By Yulissa Barrios, Contributing Writer
Saint Leo University offers a variety of complimentary classes to students and faculty, including Zumba.
As a Saint Leo University student, I decided to take advantage of it and attended Zumba, which is one of the many varieties of free classes offered in the Wellness Center.
Zumba is a fusion of international and Latin dances which works out the entire body. As a student who used to dance a mix of Latin dances for a few years, I had to check this class out.
The instructor, Dr G., was introducing herself to the class; I felt a sense of belonging and openness from the instructor. The people in the class were eager and excited to see what beheld in the next couple of moments.
“As someone who danced her whole life, I wanted to find a way to keep dancing, so I was thrilled,” said Cora Charon, a freshman majoring in psychology.
As the first beat dropped off the song, my heart rate rose. However, listening to the rhythms of the songs made me not want to stop.
We focused a lot on shoulder, arm, and leg movement through several songs.
We danced a mix of salsa dance steps and quick arm movements throughout the fast-paced songs. There were even some jumping exercises that got the class attendees more invested in the class.
“I really like the high-intensity cardio, which keeps me moving and fast-paced,” said Charon.
Toward the second half of the Zumba class, slower-beat songs started to play, and it was noticeable that the instructor focused more on shoulder movements and included a mix of bachata dance steps. It felt like I was working out without having too much strain on my body.
Finally, we did some stretches to relax our bodies, and the class was finished. Attending the Zumba class at the Wellness Center is recommended for everyone who loves to dance. It brought a sense of nostalgia because I was used to these dances for years, and the class was a nice break between studying.
Overall, it was an entertaining and pleasurable experience, from the fun energy the music gave to the expediential instructor who taught it.
