High beats teamed with aerobic and dance moves had the Mountainlair Blue Ballroom crowded with approximately 30 women Wednesday evening. Zumba Gold, a spin-off of Zumba Basic, a high-tempo aerobics class using Latin music to create a workout, was hosted in the Mountainlair as part of West Virginia University’s Diversity Week. Different from Zumba Basic, Zumba Gold is done at a lower intensity and can be done in a chair. The exercise is geared toward an older crowd or anyone looking to get in shape, said Barbara Griffin, the instructor of the class. "Zumba Gold was designed for the inactive, older adult," Griffin said. "It goes at a slower pace, but still uses the same music." Zumba Gold targets those with physical limitations, who haven’t exercised in a while and even new mothers trying to lose some baby weight, Griffin said. There is no jumping in Zumba Gold, and none of the songs are more than five minutes. Participants dance to Latin beats such as "Pasame La Bottella," "Back it Up" and "Estoy Enamorado," though not all were Latin, such as "The Twist" by Chubby Checker. Griffin checks participants to see their limitations during the class and sometimes suggests alternative moves. Sequoya Moore, a freshman pre-accounting major, said Zumba Gold was a slower pace than Zumba at the Student Recreation Center, but liked it because it was informative and fun. Glenda Avery, a Morgantown native, started going to Zumba Gold after a car accident. She started Zumba Gold because her massage therapist told her it would be a good part of her follow-up care from the car accident. Even though Avery entered the ballroom with a cane, she ditched it before taking a chair to participate in Zumba Gold. Megan Griffin, a freshman journalism major, found out about Zumba Gold from a friend. "I liked The Twist because it lubricates your spine," she said. Zumba Gold will be offered at WVU’s Coliseum every Friday from Oct. 30 to Dec. 11. Sessions run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m., and classes are $25 per session or $45 for two sessions.
Zumba Gold offered to those with limited physical abilities
Published: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Updated: Thursday, October 22, 2009 01:10
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