1-28-2010 - Talk about finding your joy....WOW! A long-time friend of mine (thank you Colleen!!) suggested to me a few months ago that I take a Zumba class. She said I would love it. Well, it took me several months, but I finally committed to taking a class. She was right. Love at first...step. This avenue of fitness is something I have been starving for. I never did pursue a professional dance career, but I LOVE dance and I LOVE choreography and I LOVE shaking my groove thing. And so, I am taking this one step further and taking a certification course to TEACH Zumba! My class is on February 6th. Join me on my journey to instructor-land and share in my joy with me, won't you? I'll post updates and thoughts as they occur.
1-30-2010 - I'm one week out. This time NEXT Saturday I'll be learnin' and groovin' and sweatin' . I can't convey how excited I am to be taking this on. I have visions of playing in my gameroom, making up routines and choreographing like I did when I was younger. I hope to do some kind of charity event as one of the first classes I take on. How great would it be to do an all-day event with people who would like to learn Zumba? I imagine it being in my local park, with a dance floor (completely donated by someone) where people will pay a nominal fee to participate. Then I can donate a portion of the proceeds back to my daughter's soccer team. The possibility of this lights me up people...it also freaks me out a little to do such a public display...but I think, I think I'm up to it. I think I may need to team up with a DJ on this one because he/she will have all of the sound equipment. Ideas! ideas!
2-1-2010 - Oh my goodness...the official email arrived today for Saturday's events. This is really for real. Please let this 44 year old have the energy she needs to get through the training. I promise not to eat any cookies for a week (well...for a few days anyway). :) Check out this itinerary my body must endure this weekend:
8:30am - 8:45....................Introduction/overview/format & expecatations of workshop
8:45 - 9:45am....................Practical Instruction - Master Class
9:45am - 10:00am.............Break
10:00am - 12:45pm...........Theoretical Lecture & Practical Hands-On Instruction
12:45pm - 1:15pm.............Lunch
1:15pm - 2:15pm...............Tips & Resources for Zumba Instructors
2:00pm - 3:15pm...............Theoretical Lecture & Practical Hands-On Instruction
3:15pm - 3:30pm...............Break
3:30pm - 4:30pm...............More Hands-on practice
4:30pm - 5:30pm...............Theoretical Instruction, Q&A, closing
It has been suggested that I bring a change of clothes for the afternoon workshops. I'm slightly afraid of that much sweating, but I'm willing to embrace it for the greater good. I decided I'd better get some good shoes and break them in this week at my regular Zumba class (where I'm still the student). After scouring the internet and reading up on the best shoes (there were dozen's of recommendations, of course), I settled in on these by Nike (see photo below). I really wanted black. However, the black shoes were only available at another store AND priced about $15 higher. And because I don't actually have a JOB as a Zumba instructor yet, I must admit I went for the bargain. I figure when I am hired to teach, I will reward my hard work and efforts with the black shoes I really want. And the pants. Andthe tank tops. Oh and I have to have the cool Zumba wristbands. Ugh. Who's hiring? Will work for cool Zumba clothes.
8:30am - 8:45....................Introduction/overview/format & expecatations of workshop
8:45 - 9:45am....................Practical Instruction - Master Class
9:45am - 10:00am.............Break
10:00am - 12:45pm...........Theoretical Lecture & Practical Hands-On Instruction
12:45pm - 1:15pm.............Lunch
1:15pm - 2:15pm...............Tips & Resources for Zumba Instructors
2:00pm - 3:15pm...............Theoretical Lecture & Practical Hands-On Instruction
3:15pm - 3:30pm...............Break
3:30pm - 4:30pm...............More Hands-on practice
4:30pm - 5:30pm...............Theoretical Instruction, Q&A, closing
It has been suggested that I bring a change of clothes for the afternoon workshops. I'm slightly afraid of that much sweating, but I'm willing to embrace it for the greater good. I decided I'd better get some good shoes and break them in this week at my regular Zumba class (where I'm still the student). After scouring the internet and reading up on the best shoes (there were dozen's of recommendations, of course), I settled in on these by Nike (see photo below). I really wanted black. However, the black shoes were only available at another store AND priced about $15 higher. And because I don't actually have a JOB as a Zumba instructor yet, I must admit I went for the bargain. I figure when I am hired to teach, I will reward my hard work and efforts with the black shoes I really want. And the pants. Andthe tank tops. Oh and I have to have the cool Zumba wristbands. Ugh. Who's hiring? Will work for cool Zumba clothes.
My official Zumba Shoes!
Nike's Musique
2-4-2010 - So I'm two days out from my class to become certified. This morning I had my regular Zumba class. The most amazing thing happened - my teacher, who knows I'm getting certified this weekend, asked me to tell her when I'm ready to teach and she would refer me to a few jobs. She has been doing this for awhile and gets offers to teach other places. But the woman already teaches several times a week, PLUS has four children under the age of five, so she's not capable of taking on anymore classes. So here I am, not even certified, and someone has already offered to help me get work. Not to mention she gave me some fabulous ideas for getting started. The wheels are churning in my head like crazy...I'm thinking cheap classes to get my feet wet, get people familiar with Zumba and then donating the money back to our local schools. Friends....eight days ago I made a decision to get certified as a Zumba insructor. I had no idea what I would do with the idea or the training, I just felt compelled to move forward with it. And now, before I have even stepped foot into the official training class, the doors are already opening. Do you have a passion? A dream? An idea that keeps you awake at night? Take ONE SMALL ACTION STEP toward getting there. I'm telling you, it's a natural high. I'll check in again on Sunday to let you all know how my class went. That is, if my body is still capable of moving on Sunday morning. Ha ha!
XOXO
Kim
XOXO
Kim
2-6-2010 - The day has arrived! Up at 5:30 a.m., quick cup of coffee to get the juices flowing, a quick shower (so I'll smell good when I sweat - ha ha) and a breakfast of protein and carbs. I've got eight hours of training to get through today and from what I hear it's quite physical. I could hardly sleep last night in anticipation of today. I tried reading a little, I tried a sleeping meditation, and in the end I was still waking up every few hours checking the clock. At one point I was literally dreaming that I woke up at 7:40 and had to be to the class by 8:00....panic!! Thank goodness it was only a dream. I'm a like a kid on Christmas Eve who can't wait for the delight and excitement of Christmas morning. Wish me luck friends, that this 44 year old body of mine can keep up with all the young girls who's butts and boobs are still up where they are supposed to be. I'm eager for the class to begin. :)
2-9-2010 - (Training Day Recap) My enthusiasm the morning of my certification class was at an all-time high. The morning brought with it pouring down rain and scary driving conditions. I allowed myself plenty of slow-driving time to get there safely.
I'm estimating about 50-60 people of all ages, sizes and skill level were in the class that day. It was a fabulous combination of people. Our instructor was young, beautiful and obviously very skilled and talented. She was such an inspiration - showing how many directions you can take Zumba. After a brief introduction of what to expect for the day (which really can't be summed up in an introduction) we then did a group master class--one hour of high-intensity, sweat-dripping Zumba dancing that kicked my butt! The amount of energy in that room was so motivating. After every routine, people were breathing hard, yet still smiling, laughing and high-fiving each other. The next four hours was a little bit of lecture and a lot more hands-on practice of the four basic steps; Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia and Reggaeton (just saying those four words is fun!). At times we broke into groups and practiced leading our groups with moves of our choosing. More sweating, more lecture, more dancing...and finally....LUNCH!
We were all a little slow moving after lunch, but Lindsay, our cute and vivacious instructor put that to an end quickly. We broke into more groups, learned more choreography, and then, when I didn't think my body could handle anymore, we did one more master class to round out the day. I swear to you I didn't know I had it in me. But I dug REALLY deep and squeezed out every last drop of energy I could muster up. Our instructor split the room in half, both groups facing each other, and knocked it out! What a friggin' blast! The day concluded with the handing out of certificates, a little more info and guidance, and then we were on our way...each to forge their own path.
Driving home in my car, allowing the satisfying exhaustion to consume me, I felt the biggest sense of accomplishment. I got through an eight-hour day of Zumba. Who knew? At times I felt scared. At times my drunk monkey would do a little salsa on my shoulder, telling me i wasn't good enough or capable enough to teach this. The little Fu*ker. But as my hips started moving to the music, and all my years of dance came swirling back into my head, I knew...KNEW...this is where I'm supposed to be at this moment. My passion for Zumba is what carried me through the rigorous day. I so badly want to be out there, teaching, inspiring, and spreading the fun and joy of what Zumba is to anyone who will listen and be willing to participate.
My body and mind were literally spent.....and with that came tears of joy. Upon arriving home, as much as I wanted to dig right in and start learning and choreographing MY own Zumba class, all I could do was eat, shower and fall into bed. I slept 11 hours.