ATHENS, Ala. — It's time to pump up the music and get those feet on the Zumba dance floor. Summertime is upon us, and it's important to find ways to keep your body moving even as that warmer heat sets in. May is also National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.
Athens Recreation Center Zumba instructor Taylor Thomas breaks down why body movement is so important. "Even if you can just go outside for a walk, it is proven like you just need 150 minutes a week. That's it. I mean, I've done so many studies on it. Just walk. You don't have to run. You have to walk fast, but you need to move your body, period."
Group fitness instructor Taylor Thomas continued by expressing what she loves most about working with her students. "I teach Zumba, Kickboxing, Muscle Works and STRONG. "I see people smiling and I feel like I contribute to that. Just bring in positive energy. The longer you can stretch your heart in a class or in chamber, the lower it's going to be when you're resting and the longer it will last."
Furthermore, in this case, getting that heart rate up, while still having fun, is exactly what this Zumba class session was all about. "My favorite part of teaching is watching the students change, watching their bodies change. For one, I have a girl that has probably lost 70 pounds recently."
Thomas said she notices the changes in her student's physique and confidence. "The body is important, but their mind, they come in here, they're shy, they don't talk. And then you're looking back and they're laughing and carrying on. And leading, when I have to turn around and do things, they're leading it in the back. and they would have never been near me in the front, just watching their confidence and their body."
For Thomas - seeing that is rewarding. "The body is important, but your your self-esteem and your self love is more important. and that's the part. the only take away from this is that the best thing I do is watching that change." The most important thing to keep in mind if you don't hear anything else..."It's important to move. Just move. Even if you can just go outside for a walk, it is proven like you just need 150 minutes a week. That's it. I mean, I've done so many studies on it. Just walk. You don't have to run. You have to walk fast, but you need to move your body, period."