I Did a Thing

I'd like to tell a story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down... so while I didn't go live with an Auntie and Uncle in Bel Air; nor did I go live in a mansion; a year ago I made a decision that definitely changed my life thought process.

As I previously mentioned, I love dance. I am in awe of ballet and the way a story can be told through dance. The emotion, the story, the music-it all completely consumes me. But I never had the grace (or physical attributes) to be a ballerina. Jazz was more my style. Fosse jazz! Give me a pair of character shoes and a good beat and I'm good to go!

Enter middle age and a need to be active-enter Zumba! The Latin inspired dance craze that began over 20 years ago and has given millions of people an opportunity to live out their inner dance dreams. I took my first class about seven years ago and thought I would either pass out or throw up before the hour was done. I clearly remember that first soca that almost knocked me out! I kept saying to myself "you can do this"

I was grateful to be in the second to last row and over to the side so I wouldn't be easily seen. I recall Jessica, the instructor, asking at the end of that first class how I felt. I choked out "great" with a smile and knew that she knew I was not exactly being honest.

The Saturday morning class grew in popularity as over 40 women began to attend each week. My confidence also grew and I moved to the "front row" and truly came alive for that hour each week. Jessica added a Thursday evening class that combined light weights for some of the songs and I felt like I reached my personal utopia.

During this time, Jessica and I also became friends and talked about many different things including our futures. She was looking to obtain her personal trainer certification (which she has) and I was beginning to consider becoming a Zumba instructor. Although I hadn't shared that with anyone until one cold night in February 2021 when I mentioned to Jessica that I was giving thought to becoming certified. "DO IT" was her emphatic text back to me. On June 19, the hottest most humid day we had experienced in awhile, I drove up to Danbury for my day long certification process.

I again thought I would throw up or pass out but this time from nerves. What if I'm too old? What if I can't keep up? What if I can remember anything? All those "what if's" went through my mind before I got to the gym. What I noticed was we were all different in size, stature, and age. Some people, like me, had been taking classes for years and now wanted to move to the next level. Some ladies had recently started and wanted to make a career change. Zumba embraces everyone and you don't need a dance background to be successful, you just need to move! The trainer I had, Coco, shared with us that she had been an accountant and never taken a Zumba class but was a cycling instructor. The gym owner wanted to add Zumba and sent her for certification. Now, she teaches future instructors and is certified in many different areas. I think the photo below shows my happiness to have made it through that day!

The best part of this journey has been the support of Jessica and my "at home" Zumba community. The first time I led a song, I was horrible! So stiff, very nervous and not engaged with the class at all. It's very different to teach a workshop on special education advocacy where you need to be perfect and serious vs a dance class where you have fun and don't have to be perfect.

When I saw the video of myself I cringed. I told Jessica that I looked so serious and she said "have fun"! That was this community is all about-I'm not going to move like Jessica or like Coco or any of the other instructors that I see online. I'm going to move like Lynn.

I am far from perfect-I make mistakes, or rather share new choreography but I have learned not to stop when that happens, but smile and keep moving. I am forever grateful for the support of Jessica and all my Zumba friends who tune into my virtual Monday night class (shameless plug) and to have had this community to help get me started. Jessica giving me a chance to lead a song or two each week is an opportunity I am truly grateful for as not everyone is so lucky.

I'm not sure where this will all lead, but I do know that on that chilly evening in November, when I taught my first virtual class , I did look around and knew "I was finally there". While not the Prince of Bel Air, I was where Lynn was meant to be. To be continued....