The Empowering Nature of Zumba!

This semester, I wanted to take an exercise class, but I’ve never been the kind of person to just go to the gym every morning. I’ve always loved dance classes, but in my junior year, I realized I pretty much exhausted all the dance classes offered at Cornell that really interested me and were my level (special shoutout to PMA 2220!)

I decided to start taking Zumba classes offered at the fitness centers on campus with a few of my close friends. This was the perfect way for me to stay fit and keep up with my love for dancing in a casual, fun, and healthy way! I’ve found these weekly classes to be a really rewarding experience for a few reasons:

1. The upbeat nature of the exercises.

I always feel like I’m ready to tackle the day after leaving each class.

2. The empowerment of being surrounded by women.

While anyone can take a Zumba class, the ones I have been to have consisted of almost entirely women. This makes for a really motivating experience as we’re all supporting one another through the exercises.

3. The permission it gives us to just be silly.

I love that I can just let myself go when I’m dancing. In Zumba class, nobody cares if you look ridiculous or can’t quite do the moves—everyone is just doing the best they can!

There are many opportunities to try out a Zumba class across the fitness centers on campus.

Let’s get dancing!