Working It Out: Zumba stretches to Southern

On February 20, 2018, the popular dance work-out program known as ‘Zumba’ made its way to the intramural complex here at SU. The goal of Zumba is to get a great workout in, burn calories and build muscle, all while being motivated by music. Typically, a Zumba class lasts about an hour, and the dancing is nonstop. Each dance move is specifically designed to match the beat and tempo of the music. This increases the challenge for the participants because as the music gets faster, so does the choreography.
The event was sponsored by the “Collegiate 100 Black Women of Southern University” and it was intense from start to finish. President of the club, Ambrosia Williams who is a Marketing Major here at Southern, wanted to do something exciting for students on campus that would be both fun and healthy. “I wanted to bring something new to Collegiate 100 week. . .this is the most fun I have had in a long time. I hope the ladies enjoyed themselves,” said Williams
Zumba may be the perfect form of exercise for people who don’t have a lot of time to spend in the gym. Because the classes only last for about an hour, it is fantastic for quick workouts whenever you have a few hours of down time. Compared to going to the gym, lifting weights, or hitting the treadmill, Zumba allows you to get a full body workout in all at once.
Some students who participated had positive reviews of the Colombian based dance workout. “This event was exciting, fun, and a well needed stress reliever”, said Ariel Briggs, a Sophomore, Computer Science Major from Greenville Mississippi. She and other young ladies from SU came together for a fun night of exercise with friends. Alyse Shelton, a Junior Mass Communications Major from Shreveport, Louisiana said, “This was very fun and a different way of exercising, and I’m glad I got to do it with my sisters.”
More than a good workout, Zumba is great for providing participants with an overall satisfying experience. Regardless of what form it takes, working out is always going to be tough but Zumba is a great way to go, if you’re going to do it.
“Very fun, high energy, and tiring but fun”, said Alysha Guss, a Freshmen Mass Communication Major with a minor in Theatre from New Orleans Louisiana.
It seems that each of these young ladies had pretty similar experiences, and one thing they all had in common was a fun night of exercise. It may be difficult finding time in your busy schedule, and between classes and extracurricular activities, working out may be nearly impossible.
However, regardless of what your day looks like, Zumba is an excellent way to get a good workout in and have a great time as well. You may find that it doesn’t even feel like a workout. “It was high energy and high spirits the entire time”, according to Alesha Bethea, a Freshmen Psychology Major form Mississippi. So, the next time you find yourself with a few hours of downtime and you want to workout but you’re lacking the motivation, look up nearby Zumba classes and sign up. You won’t regret it.