My journey to becoming a Zumba Gold instructor began long before I was born. My grandmother was a Rockette and then opened a dance studio she operated for 42 years. All of her grandchildren began dance lessons there as soon as we could walk. While I learned to dance from my grandmother and took classes with her through high school, the precision required to excel at competitive dancing wasn’t for me.
As I continued my education, an interest in helping older adults grew and soon I went to graduate school and earned a doctorate in gerontology. I work in research related to aging, but really missed the personal interactions with older adults—the reason why I had chosen the profession to begin with.
In the interim I had become a Zumba (a Latin-inspired dance and fitness class) instructor, and my local senior center asked if I would teach a Zumba Gold class—a lower-intensity version of the typical Zumba class designed to meet the nuanced needs of elders. This led to a certification in Zumba Gold.
Zumba Gold reminds me why I find work in the aging field to be fulfilling.
I now hold two classes per week at local senior centers and the value I receive from instructing these classes is just as high—if not higher—as attendees get from taking it. I remind them often that the physical benefits are only one part of Zumba Gold. There’s also a cognitive workout from learning choreography; and social benefits through the community we’ve all created together.
“Zumba Gold is a wonderful way to stay fit and happy. Highly recommend.” —Zumba Gold participant.
I prepare for a collective groan whenever I say, “I’ve got a new song today!” and I warn them that as soon as they have all those steps memorized, I’ll add a new song so they get the benefits from that mind workout, too.
As with many group exercise classes, we’ve all gotten to know one another and friendships have grown. I know of classmates who have gone together to buy cars, who recommend other classes and trips, who look out for each other. Sadly, we’ve also attended wakes and funerals together.
We all do “check-ins” with each other and I warn regular participants that if I don’t see them for a week or so, I’ll be in contact to make sure all is well. Multiple women have discussed how difficult it is to be home alone—that coming out to Zumba Gold is their break from caregiving duties they perform for a spouse, or helps them avoid depression or depressive episodes.
In addition to remaining low impact, Zumba Gold includes more balance elements than regular Zumba. I once had a participant tell me that one night she tripped over something her husband had left out and credited Zumba Gold with her ability to catch herself before falling. Also, she can now work all day outside in the yard (after two knee replacements) and not only has the stamina, but also isn’t sore afterward. One of my participants noted, “[I] come into class with little joint movements—and walk out of class feeling my joints more youthful.”
‘I warn regular participants that if I don’t see them for a week or so, I’ll be in contact to make sure all is well.’
I also conduct both my Gold classes via Zoom. There are a couple participants who aren’t local and some are snowbirds. Zoom allows anyone to join class from anywhere. Recently, one of my regulars let me know that she had been diagnosed with cancer and would need six months of chemotherapy. I let her know that we would be here for her whenever she needed us and if she ever wanted to Zoom in just to hear some music, she should.
One Monday, I saw her join and realized quickly that she was at a chemotherapy appointment. She was sitting and watching class, then she was joining with arms, and finally she finished the class dancing in a hospital room. It is just one small example of how these (mostly) women inspire me.
I find group exercise to be such a joyous way to be active. We laugh a lot, especially on my “off” days, when I forget my own choreography, and we get a good workout in while listening to some great music.
One participant wrote, “Zumba Gold gave me a love for exercise and becoming a much more active older adult! I now do other classes and am so much better for it.” While Zumba Gold might not be the right exercise choice for everyone, I know that I and the older adults who take my class have found the right exercise for us. I’m so thankful for the local senior centers who host these classes and so many other wonderful programs for older adults.
In what I feel is a “full circle” moment, I now instruct a few participants who learned how to dance from my own grandmother. I like to think she’d be proud of how I’ve continued my own dance journey.
Rebecca Perron, PhD, MA, MPH, is a gerontologist, researcher and Zumba instructor based in Western Massachusetts. Views and opinions are her own.
Photo caption: A Zumba Gold class, with author Rebecca Perron in the front row, in a black Zumba Gold T-shirt.
Photo credit: Courtesy Rebecca Perron
