No Resentment – Zumba is an aerobic exercise that tones the whole body. The hour goes by fast. It’s the only exercise that I look forward to. There is no dreaded workout, no watching the clock because I wish it was over, and no resentment that I have to exercise to keep my body in shape for my husband. None of that. I do Zumba for me, and it benefits my body, my health, and my husband with no down side.- Increased Energy Level – Exercise increases endorphins which cause me to feel more clear-headed and improves my mood. I sleep better. I have more energy for my husband and my children. Often when I come home from Zumba, I’m a better companion for my husband because I don’t feel foggy.
- Body Acceptance and Awareness – I used to be a total klutz. I didn’t really know where the end of my body was until I started doing Zumba. And I love my body now more than I ever have, not because it’s better than when I was in my 20’s, because it’s not. But I’m more confident now, as far as moving my body. That confidence is highly appealing to my husband.
- Long-term sustainability – Every other time I’ve done exercise, it’s fallen by the wayside as soon as I’ve reached my goal. Zumba is one of those things that I don’t mind doing for the rest of my life.
- Delight your husband – Besides the increased confidence in your body, the fact that you are more toned speaks volumes to your husband, and he notices. Many Zumba classes are held at churches, and my own Zumba instructor is a married Christian woman with two small children. She moves her body in a sensual way that would be highly appealing to her husband, and I want to learn exactly how she does that. Especially for godly women who keep themselves away from smut, this is a safe way to learn how to delight your husband with your movements. God is pleased when you delight your husband, so it’s godly to learn how to be sensual. No matter what shape you’re in, no matter what a klutz you are, you can learn how to surprise and delight your husband and make him happy. Intimacy is clean and pure, and God is the one who invented it. Even if your relationship with your husband is already good, Zumba can make it even better by teaching you how to move in an appealing way. For this reason I strongly endorse Zumba for Christian married women.
Archive for the ‘Exercise and Fitness’ Category
Hidden Benefits of Zumba
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Finding the Desire to Exercise
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Finding the desire to exercise can be hard. Here are a few things you can do to improve your desire to exercise:
- If you are tired, exercise will often clear your mind and make you feel more alert and refreshed. Your body will feel more energized, too. Sometimes when I’m tired, I purposely exercise to regain my energy.
- Find something you love, whether it be hiking in nature, swimming, roller blading, walking, or Zumba. If exercise is something you enjoy, you are more likely to do it.
- Listen to a fun workshop audio while exercising. Time goes by so much faster if you are learning something mentally while exercising. Or listen to fast-paced music.
- If you have no time to exercise, squeeze it into the day in ten-minute segments. Climb up and down your stairs for ten minutes. Do sit-ups for ten minutes later in the day.
- Take your family on a fun outing that involves exercise: a trampoline place, ice-skating, skiing, lazer tag, or rock climbing.
- Dancing to music with your children has got to be one of the most enjoyable ways to exercise. It’s also a great way to bond with your children!
What other ways have helped you in finding the desire to exercise?
A Good Pair of Running Shoes
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Years ago when I started to work out at the gym, I was such a tightwad that I refused to buy a good pair of running shoes for $100. I just used the $30 tennis shoes that I had always worn. While on the treadmill, my feet would start hurting after about five minutes. After fifteen or twenty minutes, I was limping. Yes, I was limping on the treadmill, and I kept going. How stupid is that?
I know that especially in homeschool circles, frugality is considered a virtue. But when you are refusing to spend the money to do a job right, you might as well not do it at all. After a few weeks of limping at the gym, I finally broke down and told my husband that I just didn’t want to limp on the treadmill any more. My husband laughed. He thought it was ridiculous that I hadn’t bought running shoes already.
So I went and bought myself some running shoes. I felt like I was walking on clouds. No wonder the other people at the gym weren’t limping; they felt like they were stepping on marshmallows. This taught me a lesson. Frugality can only go so far, and you often get what you pay for.
One of the perks of buying a $100 pair of running shoes is the fact that you will feel guilty if you don’t use them. This will further motivate you to work out.
Even if you are not a member of a gym, I recommend that every homeschool mother buy a good pair of running shoes. Why? Your body is not your own; it belongs to your husband. Working out isn’t so bad when you feel like you’re wearing fluffy slippers. Just imagine jogging around the block and coming home not only refreshed and energized, but looking better for your husband, which God requires of you anyway. Go on. Just do it.
My First 12K Race (Bloomsday Spokane)
Friday, May 6th, 2011
I am not a runner. The only reason I signed up for a 12K race was to make sure I stayed in shape for my husband. To prepare for the race, I did Zumba. I started with once a week, then twice a week, and now I do it three times a week. Unfortunately I found out too late that Zumba uses different muscles than running. I was about two miles into the race when I realized my legs were so stiff that I thought they had rigor mortis (Latin words meaning “stiffness of death”).
The day began like any other day, except that it was foggy, foreshadowing things to come. It had snowed two days prior to this race, so I was surprised when I saw my husband wearing shorts. I toyed with the idea of bringing snow gloves, since my fingers were frozen. My 10-year-old son also came with us, not complaining one bit.
I suppose I should tell you that the Bloomsday race happens each year here in Spokane, Washington, during the first weekend of May. (Yes, it was snowing at the end of April, much to the chagrin of the deluded people who believe in global warming.) Over 60,000 people were supporting our city by running this race.
Okay, now picture 60,000 people running all in the same direction, like a slow-flowing river of molasses, inexorably pushing everyone forward. You’d better not stop, or you’ll get trampled. I saw this first hand when someone dropped her sunglasses, and the person behind her crushed them in less than two seconds. Everyone around her (including me) laughed, because what could be done? She couldn’t turn around to try to pick them up, or her hand (at least) would surely get squashed. No, she must proceed forward, like everyone else…
Oh, I forgot to tell you about the beginning of the race. As we were waiting, people bumped beach balls around. There were also flying tortillas; I kid you not. (Hopefully the birds ate those…) When the beach ball came to my husband, he gave it to a little girl beside us. Well, the girl threw it really hard onto my head, and it bounced off, much to the hilarious laughter of my husband. The little girl felt so bad that she hid behind her dad. I told her, “That didn’t hurt. It was funny. Thanks for a good laugh.”
Then people started stripping. They threw their sweatshirts into the nearby trees. It looked like laundry day. The sun came out, and it was actually quite pleasant. Maybe these people weren’t insane for throwing off their sweatshirts. (They had tank tops underneath, of course…)
So there was the starting line. We heard the pistol shot that indicated the beginning of the race, and people clapped, but we continued to stand still. It was like heavy traffic, when the light turns green. You have to wait until the car in front of you moves forward. Music was blaring, and it happened to be one of my Zumba songs. I started doing Zumba, much to the delight of my husband, who said, “This is not Zumba, you know.” No one else saw me; the crowd was too thick. Besides, I don’t care. There were people who looked much crazier, with costumes on and caps with twirly propellers. Apparently people really get into this…
Then the crowd 
flowed forward like a slow-moving river. After about two miles, my legs were so stiff I couldn’t force them to move one in front of the other. But you have to keep moving, or people will bump into you. My husband kept saying, “Push through it. Pain is just weakness leaving the body.” Thanks, dear. I’ll tell that to my sore legs, my sore bum, and my weary body…
We reached Doomsday Hill. Needless to say I did not run up that hill. Nope. Just walked.
Many side shows and bands were playing along the edge of the road. Five bands were Christian, and I cheered as I passed by. Other people played on recycled drums. There was a man dressed up as a big turkey vulture right in the middle of the path, and people were having pictures taken with him. Even Star Wars dudes were dancing the Macarena.
At regular intervals, there would be people lined up along the side of the road with water in paper cups. You could grab the water as you were running, drink it, and throw it away. Some people (like my crazy husband) dumped the water over their heads before they continued running. Well, later my dad reminded me of an old Seinfeld episode where Kramer was standing on the edge of a race, holding his hot cup of coffee over the rail. Suddenly one of the runners grabbed the hot coffee and poured it over his head, screaming Owww at being scalded. My son Bryan laughed so hard at this joke…
At long last, I made it ov
er the finish line. Hobbling. You see, I had blisters on the backs of my feet where the running shoes cut into me. My legs felt like jelly. “Keep moving,” said the traffic controllers to make sure everyone got their “I finished Bloomsday” T-shirt. I earned it.
