Dynamics of Group Fitness

So every few months I go on this kick where I decide I am going to get my butt back into the gym, start a regular workout regime, eat better, etc, etc. Let's first caveat this with saying that I am in decent shape, eat healthy more than not (but love my chocolate and ice cream), and am generally pretty active (just not in a gym). That being said, my new year's resolution for a consistent workout schedule lasted about 3 weeks until I caught this horribly, nasty cold. It took me about a month to fully recover and since I couldn't really breathe sitting still the idea of running or taking a spinning class or doing anything requiring more physical effort than blowing my nose quickly lost its appeal. Anyway, since I am once again healthy it is time to get into the gym and start again(especially since I HATE to pay for something I am not using).

So, last night I went to a "Zumba" class for the first time. Quick description - a mixed cultural dance class (mostly Latin) that is the latest fad in group exercise. It was a surprisingly good workout and actually a lot of fun. But my favorite part of the class was the mixture of people in the room. There was none. There were about 25 people in the class - all women. The instructors were the only guys in the room - and I am pretty sure they were both gay.... At one point a guy came in, joined the group and started to dance with the rest of us. He lasted about 5 mins and then could not get out of the room fast enough. We were women who have danced before, or not; women who were in great shape, or not; women who were terribly shy, or not; and women who were having the time of our lives. I'm pretty sure we scared the crap out of the poor chap.

I am not sure I will ever understand what makes getting in a room with 20 people you don't know, with mirrors all around you, windows where the rest of the gym can see in, and where you are required to 'shake your booty' for all to see so much fun. But when you're with a group of women who are laughing as much as they are dancing, smiling as much as they are sweating, and who don't care that they look like a bunch of uncoordinated goofballs it's intoxicating. Perhaps "Zumba" will be come a regular thing after all (even if the gym does not).