“That
land you ache for, the land that he gives, the land that makes you sigh if you
don’t see it often,” sang Gloria Estefan. The lyrics of Gloria Estafan’s song
that I can relate to for the very first time since the day I became an
instructor. September 6, 2012, was the first time I taught Zumba, and on that
day, my life changed forever. I developed an unique connection with the music,
the energy, and the participants.
Months after I got licensed as an instructor, I received a call to do a demo
in a gym near my house. I was very nervous during this demo. In fact, I
was able to feel my bones in my knees shaking; I could really hear the tic tock
of them touching each other. As soon as I pressed play, words could not
describe the feeling that came rushing over me; it was like the type of
adrenaline when you ride the rollercoaster at the fair. The music transported
me to my hometown, and the rhythm and the beat reminded me of when I used to
play drums. The experience was so surreal that I could taste it, as if I was
eating a delicious carrot cake that my great grandmother used to bake.
The music brought out feelings that I never felt before while teaching
Zumba.
Antonio with ZES Richard Gormley |
During the class, the smile of the people brought to the environment was
indescribable and the energy was astonishing. I can actually recall the moment
when I pressed play for the first time. A certain type of force came to me that
transformed me as some type of super hero. The rush of the music took over me,
but their inspiration was a force that allowed me to continue being passionate
for what I do no matter of the difficulty of the day.
Not only was there a connection with the music but also I felt the connection
with the people that came to my class for the first time. At the end of the
class, the students and I stood talking as if we knew each other for a very
long time; I could not imagine the personal stories that they told. Their
stories were so incredibly vivid that there were moments where I cried with
them and moments that I laughed as well. Their stories were extremely
emotional, and they inspired me to continue teaching. At that moment my
participants became my personal inspiration to continue teaching Zumba.
After the day of September 6, 2012, was over, I knew my life was not going to
be the same. I can still remember like it was yesterday, sensing the silence of
the room as I was stepping into the class for the first time. The feeling of the
participants’ the roaring energy that came to my class was amazing. The
connection that we had at the moment during the class was powerful. The only
way to get a real sense of its power is if you experience Zumba for yourself
someday.
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