Do you Zumba?

Last month, Denise Benitez, a fitness instructor in the Kimble Fitness Center at Westminster Place, invited us into her Monday Zumba class for a rare photo opp.


For those of you who don't know, Zumba is an aerobic fitness program derived from the dance movements of various Latin musical styles including mambo, calypso, rumba and salsa.

Denise's Zumba program was created specifically for the residents of Presbyterian Homes, and incorporates arm and leg motions that can be performed while seated.

The ladies of Zumba, twelve sprightly women with fire in their bellies and rhythm in their bones, sported brand new Zumba tee-shirts just for the occasion and displayed their moves proudly for our busy photographer.


We didn't partake in the Zumba ourselves, but the class looked every bit the workout it's made out to be: feet bounced in time with uptempo music while the ladies waved their hands in lively, choreographed motions. However, the smiling class looked less like they were suffering through a workout than like the life of the party, and smiles played on their faces as they made their way through Denise's routine.


As the music played on the class moved quickly through their intricate sets of moves, Denise encouraging them on with calls and cues for changes all the while. When the last song swelled to a final crescendo, the class raised their arms together and gave a group shout of "Zumba!"


Denise displayed an obvious pride of the Zumba ladies and the hard work they'd put into their routine; the laughs and smiles from the class were good indicators that they'd enjoyed showing it off just as much she'd done teaching it.


For more information about Zumba classes, contact John Hanrahan, Coordinator at the Westminster Place Kimble Fitness Center at 492-3755.