Zumba: Bringing Sensuality Back

I'll be the first to admit to anyone that I was once a Zumba critic, so much to the point that when the "crew" popped into the gym, I announced that the Zumba moms had arrived! At the time, the only thing they meant to me was a full childcare room. I can openly admit my own suckiness now because Zumba has transformed a huge part of my life.

DA HECK? Zumba, freaking Zumba, transforming your life? It seems extreme, I know. I'm the kind of person that makes fun of people for statements like this (again, I can admit my own suckiness). But-it's true. I'm a Zumba mom.

There, I said it, ya'll. I'm a twerking, bumping, jumping, "whoo whoo"ing, Zumba mom. 

Something happens to women as we age (don't hate cause you ain't 27 anymore, sorry), and I'm not talking about the way our body stretches, or caves, or slows. It's more than a physical alteration; it's an overarching decline in freaking feeling ourselves. No, we don't go to clubs anymore, unless eating a club sandwich in my yoga pants (which I never do yoga in) whilst watching HGTV counts. The all-nighters are no longer by choice and finding time to see your friends is like me doing yoga-it just doesn't happen, okay?

We lose the moments of looking in the mirror and loving our bodies, breaking it down in the shower; we become afraid to dance like people ARE watching; we become afraid of feeling sexy. 

Damn it, y'all- why? Aging can be so rockin', so why are we dampening and diluting ourselves? We should be falling more in love with ourselves, appreciating the intimacy and connection we now have with our true identities after years of spilling rum on our parent's floors when we hear them come upstairs, or spending two hours to see a boy for five minutes that sends us a mere "yo". HOW DARE HE? 

We begin to shrink, to hide ourselves-in photographs behind friends, in bathrobes, slouchy pajamas and over-sized t-shirts. We simply tuck away our sensual feelings and try on shame for size. Frankly, I'm tired of seeing sexy, strong, smart women selling themselves short and leaving their dancing shoes to disintegrate in their closets.

Zumba saves us. Zumba reminds us that it's okay to be sexy in your 30's, sensual in your 60's! Trust me, there's some prime-timers in class that sing louder about that "big booty" than I'm currently able. It's beautiful. It's inspiring. It's empowering. I love to see women shed anxiety and put on confidence. Honestly, I love to see women of all ages, shapes, backgrounds, dance abilities shaking DAT BUTT, and NOT like nobody is watching, but like the entire world is watching.

In Zumba, you are a prowess, a woman rediscovering your sexuality without guilt. In Zumba, you remember, or discover for the first time, that your hips are built for more than propping up toddlers, but for shakin' babe! It's not uncommon for women to feel like they simply shouldn't be sensual, that we just aren't "built to be that way", so we should sit down and calm down.

Ladies-WRONG. Step into a Zumba class with me and be amazed at the energy in the room. Stick with this weird lady for a minute more, but with each twerk, shake, or body roll-we break free of this standard a little more. We assure the world that no, we are not designed to stay in a glass case; we were made to move, to sing, to shout, to jump, to free our bodies of every stigma and every expectation. 

In Zumba, you are ageless.
In Zumba, you are no one's mother or wife. 
In Zumba, there is no one to tell you to quiet down, to stop acting so silly. 
In Zumba, we are just a tribe of women, dancing, shaking dat butt, and bringing sexy back.