Waka Waka: 1Goal

Shakira is well-known for a little shake and shimmy herself and has been one of the main music sources for Zumba classes. Some popular songs that almost all Zumba classes have used include: Hips Don’t Lie, Whenever Wherever, and the newer song, Waka Waka has been expanding.

Shakira is an advocate of spreading poverty awareness in Africa and during the FIFA World Cup Series promoted a good cause through song and dance. According to the 1 Goal campaign website, it is “a campaign seizing the power of football to ensure that education for all is a lasting impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Raising our voices all over the world we believe that, together, we can make education a reality for the millions of boys and girls who remain out of school.”

Taking the reigns, Zumba instructors have jumped on board by responding to Shakira and using classes to promote the 1 Goal cause while getting a good workout to some fun tunes.

Zumba takes over South Jersey locations

From the expected fitness centers to libraries to surf and skate shops, no location is safe from the spread of Zumba fitness. Vineland gymnastic studios and the YMCA center are not skipping out on the opportunity either. Where will Zumba hit next?

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Woody’s Surf and Skate Shop: Rio Grande
Miracle’s Fitness: Rio Grande
Cape Fitness: Cape May
Cape May County Library: Villas & Cape May Court House
The Y: Vineland
Airborne: Vineland

Zumba concept video

Zumbathons in South Jersey

More fun “Zumba” words. Easily, a Zumbathon is an event acting as a fundraiser. In other words, it’s a cardio workout Zumba class session lasting, usually, between 2 to 3 hours for a good cause.

Today in Vineland, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., a Zumbathon took place for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation.

Using exercise to spread awareness ties well into Zumba and more events are starting to spread.

Zumba USA is a great soure for different Zumbathon events through press releases or local papers, including The Daily Journal.
Listed on the site is previous Zumbathons as well as acting as a bulletin board to post future fundraisers through Zumba with information regarding dates and locations.

“Ditch the workout, join the party,” and spread awareness for non-profit organizations.

Zumba Conventions are big

Although I am just starting to skim the surface of the movement Zumba has made in South Jersey, I want to take a quick detour to point out how the thrill has grown beyond raving expectations. I can’t wait for the day I can attend a Zumba Convention. Just a quick segway: Zumba Conventions are specific events that last for several days. Instuctors, trainers and associates will workshop different aspects to Zumba: choreography, techniques, etc.

This year, the Zumba Convention was held in Florida for 4 days. No, Florida is not South Jersey. However, people from all over the United States attended the Convention. Aundra is a Zumba instructor from Chestertown, MD and blogged about her amazing experience from the 2010 convention. If you are an instructor, or associate, or all-around promoter of Zumba, look into the 2011 Convention!

This was a CRAZY Zumba Convention from 2009. And yes, minus the cool neon lights and glowsticks, this is what class is like; just a bit smaller scale.

Libraries Offer Free Zumba Classes

The stereotypical silent atmosphere in libraries is being shaken up. For those of you who have never tried Zumba and don’t have a desire to drop a quick $10.00 for a class or daily use, look into your local library. Many libraries are ‘checking out’ the dance movement and offering free classes several times a month. The Vineland Public Library offered several demo classes this past summer.

The Cape May County Library is continuously offering free classes on Tuesdays at the Cape May Court House Branch. Click the link for the library calender.

Check out your local library events and find out when free classes will be offered.
Below is a list of South Jersey public libraries offering classes:

• Burlington County Library
• Camden County Library
• Cape May County Library

A Playlist of Zumba Songs You Could be Dancing to

Sure, I have mentioned that Zumba is a dance fitness type of exercise class but what kind of music are people dancing and sweating off calories to? I have decided to grace your lovely ears to a mini playlist of songs found in a typical Zumba class session:

Gym Focus of the Week: Zumba at Miracles Fitness

In the early stages of my fascination with Zumba, I found myself becoming more buzzed in energy and a building endorphin addiction. On the first day of my own personal experience, I attended three-hour class sessions in one day, gym hopping in Cape May County. This week I am going to highlight the gym that first introduced me to this dance fitness.

Miracles Fitness has several different locations in South Jersey, however, the two most popular centers is in Rio Grande and Seaville. Offering a variety of classes, Zumba has caught the eye of locals and out-of-town visitors in Cape May County. Miracles Fitness has a handful of instructors with different taste and zest involving the song choreography. The good thing about Zumba is the different levels of intensity the class offers for any new time beginner or any one who has been dedicated in making it to every Monday and Friday morning class. For some insight, I had a quick Q&A for questions that any Zumba newcomers may have with two of the talented class instructors at Miracles Fitness.

Click here to look at Zumba class schedules for classes in Rio Grande.
If Seaville is closer to your location, click here for their class times.

Miracles Fitness is located in Rio Grande
408 Rio Grande Blvd
609-886-7070

Born, Raised, and Spreading Zumba Love in South Jersey

Growing up in Cape May County for 21 years, it is easy to get bored with the surroundings. A daily trip to the Wildwood boardwalk to ride some attractions and slide in the water park started to dull by my early teens. Sure, the beach is always nice, but once I began working full-time, the beach slowly dwindled from my daily/weekly activities. To keep myself sane, due to jumping to and from job to school to job to internship, to job, I started going to the gym after a friend mentioned “Zumba” to me. I had never heard of this type of cardio workout, but I was eager to try it.

After the first class session, I was undeniably hooked and was going up to 3 times a day, gym hopping to soak in as much experience as possible. Now? I am a senior at Rowan University, studying journalism and creative writing. Writing, in general is my passion, aside from Zumba, of course. I have my associates degree in general studies with a concentration on communications, and will graduate this spring with my BA in journalism.

Throughout this course, I hope to expand this blog and stretch the knowledge I already have and will learn about Zumba. It really is more than a work out class where you sweat and keel over after an hour. Through the previous summer, I have learned that Zumba is contagious, spreading from gym to gym in South Jersey. Where did it start and where is it going? And why is it so addicting? I want to accomplish proper blogging skills to share something that I am passionate about affectively, and get the rest of South Jersey hooked to this new craze.