There was something of a scramble to stand at the front of our Zumba class last night. I put my towel down near the front and got elbowed out of the way. I took myself and my towel to the back of the class and soon discovered the cause of the cougar-fest: a cover guy instructor.
Tattooed and bandannaed, the substitute instructor had the class eating out of his hand. Which was at the end of a very sculpted bicep. He brought lightness and so much more fun into a class that is already fabulous – we mamboed and rumbaed through song after song; we jumped and we posed and we crossed and we hopped and we minced and we pouted. All to the Latin beat of the most remarkable songs. Have you ever heard the theme tune to The Pink Panther, with a Latin beat? Or the Latin version of Kenny Rogers’ Lady? I tell you, it’ll have your foot tapping in an instant.
Towards the end of the class Mr Cover Guy had us make a huge circle around the edge of the studio. He started, and one by one – if we wanted to – we were invited to go into the centre of the circle and share our moves, like we were really partying! That was such fun, although I wasn’t sure I really wanted to copy that one woman’s pole dancing moves … that’s a different dance class all together, I think.
We ended the class with a few, slow moves and, as the music ended, Mr Cover Guy was surrounded by women needing to “ask” him something. As for me, I bounced out of the studio and skipped home feeling light as air. For an hour, I had danced like no-one was watching, I had twirled and swayed and felt the rhythm of the music, and I totally shimmied my stress away. I can’t imagine there to be a better cure.
Sunshine signing off for today!
Sunshine in London 
Glad you enjoyed yourself.
(Can you post a pic of the cover guy if he’s there again? Just for academic interest, you understand …)
Hahahaha, Cindy! Why don’t you rather come and do the class over here? xx
I’ve heard good things about Zumba. Yours is one more testimonial. And a question: Did you get a notice of my new post this morning? I switched from WordPress to another host. I did post, but there is no email notification in my email. Now I’m afraid no one got it.
Try Zumba, Renee – you’ll love it! No, I didn’t get notice of your post – I subscribed to your blog through WordPress, so I guess I wouldn’t? Please let me have your new blog link so I can subscribe – don’t want to miss out on your brilliant posts xx
I need your new blog address too, Renée!
Wendy
I’m so glad you got to dance away the stress 🙂 What could possibly be better? I love that you ‘danced like no-one was watching’…we should all do that more often 🙂
Cheers, Harsha.
It was magical and such fun! xx
“danced like no one was watching” I know exactly what that means. What a delightful metaphor for unashamed and unbridled joy. I am a terrible dancer and hate to go to weddings and other things and I tell the ladies I am a Baptist and to leave me alone. But secretly there have been times I’ve wished I could waltz around the gilted ballroom like and elegant and very slow spinning top. With that Latin beat stuff you have described I think they would think I was a Mexican jumping bean and a very awkward one at that.
So just be a Mexican jumping bean, Carl – imagine no-one’s watching and that you’re not a Baptist! 🙂
Ooh la la. Talk about…motivation!
I take a jazz dance class on Friday mornings at 9:30. The gym at the Y is huge and sunlit, the class small (maybe 6 or 8 of us), the music fantastic – and I’m sweating and panting within ten minutes. Even with severely limited motion (arthritic left hip) I can do much of it, and all my old jazz and ballet training – rhythm, grace, timing — is still very much in evidence. There are very few forms of exercise I look forward to. Dance is it!
That sounds fabulous, bsb – just my kind of class! Love it xx
I haven’t a Latin version of Kenny Rogers’ “Lady,” but I have heard a Wiggles version of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s “Islands in the Stream.” (Really, it was just the yellow Wiggle, but close enough.)
I don’t know the Wiggles, Todd, but I do know that Islands in the Stream is in my top ten worst songs of all time. The version of Lady that we danced to last night was definitely not sung by Kenny Rogers! 🙂
The Wiggles are like the Beatles for 3-year-olds.
Oh, right – no wonder I hadn’t heard of them. I’m about half a century too old! 🙂
There is no better cure 😀 dance is king..
Oh absolutely (that always sounds like Mr Bean, doesn’t it?) xx
Isn’t it amazing how a change in instructor can make a “routine” class so much more interesting and productive?? It’s like life, I think — a sharp change in our daily routine can be a good thing!
True, Debbie – and the class is always fun, I just didn’t realise that a change could make it so much “funner”! xx
Kenny Rogers “Lady” to a Latin beat…hmm, can’t imagine it, but I’ll bet it was something. What a lovely way to spend an evening; dancing your cares away. Hugs, Diane
It was lovely, Diane. Kenny Rogers didn’t sing the version of Lady; it was surprisingly amazing! xx
This sounds like to so much fun! Have to confess though, that I’m rarely able to “dance like no one is watching.” Have you always danced with such abandon? I think I would love it, but have only had the experience a couple of times in my life–but then again, I don’t dance much anymore. Maybe if I did I’m get that great release.
Hugs from Haiti,
Kathy
It was such fun, Kathy – thoroughly recommended! I so wish I could always dance like no-one’s watching, but I can only manage to do that in a class. I could dance with a bit more abandon there too, but I’m working at it! So liberating, really. xx
I used to dance in my room to Dire Straits and the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing! Since moving to the south I’ve wanted to take salsa lessons. Maybe that should be added to my bucket list. Hottie instructors might give an extra bit of motivation!
Do it, midnitechef – you’ll love it! The Zumba class is made up of a lot of salsa moves, and it’s just wonderful. xx
love this post–and love the lighness of being you called to mind.
😉
glad to be catching back up with my fave blogs!
blessings
jane
Yay – lovely to see you here, jane! It was wonderful to experience such lightness xx
Cougar-fest! I love it! I work with a woman we call Cougsie because she is in her 50’s and always dates guys in their 2o’s. I need to see if we have Zumba dance classes here in Portland, not that I’m interested in cougar action……
Patty xo!
Zumba’s all about the dancing, Patty! You’ll love it! xx
Zumba? I might have to check that out. 🙂
Do, Winn – it’s SO much fun! xx
A photo would be much-appreciated!
I’ll have to leave the dancing up to you, Sunshine…I have trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time!
Hugs,
Wendy
Hahaha, Wendy! I didn’t have my camera with me last night! 🙂
You don’t have to walk or chew gum in the Zumba class, Wendy – come on, give it a try! You’ll do great xx
LOL! You always come back from that class of yours with wonderful stories 🙂
I’m not a good dancer, but I love Latin beats. Your previous posts inspired me to investigate Zumba a little and I bought the DVD-set. It sends out some powerful feel-good vibes. I can’t stand still when the music starts.
Glad to hear you had a fun time!
I do rabbit on a bit about Zumba, don’t I? But how cool that you got the DVD set – it sounds like you’re having fun with it. I’m so impressed!
So when you visit London, you can come to a class with me! Yay xx
Sounds like you had fun! You really need to get a cellphone with a good camera! 😉 These are the kind of posts that need illustration . . .
Can you imagine me taking photos during a Zumba class? hahahaha! Someone behind me last week was holding her cellphone during the class and I was convinced I was going to end up on youtube. Maybe I did! xx
I would have needed a glass of wine to get myself all brave enough to dance……especially in front of a hottie. The point would then have been lost, because i am sure you dont just go for the dancing and the hot guys but the exercise? Sounds like an absolute blast though.
Well done!
xx
It was a blast! I go for the dancing and the music and the exercise – a cute instructor makes everything even better! xx