Zumba helps Wolf Pack 'dance' into fitness

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  If you work out in the fitness center here on Wednesday evenings, don't be fooled by the dance music and laughter coming from the spin room - there's also lots of sweating going on.

The center recently began offering a Zumba class at 7 p.m. each Wednesday, led by Lt. Col. Baseemah Najeeullah, 8th Medical Operations Squadron.

The fitness center is always trying to expand their fitness class options and provide the Wolf Pack new ways to improve their fitness, said Staff Sgt. Chris Hart, 8th Force Support Squadron fitness director.

"So we put the word out for new instructors, and Colonel Najeeullah expressed the interest in teaching Zumba," he said. "We had 35 people at our first trial class, and they had a blast, so we kept it."

"Zumba is a combination of salsa, meringue, reggae ton and other different dance moves, in a line dance format," Colonel Najeeullah said. "It's constant movement, but it's like a party!"

"It gets you up and moving, for an hour," she said. "You just follow the movements, you don't have to worry about whether or not you understand the steps; you just keep moving to the rhythm and just have fun. The music changes; it goes fast, it goes average and then it slows down. We do some belly dancing to slow it down, then we do some samba and mambo and meringue and it speeds it back up, but you keep moving the whole time, so you're constantly working up a sweat then cooling down, going back and forth, and before you know it you're dropping the pounds."

Colonel Najeeullah has been taking Zumba classes for more than four years, and has been an instructor for more than a year.

"I like dancing!" she said. "I like dancing, and I like being creative, developing steps, learning new moves and listening to and enjoying the music. I pick music and dance moves that I enjoy so when I'm teaching it, I'm into it myself. I'm not bored with what I'm doing. So I exude that upbeat mood, because I'm enjoying the movements and shaking it, and they are too. After every song people are clapping, so we're having fun."

Staff Sgt. Christal Kimmel, 8th Communications Squadron, takes the Zumba class.

"It's a fun way for me to get a great work out, meet new people and learn a new dance style," she said.

Sergeant Hart said the center is just happy to give the Wolf Pack a broader range for activity. The class offers a workout similar to step aerobics, with step-like movements, he said.

"But they just have fun with it, I always hear them laughing and having a good time," said Sergeant Hart. "So we're glad they can work out in a fun, friendly environment."