I frequent the gym during the busy hours of the early evening, when it seems everyone is there. So as I ride the bike or climb the stepper (if it happens to be open), I can't help but notice the ever-growing line waiting for Zumba class. The class starts at 6 pm, but ladies start arriving at 5:30! I presume they either want to be guaranteed a front-row space or they have nothing else to do between 5:30 and 6. Obviously each Zumba class at that hour gets filled to the max, so I can understand someone wanting to arrive a few minutes early. But let's consider why you are doing Zumba to begin with: to get fit and/or lose weight in a fun way. So what better way to jumpstart your workout than to WORK OUT!!!
Imagine the calories you could burn, the muscle tone you could build and the metabolism you could boost in the half hour that you stand in Zumba line twice per week?!! Maybe I'm just a fitness nerd and care way too much about exercise, but is it not common sense to spend your time at the gym actually exercising? You drove to the gym, planned Zumba into your day, yet you stand there in the hall outside the Zumba classroom for what totals hours every month.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying to skip Zumba or to do any less of it. Instead, simply add a little workout into your Zumba wait. Hop on the bike or do some free weights. Jog on the treadmill! Don't waste valuable gym time standing in line for more than a few minutes. That is how you will really get fit and see the greatest weight loss possible.
To be fair, I have never actually done Zumba, but it looks like a fun-filled form of aerobic exercise. Nowadays you can find it anywhere for a good price, so I encourage you to try it, especially if you have difficulty motivating yourself to exercise. But to make the most of your time, do some exercise while you wait for class to start!
Finally, I never see a line for the much-more-strenuous spinning class, so give that one a try next time. I suspect it will work you harder than Zumba.
Do you agree or disagree? Please post in comments!
It is silly to see people standing around at a gym. Some people just don't like to use the machines though and prefer to take a class. If the class fills up and they need to wait in line to get in, at least they will eventually be getting a work out.
ReplyDelete