Zumba, pronounced Zoom-bah, is a dance fitness workout that teaches in a manner that’s easy to follow, fun, and plenty challenging. It incorporates a variety of latin dance styles such as salsa, chacha, merengue, mambo, samba, calypso, reggaeton, flamenco, and on and on. It was started by an aerobics instructor who forgot his music and decided to put in some of his own latin tunes to lead the class. The class loved the change, and a million dollar idea was made.

I started teaching salsa cardio about 6 months before I had ever heard of Zumba. The layout of the class was choreographed to the movements, rather than the music. Zumba choreographs the routines to the music, and that was the changed that I initially hated, and have learned the love.

No two Zumba classes will ever be the same, the company provides you will a basis of songs and movements, but it is up to the instructor to bring in their own creativity and talent. I try to choreograph one or two new songs per week and rotate the playlist so the class stays fresh, challenged, but also start to make the songs they are comfortable with, their own.

Growing up in a household with a hispanic father, gave me a great basis of rhythm and ethnic dance. Zumba has been a tool I use in my business with an ever growing name and the capability of transforming bodies while having a blast. Check out Zumba online.

How’s the diet going? Well, it’s going. I lost 5 pounds the first week, and am taking a flexible approach to this diet, while trying to rule out unhealthy temptations like soda, cookies, and fast food. So far, I feel much better, energy is up, and I’m on my way.

Well, the day has come to get serious about the last 15 pounds I have been waiting to lose. I’m starting a new meal plan today and getting my eating habits in sync with the other healthy lifestyle changes I have made. I know I will feel better, lighter, and happier after even one week. But entering into any sort of dare I say “diet,” is like ending a bad relationship knowing it will take a little while to realize the benefits.

I’ve been getting by over the last year that I have been teaching at the studio because of the cardio. However, I have reached a plateau in my weight and shape, and the only way to get the rest off is to find a healthier diet. I am going to use Cinch, by Shaklee. I used it to drop inches after my second baby. The reason why I chose this route is because I am a busy mom who doesn’t have time to always make meals, let alone balanced and healthy meals. Cinch uses meal bars or shakes twice a day and allows you to eat 1200 calories outside of that. The meal bars have 20 grams of protein, so you stay full longer. If you want to know more about this diet plan go to www.cinchclub.com. I have found it to be an easy to follow program that sheds weight the right way, 1 to 2 pounds per week.

Here I go on day one, weighing in at 144 pounds. Goal Weight: 129 pounds. For this week, I will be hoping to shed some water weight as my body responds to healthier eating habits and weigh in next Monday at 139 pounds. I will keep a weekly update and include some of the fun ways I am getting my cardio in. Tonight, I will be dancing Zumba!

By Teresa Rathbun

I did not do pregnancy well. This is the response I would give when asked why I decided to start a fitness studio. Growing up in an athletic, active, and competitive family did not make it easy to put on a whopping 60 pounds with my first pregnancy. I felt awful, and worst of all, I did not feel at all like the bouncy, energetic, motivated 22 year old in this round and swollen body. I think many people felt that this was the way I would spend my life. However, I didn’t think that, and I knew that I needed to find a way to get back to my best self, whatever that meant. I really did sit and think of the time in my life when I felt most alive. I recalled a time in college when I was single, focused on education, involved in politics, in great shape, and optimistic. There was no sense in revisiting the past for a way back to that time. Instead, I chose to move forward in a fitness lifestyle that worked for my life now. I chose to open a dance fitness and pilates studio with my two sisters. Also busy moms with side jobs, we found a way to fit an hour into our day to bring health and wellness to other people in a soothing and small space. I think people, especially busy people, especially busy people with kids, toss their workout to the side and drop it down on the priority list. It is so important to make some form of fitness a part of your day, 3 to 4 days a week. You’ll be a nicer person, with less stress, more energy, and a stronger body and mind to take on your day. There are so many different ways to get a little healthier, let’s explore some of the fun ones!

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