Wellness Month: Say Good-Bye to Mom Jeans with Zumba

Guest article by Leeanne Ekland, who’s enhancing her wellness with Zumba.

Time for a Change

This mom body needs a serious makeover! I don’t want to wear mom jeans, ever. I don’t actually own any and I’m not going to buy any! I’m still holding tight to my coveted jeans of pre-motherhood, but without a serious shakeup my dream of fitting back into them is fading fast.

The last time I told myself I needed a big change in my life, my son Sam was born seven months later. I know, I know – do the math. I didn’t know at the time, but Sammy was more than just a twinkle if you get my drift. But that’s another story.

In Search of Wellness

Back to the backside that eludes my jeans collection. Ready for change one fateful day, and ready to embrace a greater sense of wellness, I went to my first Zumba class. I was a little nervous (or maybe a lot nervous). I haven’t done anything resembling dance except in baby music class. That consists of bobbing out of time to the music with my baby . He doesn’t get rhythm, yet. But soon he will. So, I thought I must prepare.

I swallowed my nerves and gave Zumba a shot. Can you say addicted? I can’t believe I have been missing out on this. It is so much fun, I’ve never sweat so much and had such an awesome time doing it! Never did I think I would love a song by Pitbull, some rapper guy with a bad name. It reaches to the core of what was my sexy self was back in the day. A little bit raunch, a lot boom! boom! and feeling very, very free.

A Hot Little Ball of Energy

My instructor Bianca is a hot little ball of energy. She’s got just the right mix of music and moves, and breaks it down if we’re not getting it. I love that we work on specific choreography to each song. It makes me think that one day, I’ll hear Pitbull and be inspired to shake my moneymaker on the dance floor! I’m also hoping that dance floor isn’t a grocery store aisle or somewhere else potentially embarrassing. You never know.

I’ve already signed up for my next set of classes in January. And there is an event that I’m sure you won’t want to miss now that you are as excited as me and have taken the time to read this article. Thanks for that, by the way. I hope you’ll enhance your own wellness and start the New Year off with a bang by getting Zumba-fied with me!

Zumba Dance Party

When: January 14, 2012 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Where: Creekside Community Centre
What: Get pumped with a professional DJ and his spectacular light show. Sway to the warm and pulsating rhythms from established local musicians! Fitness certified, dynamic instructors promise to take you on a musical journey through the local dance floors of Latin America and beyond. So bring your bling, your funk, your freestyle, comfortable dancing shoes or runners and dress to impress no one but yourself.
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door (space permitting)
Register: pbregister.vancouver.ca/adet.sdi?activity_id=311854

Have you tried Zumba? Did you like it? And what’s on your list of new exercise or wellness routines to try in the New Year?

Zumba Vancouver

www.zumbavancouver.ca | Twitter | Facebook

Leeanne Ekland is a stay-at-home mom of one, who’s on a mission to rediscover love, wellness, and neighbourhood happenings, and to have a ton of fun. She’s blogging about her experiences leeanneekland.com. Having started the parenting experience much later than most, she offers a unique perspective on the challenges and all that is amazing about being a new mom over 40. At least – she does when she’s not napping, which is something she does often.