Today is my one year anniversary of instructing ZUMBA in Waco!! WOW...What a year it's been. I remember being SOOOO nervous for my first class and practicing the lineup until I knew it in my sleep. I still crack up that I am doing this and that I am perfectly fine wearing these crazy zumba outfits around town. Things are definitely different than they were a year ago. I have to make sure my family comes first. I have to make sure that my kids are taken care of while I'm teaching. I also need to fuel my body differently on days I teach a kids and adult class back to back. I have to not be concerned about what others are doing in this Zumba sub-culture and try to not get upset when we hear discouraging news. (Some days I'm WAY better at this than others!)
There is also a lot that goes along with being a fitness instructor. I had to get several different certifications (my AFAA group certification, Zumba kids, and Zumba Basic 2). I never know where I'm going to be when someone comes up to me and says, "You're my Zumba instructor!" I feel like I am constantly on display. I have been in the grocery store and had my cart scrutinized. I've been at dinner and had more than one conversation about what I'm eating. It's hilarious that people get embarrassed if they've missed class for a while or they make up excuses to me about where they've been. Please know that I'm happy to see you and I never ever get upset when you're not in class :-)!!! I have said no more lately than I ever thought I would. The opportunities are great but MANY and we can't possibly do all that comes our way. I struggle with this but it's getting easier. Erica and I are great friends and we are around each other A LOT! We joke that we should just have a joint checking account because we are together almost every day in some capacity. Our friendship will always come first and we've had to learn how to navigate that friendship through ministry, and also through our zumba partnership. We have THE BEST ladies who come to class and they are committed to us and have a giant impact on our lives each and every week. That is why we do what we do. We feel called to reach women through fitness and encourage them through God's word. It's not something we take lightly or for granted.
The MAC Power Zumba Team is still going strong. We are up to 8 classes a week and get calls and emails weekly about doing more in the community. It has been a lot of fun, sweat, and tears as well as a financial blessing for our family and every single day of instructing is different. Every week there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff that takes place and that is what had been extremely time consuming lately. I would guess we spend at least 12-15 hours a week working on play lists, learning new songs, making up new choreography, dealing with childcare, flyers, birthday party needs, emails, facebook, etc. That doesn't include the devotions we do every week or the time we actually spend instructing!!! It's a lot, and I can get very consumed with all of it if I'm not careful. I have really been trying to be a better steward of my time lately with it and we'll see how that goes, and what changes will take place in the future. It's all a learning curve for me. I still LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Zumba but, I have reached a point of busyness that I do not love. Between Zumba, kids Zumba, Church, playgroup, Ryan's Little League, Ally's T-ball, Dance class, Praise Team and FWCS Hospitality Committee my days are full. (I know most of you can relate to all this Spring time fun!) I know summer will be here soon enough and For now, we will hang on and hope for healthy kids, and rest when we can! ;)
Moving on the the wonderful Zumba Raffle. Erica and I are attending the Zumba Instructor Convention this summer in Orlando and we needed a fundraising week to help with the costs of this trip (it's about $1500 each!). We had a group garage sell, a Disco night, sold Zumba bracelets and then had a raffle for an iPAD 2!! It was a huge effort that involved a lot of work but we were so blessed by our MAC Zumba ladies that we exceeded our goal!!!
We were just a little excited. (Pic before class)
during
Who's it going to be???
And the winner is...
LORI DAY!! Congratulations sweet Lori, I can't wait to see you use this cool new toy.
We had some really cute little zumba girls after class that just had to try out the stage!
Such a fun night!! I am always blown away that the Lord uses ZUMBA in such a capacity. Thank you Lord for being bigger than I could possibly imagine! I am blessed.
