Lorena Gonzalez (L) and Tamara Graham (R) have taken their Zumba classes online. The pair are holding a masterclass fundraiser on Dec. 19 for the Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes food bank. (Tamara Graham)

By Dan Marshall

The Right Steps

Zumba instructors go virtual for classes and fundraising

Dec 10, 2020 | 7:24 PM

NANAIMO — Zumba is mix of fitness and dancing experiencing a growth in popularity in the Central Island.

The Latin-inspired workouts combine several musical rhythms, including salsa, merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton.

Local instructor Lorena Gonzalez called Zumba exercise in disguise.

“It’s like you’re in a party, you don’t even realize you’re working out until the end of the class.”

Participants are drawn to the workouts for a variety of reasons including strength, co-ordination, weight loss and even to boost memory.

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Gonzalez said the demographic in her classes is primarily women between the ages of 40-75.

With a few different Zumba formats there are options for almost all fitness levels.

Most sessions were offered in fitness centres, gyms and parks and rec facilities pre-COVID but now the workouts have moved primarily online.

Instructor Tamara Graham says those online classes have opened up a new avenue with participants no longer limited to local gyms and facilities.

“You can take a class from someone anywhere in the world. You can look online and everyone is offering virtual classes so you could choose someone from the Dominican Republic if you wanted and take their class.”

Graham herself is offering free pop-up classes on Zoom on a rotating schedule while many others still have a set schedule online.

The local Zumba community typically comes together every year to put on a fundraiser for the food bank.

COVID-19 has meant the fundraiser can’t happen in the traditional way but Graham felt there was still a way to help out in the community.

“You’re going to see more instructors getting together for virtual events. My hope is that in addition to classes, we’ll be able to collaborate online as instructors and offer special classes and fundraisers for people to take part in.”

Graham and Gonzalez made the decision to put on a masterclass together Dec. 19 on Zoom.

It will be by donation to the Loaves and Fishes food bank.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77