Zumba with me! “Pegate”
Whenever things are stressful and stuff is going on, dancing always has a way of helping me put things in perspective, or even just forget about them and enjoy the moment. I mentioned before that one of us was supposed to have surgery today, but it turns out that it’s not for another week. We had to reschedule the original surgery day, and today is a post-op appointment that never got rescheduled. Womp wooooomp. Another week to think about it. Well, good thing there’s Zumba later today. Dancing always has a way of making everything better.
I’ve talked about this before, but for my newer readers (hi!) I grew up dancing (jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, folklorico and Irish) and taught in high school and college. It was a huge part of my life, all of my best friends also taught and worked at the studio and when I moved to North Carolina to be with the Pilot, it was a rough transition for me. I was in limbo trying to find jobs and figure out military life (which was entirely new to me), suffered from anxiety from all of the changes, and even when we moved to Valdosta, felt a void in my heart where dance used to be. Zumba helped fill that void.
I had a weird preconception about Zumba, because as a dancer, who didn’t like to repeat choruses and moves during the same song, I thought it would be suuuuuper lame. Then, I actually took a class in Orlando and it rocked.my.world. The moves repeat a lot during the songs, but that’s what makes it easy to follow and stick with it for the entire class. It’s also the beauty of Zumba: anyone can do it, whether you have a dance background or not. It’s not super serious, and it’s just a fun way to move and burn extra calories… even though I burn more calories shaking my booty than I do on the treadmill.
To all of my friends out there who have never tried Zumba and are kinda freaked out by it (I was too, it’s ok), and all of the hardcore Zumba lovers,
Zumba with me!
I made this little video per your Facebook requests last night- I really hope you love it, because I had a blast making it. Even though, I admit that I kinda felt like a goober dancing by myself with the Flip on, but then I just envisioned all of you dancing along with me and got over it 😉 The glory of at-home options for dance cardio classes is that you can try it out with minimal time commitment to see if you might like to take a class near you. You could also mix and match with YouTube videos to create your own at-home Zumba class.
As I mentioned before, I was kind of worried about copyright issues with posting a song in the video, but per a few of your suggestions, just muted out the song.
I used “Pegate” by Fulanito, which you can get on iTunes (and the whole video is also on YouTube for free) — you’ll just want to start playing it at 1:30 in the dance video.
You can also use any quick-paced song you have and love- I just want to hear what you used 🙂
Please give it a try, let me know what you think and if you’d like to see more like this in the future!
Take a little time to dance today <3
xoxo
Gina
What’s your favorite kind of workout therapy? An awesome run? Yoga sesh? Boxing class?
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Zumba is my new thing!!! I wrote about my experience with it today actually! My Zumba instructor uses this song and I love it! I’m not a dancer, I didn’t grow up doing it so I feel like I’m not coordinated but I still LOVE Zumba! It’s fun and it gets me sweating! Plus it’s challenging for me! I want to master all the moves! 🙂
You are such a good sport and have such an engaging spirit about you! Your adorable booty poppin just made my morning, wish I could have danced along!
Love your choreo Gina 🙂
Wow!! You’ve got moves girl!! You’re such a great dancer. When my ankle heals I’m totally going to do some Zumba. What shoes do you recommend?
Wow!! You’ve got moves girl!! You’re such a great dancer. When my ankle heals I’m totally going to do some Zumba. What shoes do you recommend?
anything supportive for lateral movements 🙂 hope that ankle heals quickly for you!
I’m going to try this later with Beckah Shae’s “Put Your Love Glasses On.” I just played your video with the song and it’s almost a perfect fit!
that was awesome! and fun! it was my first time doing zumba and loved it. thank you!! 🙂
Have you ever thought about making workout DVD’s? You’d be so good!
Thanks for sharing this, Gina! I have to confess I’m completely a chicken when it comes to dancing in front of others. So I’ve really shy-ed (shied?) away from attempting Zumba. But maybe I should give it a try and throw caution to the wind. 🙂
Thanks for posting, Gina! I am not a coordinated dancer, so it was really nice to get to bust a move at home to get started. Thanks for making the video, it was lots of fun!
You are too cute…I loved it! How about making a slightly longer version for a full workout? I just started taking Zumba myself and love it, but my schedule only allows 1x/week right now. There were so many to choose from on YT, I got dizzy. I will totally do yours though! Do you recommend any of the Zumba DVDs? I checked on Amazon and they only have a few but none have great reviews.
I loved this video! I thought it might be awkward but your smile and good attitude made it so fun. It looked like you were having a good time too, I think I might have to try out this video soon. My first experience with Zumba was outdoors in Millennium Park in Chicago during their free workouts on Saturdays.
Great video, I had never tried zumba and this was fun. You should make a DVD!!!
I’ve done Zumba a few times and have really enjoyed it! I find with the amount of money I spend on yoga, I can’t really justify spending more money for takign Zumba classes. Have you tried the Wii Zumba? I keep seeing it and want to buy it and then do it at home.
OMG! I am SO excited that you posted a zumba video! I’ve always thought how fun it would be to take one of your classes, but that would be a little hard since I’m in North Carolina because my hubby is in the military, too! 🙂 Now I can sort of feel like I’m in one of your classes 🙂 Thank you for posting this video!! I’ve been meaning to ask if you teach a yoga sculpt class or if you’d be willing to post a yoga sculpt video sometime? I used to take a yoga sculpt class before we moved, but they don’t offer anything like that here. Any suggestions for yoga sculpt video I could purchase and do at home?
What a great video Gina! I’m a Zumba newbie, and I loved that I can follow your video at home and practice some great moves. Thanks! Good song choice too!
I think the video is awesome, thank you for posting! My favorite workout is definitely any sweaty delicious Vinyasa Flow. Clears my mind right up!
Awesome! Zumba is so fun! I would say good-ol-fashioned running is my favorite workout.
I’ve been obsessed with zumba since I found my favorite local teacher about a year ago. She’s a lot like you. Very personable and energetic. Has great choreography and fun songs. We do a lot of pop and hip hop. I rearrange my schedule to make it as often as possible, and I even got up at 5am to start taking her new, early morning class. <3 zumba!
Very excited about this! I recently tried Zumba and cannot get enough of it. Thanks for creating this!
I’ve never tried Zumba before, but I’ve been wanting to try forever. Thank you for doing this video! It was a lot of fun, even though had a difficult time with coordination, lol.
I’m totally doing this. I wish I could have you teach me all the time, but that’s just not realistic… unless you do Zumba FaceTime? 🙂
:)!
Do you always wear your hair down when you work out? Don’t you find it hot?!
For other workouts, it’s always up. For zumba, I know it will be drenched w no chance of saving it either way, I’ll often wear it down
Love, love, love! Even my 9 month old was shakin’ her adorably diapered booty in her pack n’ play! I agree that you need to make a Zumba DVD, or let us know if there is one that you recommend. I have a hard time getting to classes with a little one and an Army husband who is never home, and would be all over a Zumba, Fitnessista style, DVD. Thanks for posting!
the vision of your baby dancing is the best 🙂
i’m so happy you liked the video!
i like the zumba dvds (exhilarate is a lot of fun)
Love this Gina! Keep the zumba videos coming. I love your choreography. Zumba was a great transition for me to when I stopped dancing a lot and started missing it tons. It’s a great way to just release a lot of positive energy!
wahoo!
Thanks so much for sharing that video! I am so excited to get my zumba on to it tonight!
And I’m keeping your family in my thoughts! I hope everything goes well with the surgery! <3
Damn girl!! You have sooo much rhythm, I can barely stand it. So jealous of your moves! Does the Pilot enjoy dancing as much as you? I’m sure you two are a riot on the dance floor
wow, thank you!
and yes, the pilot loves to dance with me! at least i think he does? haha. anyway, we have a blast when we go dancing 🙂
Loved watching your video! You are an excellent dancer. I have zero dancing skills but am totally going to try this video out (in the privacy of my living room of course!). I’ve taken a Zumba class before and enjoyed it, but I don’t have a gym membership anymore so your video is greatly appreciated! Keep ’em coming. 🙂
let me know what you think! 🙂
You are such a great dancer! Loved the video!
thank you! i’m so happy you liked it
Watching the video with out the music is kind of hilarious 😉
You got moves girl!
i watched it without and it made me cringe haha
Dang girl you were working it! Your personality is awesome on screen, you should totally do dvds!
aww thank you, friend! i would love to do dvds one of these years 🙂
This is awesome! I just started taking a zumba class a few weeks ago, and I spent the other night trying to find decent YouTube videos to practice along with at home.
Funny Story – while trying Zumba at home recently I went right to the videos – skipped the “instructional ” one of course ’cause I think I have rhythm. I was trying my best to keep up and my 8 year old daughter walked in and said “I don’t think thats your type of dancing mom”!
Oh – I was so offended! I dare say I have not tried it again. 🙂
But we have a new Lifestyle Fitness opening near me soon so maybe I will get my nerve up and try a class there?
Your video was great and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Thanks,
Jessica
thank you, i’m glad you liked it!
and like it said, it doesn’t matter- it’s just for fun! you’ll get the moves and as along as you’re enjoying yourself, that’s all that matters
YAY! You are wonderful! I can’t wait to get home and try this!
yay, let me know how it goes!
Wow! You are a wonderful dancer, thanks for sharing 🙂 Maybe I’ll try Zumba.
WOW, this really fits my day. I left my gym bag at home so I thought I would just do my pilates and be done. I was looking on you tube and thought that I might be able to find a zumba video. I am at home alone, so why not? I have never done Zumba and am not that coordinated! I found a decent channel on you tube with several videos. Forty minutes later, I am all over it (umm not always able to follow along, but who was watching? LOL). It was fun. I was thinking that I really wished you had several Zumba videos on your channel! So thanks! Hope there are more to come! This chick just taped them in the gym. (Lauren’s Zumba Network)
OMG, you killed it! I agree, you should definitely do DVDS. I can tell you’re in your element when you dance. I just did this, three times, and i absolutely loved it. Thanks Gina!
Wow! Ur awesome! I’m just not that coordinated and not a great dancer 😮 My go-to song for any run, workout, etc. is “Danza Kuduro” by Don Omar…I love it!!
I’ve never thought zumba would be for me but after watching your video, I really want to try it!
Awesome!!! So much fun! Thanks’
I loved the video, it was very clear, you were enthusiastic, everything a Zumba instructor should be! However, I tried to sync the music to your steps, and it was really difficult. Would it be possible for you to preview your moves for the chorus before your start, so we at home can mesh the song more easily? I would love to see more of these in the future. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
sure, i love that idea! thank you for the feedback, and i’m so happy you liked it 🙂
Hey Gina! Glad to hear you were able to combat some of your anxiety with dance! I’ve always found that doing something active is the only thing to get the anxiety to go away! My doctor once told me that anxiety is usually a combination of stress and worry (obviously!) AND pent up energy! Glad you, too, found solace in exercise! Hey FYI, this song goes perfectly to the silly Peanut Butter Jelly time song! It almost looks professionally choreographed to that song! Watching the video accompanied by that song really made my day better. Thank you. : ) Have a good night!
I love it and I hope you keep making videos like this one! =]
Thanks for the video! I haven’t been in a Zumba class in years and seeing this got me so motivated. After we put the baby to bed I broke out the video and asked my husband to join me. It was a blast!!! We haven’t been so goofy in a long time, he’s much larger than I with no rythm (he knows it) but we both kept up, got in some exercise and had fun!
I am *so* excited to try this! I watched the first few seconds of dancing (with youtube for the music) and got a spring in my step just from watching it – never tried Zumba but it looks like such a blast!
Great post too – your story totally sucked me in about “the void in your heart.” Although it’s not about dancing, a part of me feels the same way about playing an instrument – sometimes when I’m alone and I listen to classical music that is very good, I tear up – it’s beautiful and powerful and there’s a part of my that’s sad I stopped playing.
Great video – yes, keep them coming! 🙂 and I’m one of those foreigners that usually have this kind of stuff blocked :p
Thank you so much for doing this! I’ve preferred your Zumba vids to any of the instructors ive tried in person – wouldnt it be so cool to do a whole series of them, then people could do like an hours’ workout just on fitnessista vids!
Sending you much gratitude and positivity 🙂
aww thank you, friend!!
I pretty much had no idea what I was doing and I’m sure it would look attrocious in a mirror, but it was fun!
Hi Gina!! I just did the zumba video, and i LOVED IT!!! I absolutely love zumba, but can’t go to my gym’s classes any more. Sometimes I do youtube ones, but they aren’t always a guaranteed good workout and fun. However, yours was awesome!! I can’t wait to show it to my friend who also did zumba with me! Please post more!!!
whoo hoo!! thank you, i definitely will
You are too adorable, I can’t take it. My favorite de-stresser is definitely the stairmaster. Climbing those steps and sweating it out just makes me feel like I’m getting rid of the day! And I feel so strong after
I love that you made this video!! I’ve never tried Zumba before, so this is the perfect way for me to get a taste of what I can expect if I decide to go check out a class one of these days. It looks like a ton of fun! 😀