Working Out Some Relaxation
February 25, 2011
I felt like I was cheating but I dragged myself to a free Zumba class held at the F Street Community Center Friday night. I didn’t know what to expect and it took a lot of convincing from my co-worker, but I bit the bullet and went to work off the Valentino’s pizza we had for lunch.
I never felt more lost than I did the moment I walked in, wearing my purple tight fitting Zumba shirt and my nice, black dress boots. We do, after all, have about five inches of snow covering Lincoln. Not many people had showed up due to the conditions and as the friendly faces streamed in I noticed one difference between me and all of them…I’m white!
As if I wasn’t shaking in my boots enough already, I was imagining how stupid I was going to feel ‘popping’ it in a sea of black women.
I was timid at first, but I laughed at jokes and shaked my booty. Made conversation and eventually warmed up to it. This Zumba session, led by a very perky little Asian girl, was very low intensity. I almost wonder if it’s meant for an older crowd.
While I didn’t break the sweat I usually do (and probably didn’t burn off the two extra slices of pizza I had) it did get me moving a little more than I would have. We did some meringue, belly dancing and marching in place. We even pulled out some steps and did a little ab work. By the end of the hour, I had befriended an older woman named Daphne.
“See you next Friday,” she said, as I walked out the door.
So what are the benefits to a low intensity workout?
• You still burn calories!
• Reduces blood sugar levels and insulin resistance
• Lower levels of depression, better sleep, more energy, a greater ability to deal with stress
• Gentle stretching doesn’t elevate the heart rate as much as an intense workout, but these moves are excellent for stress relief and relaxation which helps to lower blood pressure.
All in all it was a very relaxing workout. I burned a few calories, had a few laughs and have another new venue to blow off steam and get to know people. Does this mean I should punt my high intensity workout? While I’m quickly being whipped into shape at my other Zumba classes, this low intensity exercise offers a nice break. Low intensity exercise is perfect for people who are just starting out or for people who have physical disabilities that limit their ability to do strenuous exercise.
FAVORITE FOOD FIND?
Applesauce. I recently discovered I love the stuff. I know my mom fed it to me as a baby, all mashed up with cottage cheese, but I guess I forgot how delicious, cold, sweet and filling it is. Yummmm!
