By Joseph Hutton
Zumba classes are now offered to students and staff on campus.
On Mondays at 4:45pm and Wednesdays at 7 p.m., students can participate in zumba for an hour in the racquetball courts in Moore. Zumba is a fitness program that is focused on dance and aerobic elements. Hip-hop, salsa, and samba moves are incorporated with squats and lunges all set to upbeat music.
Kaylee Carley, resident director of the ladies’ apartments, led three zumba classes last November during student development’s push for healthy living on campus. The class was successful and Carley was asked to continue the classes this semester.
Carley has been a certified zumba instructor since October of last year. She got her license so that there may be more fitness opportunities on campus for students and staff.
Zumba is for everyone regardless of movement or dance experience. It’s for anybody who wants to exercise without going to the gym and who isn’t afraid to shake their booty, she said.
“It’s pretty simple to pick up,” said Mallory Yommer, a consistent attendee. “You don’t have to do each dance move exactly right.”
Though zumba can be modified for beginners, it’s not for wimps. Within the one hour, the average individual can burn from 800 to 1000 calories.
Students can function better mentally if they are physically active, said Carley. She believes that zumba is a great opportunity to relieve any stress or anxiety that students or staff may experience throughout the week.
“I’ve had girls come up to me and say that it’s been helping them de-stress,” said Carley. “They loved shaking it off and releasing the stress and pressure of the classroom.”
Zumba on campus is meant to be a non-intimidating environment to have stress-free fun and get a workout.
“It’s a good exercise that’s not painful,” said Yommer. “You don’t realize how much you’re doing. Afterwards you’re like, ‘holy cow, that was a workout.’”
Staff and faculty are encouraged to attend the Monday classes, but students are more than welcome to join in the fun. Classes Wednesday usually hold around 15 students.
Those who participate in zumba feel free to act goofy with one another. There’s no pressure to be the best dancer in the room. It’s about burning calories and having fun, Carley said.
If interested, contact Kaylee Carley at KCarley@trevecca.edu.
