunity for strength improvements. Since it’s a pool class, it’s very easy on the joints and knees, plus the extra buoyancy enables you to jump HIGH which is a lot of fun.
Since it’s hard to move against the resistance of the water, the moves are much slower, often half-time, and using the hands to add assistance or resistance to whatever footwork you’re doing. I think it will be fairly easy for me to Aqua-fy my current dances, but I’ll definitely have to practice in the water to make sure it works. Also, from what I gather, you look like a giant goober teaching on the deck, and it’s harder to do some of the moves on land than it is on water. I’m definitely going to get a workout from this one!
Here’s a video of an Aqua Zumba class so you can see it in action:
Since I won’t be filming any Aqua videos anytime soon, here’s a regular Zumba dance to my current favorite son 😉 This song is unlike many standard Zumba selections because it has many different choreography blocks; it doesn’t repeat the same parts very often. So do what you can, and the more you practice, the easier it will get. I hope you love it and please let me know if you have any song requests for future videos!
So, hop up from your desk (maybe get the coworkers to join in?), couch, bed, whatev, and have a little dance with me on this fine Fiesta Friday? 🙂
Happy shaking <3
xoxo
Gina
Fellow Zumba instructors: head’s up! They’re releasing a Zumba class for 0-3 year olds called Zumbini. We got a preview of the class yesterday, and it looks AMAZING. It’s a mommy and me Zumba class with lots of dancing, singing and instruments. Livi and I are kind of excited to take it.
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Zumbini sounds adorable! 🙂 It’s great that there are so many variations of the classes available.
Zumba in the pool! That sounds so interesting, I’d so want to try it.
Since zumba on land + me = a fail. So uncoordinated.
Love the video:)
What I wouldn’t give to be in an outdoor pool right now!
Yay! Thank you so much for posting a Zumba video!! Keep them coming, please!
You are so cute! I’m definitely going to try the dance, but I don’t think I’ll look cute doing it :)!
Love your choreo, and love the idea of Zumbini! Hopefully we get a preview at my Aqua training too 🙂
Loved the video. This will help me get more coordinated when I take Zumba classes at my gym.
You look great doing both!!! It makes me want to try it out as soon as I am sure the baby is asleep!
OMG I loooove that video and how you dance!! I am so lost when I go to Zumba, I definitely need to practise.
I’ve never heard of Aqua Zumba, it looks interesting. I wish I can keep up with a regular Zumba class but I’m so pooped by the middle of it. It doesn’t help that I have the standard Chinese/white two-left-legs syndrome.
Girl you absolutely rocked that Zumba dance!! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never done Zumba because I’m so uncoordinated and lacking in rhythm. But the water Zumba looks like something I might be able to do (plus I don’t think my mistakes would be as obvious!).
Very cool!
The thought of no one being able to see me under water is truly appealing! I can do an Irish jig and that’s about the extent of my dancing ability! You are so fun to watch – take care and enjoy your weekend.
Mo
Keep the zumba coming! Thank you!! 🙂
you are so awesome!
I wasn’t able to watch the video either here or directly on YouTube. It says “not available on this platform. ” 🙁
that’s weird- are you on your phone??
just checked and it’s not available on phones or tv- probably because of the music :/ i’m looking for another video provider so i can get around that
I love this Zumba video! Thanks for posting it! will try it this afternoon!
I love this Zumba video, thanks for posting it!
honestly, zumba intimidates me A LOT! logging my first smoothie in may: almond milk, chocolate protein, frozen cherries and a couple of handfuls of spinach. chocolate/cherry smoothie is my all time favorite combo!!
Gina, you are just such an inspiration! And I don’t know what it is about this week, but your posts and I seem to be vibing especially well – I’ve been looking forward to getting my Zumba certification for a while, I’m just waiting for the money and time to line up correctly, and now that you’ve mentioned that Zumbini class in the works, the certification program seems like even more of a perfect fit 🙂 That’s for a GREAT Friday post!
yeahhhhh!! let me know if you decide to do it!
Okay I seriously wish I had coordination because this looks like SO MUCH FUN!
Gina you just made my day with the “zumbini” news! I can’t wait to find out more and will definitely be getting certified in this when it’s available!
Loved it! Definitely will try!
A mommy and me Zumba class?? How fun! I’d love to take something like that when I have kids one day!
Your Zumba video just inspired my morning workout – instead of logging time on my treadmill while my Olivia (3 months old) napped, I did a bunch of zumba videos. I worked up quite the sweat and my dog thought I was nuts!! I’m so happy to hear of a Zumbini class – that sounds so fun – my little girl will LOVE it!!
that sounds like an awesome morning workout! (way more fun than the treadmill, in my opinion, too) 🙂
kisses to your little olivia <3
i’m way jealous of your dancing abilities. Thanks for posting, looks like fun and I’ll definitely give this a try. Keep the zumba videos coming, I love having them as an at home cardio option and that way I don’t have to subject others to the horror that is my dancing.
thank you! it makes me so happy to hear you like them <3
Mommy and me Zumba sounds so cute- as all little kids love to dance to music (at least all the little kids that I’ve spent any time around).
That Aqua Zumba looks HARD! I definitely want to try it out!
I miss doing Zumba! I had a great teacher in our old town and haven’t had anywhere to do it (with a good teacher) in two years.
Thanks for this Gina!! I love your moves!! Aqua Zumba sounds great! I’d like to find a class around me.
Girl… WERK!
Haha, does the Pilot ever dance to this type of music with you? Do you wish he did? I’m hispanic and my man is white and I don’t ever see the possibility of us dancing to this type of music together, hahaha. It would be fun!
yes, he’ll dance to anything with me- i’m a lucky girl. he taught me how to two-step and i taught him how to samba and salsa
Oh my goodness that video was incredible! I can’t wait to try it!
whoo hoo! did you do it?
WOW! You are such a good dancer! And you choreographed that?! So fun, Gina! I’m in the same industry but more of a personal trainer and bootcamp teacher rather than a Zumba dancer – I just don’t think I can move my hips like you but I love watching people who are good at what they do! 😀 So fun.
thank you, bonnie! yeah, it’s my choreo- it takes a GOOD song to make me want to choreograph in the car while i’m driving 🙂
Look at you go girl! So much inspiration to a future mommy over here :-). And zumbini obsessed so cute and a great idea for new moms! Congrats on your new cert :-). Love and shine Courtstar
love to you- thank you!
love it gina…i am so using your choreo in my class! have any brilliant choreo to sobredosis by kat de luna??
love it gina…i am so using your choreo in my class! have any brilliant choreo to sobredosis by kat de luna??
yay i hope they love it! no, but i just downloaded it so maybe i can come up with something this weekend!
I mean.. damn you are a good dancer. You have inspired me 🙂
wow, thank you friend!
Love the video Gina, thanks!
happy you liked it 🙂
Waka Waka is my favorite running song right now! Love the zumba videos – totally motivates me for class tomorrow morning =)
I am going to have to try this Zumba thing….I’ve wanted to for a while but am too intimidated because I suck at dancing….I will just have to wiggle around in the privacy of my living room til I can get more comfortable! Thanks for posting that video! 🙂
Hey Gina! Aqua Zumba sounds awesome! None in my city yet though. They just added a Zumba Sentao class my gym. What do you know about it? I’m interested, but unsure…Thanks!
That was fun to watch! You are so cute and full of energy. I really enjoyed the choreography.
Gina your Zumba video is awweeeeessssoooooome! I’m going to have to fly over to Arizona one of these days and take one of your classes because it looks like so much fun!
I just did your video! So much fun! I didn’t think that it would get my heart rate up that much… breathless! 🙂
Geez I so need to jump on the Zumba train, it looks so fun!!
it’s a blast!
Waka waka! I would do almost anything to Shaki. I should try Zumba soon.
Love your video Gina. I do lots of Zumba and that was a great routine! Looks like it would be a blast to do in class. We have Aqua Zumba at my gym but all the classes are on weekdays when I’m at work. I’d love to try it!
Um, your dancing is amazing! I’m totes jealous of your amazing skills! I have the dance skills and coordination of an obese hamster so I’m beyond impressed by you.
Zumbini sounds SO amazing! I’m going to be scouring the internet for a video so I can try it with my son!
Your video makes me want to try out Zumba so bad! I’ve been needing to get back in shape. I was a dance major in college. Long story short, that was a long time ago and I’m out of shape and missing just dancing. Now that my schedule has changed (was overnights for 4 1/2 years) I think I’m going to try to find a class near me. Thanks for the inspiration!
Loved it! I wanted it to keep going. Keep them coming. Thanks!!
Hi Gina! I’ve learned about your blog from Kath, as I’ve been following her blog for a long time. I was sooo interested to hear you are a fitness instructor with a passion for Zumba. I read your Zumba story and it really resinated with me. You talk about how it came at a certain point in your life… I feel the same way about Zumba. I was an athletic person when I was younger and took dance lessons, which I loved. But… then I got a car and a job and dancing stopped and after high school I had packed on the pounds and life goes on. A little less than a year ago, my friend and I joined a gym. I had previously lost about 50 lbs being addicted to step classes and figured the classes at the gym were going to be my thing. One of the classes was Zumba. I was hooked on the 1st class and couldn’t wait to go again. I loved the music and couldn’t stop humming it when I wasn’t in class. After going for a while our gym was being remodeled, so I went to a neighboring gym for zumba class and this instructor is AMAZING!!! You’re right that not all instructors are equal and that you need to find one you like! I’m so glad I found this one and I never miss her class if I can help it. Because of this, it causes me to make sure I get a workout at other times of the week because I put the effort in to go to Thursday Zumba. What Zumba has done for me is get me back into a gym and working out and best of all, feeling good about a class I can finish! I hadn’t been working out for so long, Zumba was just the jump start I needed! I cannot shake my butt that good yet, but I’m learning. I hope to grow in my fitness. I’ve always said as an adult that I wish there were dance classes you can take that would help you get exercise and not have to have a recital! That is what Zumba is: a dance class that exercises you! I joined your youtube channel, thanks for the inspiration and I’ll continue to come back!!!! Thank you!