It seems intimidating, doesn’t it? That room in the gym where they have classes with
names like Cardio Kickboxing, Step Funk, and Pump ‘n’ Jump. While you were walking
you have seen athletes out of the corner of your eye; looks like a lot of
fun. But you know you could never do that: you trip when walking from the
Stairmaster to the treadmill, both of which are getting Really bored. Well,
guess what? If for a few minutes you can stop telling yourself that hypocrisy
do cardio dance, maybe, just maybe, you’ll find out that you really can.
Of course, if you have serious trouble moving and counting to four at the same time
time, one bead for each step, then cardio dance is probably not for you. Yes you can
count to eight while moving, then there is a chance that you will really get good at
that. You can touch? I mean, can you step aside and bring your
another foot to find it? Can you march in place? Can you step forward with one foot?
and then lift the other knee? Can you step forward with one foot and, while
standing on that foot, lift the other knee three times? If you can do that then
you have already performed a cardiovascular dance move; is called a “repeater” (a
obvious name for repeating the same knee lift more than once). It only gets better
from now on.
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your cardio dance.
experience:
- Dress appropriately, including and especially your footwear! The right shoes can make your cardio class a pleasure; wrong ones can cause injury. With cardiovascular dance, you move quite a bit sideways, rather than forward, as you do when walking or running. Then you will need shoes made especially for cardio dance. If you don’t want to invest in shoes specifically for cardio dance right away, at least make sure you have ellipticals; That way, if the classes don’t work for you, you can use them for other activities. . If you’re a woman, be sure to wear a supportive sports bra, even if you’re in a low-impact class – at the very least, a running bra. You really don’t want to be floating, it’s awkward, and if you’re more than a B cup, it’s downright painful.
- When you first attend class, arrive early and tell the instructor that you are a beginner. That way, he or she can take extra time with you or at least make sure you’re in a place where you can see what’s going on.
- Start with a simple class, something with a name like “Beginner Aerobics” or “Hi-Lo I.” Don’t even think about the “Tae-Yo-Fusion-Funk-Pump III” class yet! Go as basic as possible. When you start to get bored with the basics, try something more advanced or adventurous, like a funk class or a Step class.
- Follow the instructor as if you were looking at a mirror. Don’t think too much about left and right, that can get confusing. Just mimic / mirror what the instructor is doing to the best of your ability. Don’t overthink it. Thought gets in the way of action. The less you think, the better you will be.
- Once the class has a basic step down, the instructor will usually try to change it up a bit, add something fancy like a special kick or a different way of walking, or ouch! – a shift. If you are an absolute beginner in aerobics, this may put you off at first. Don’t worry, keep doing the basic step the way you were originally taught. Or if you try the new shape and get lost, go back to the basic move. Always, if you get confused, go back to the original step until you get your bearings.
- Instructors will often add arm movements to your foot movements. Consider the optionals for now. Arm movements are good because they add intensity and help increase your heart rate, especially if your arms stay at or above heart level. But if you’re just starting out, they can be really confusing. Try them only when you feel really confident with what your feet are doing.
- Your cardio class will often end with a little strength training. Do the movements carefully. With many of these classes, you only use light weights or body resistance, so you have to focus on the muscles being worked, or you won’t get a lot of exercise. And if you can’t do those last few sit-ups, don’t worry. It is not a competition.
- If you find one of those cheerleading instructors who wants you to yell and yell and you’re not the type to yell, then don’t do it! Seriously, vocal participation is not necessary. Let everyone else look foolish.
- If you’re really embarrassed to cardio dance with a crowd of people, try some videos at home first. There are many cardio dance DVDs for all fitness levels. Just be sure to read the reviews first to make sure they are appropriate for your beginner level.
- Here’s the real beauty of working out with cardio dance videos – you can pause the routine and go back as many times as you like until you take a step down. The first few times, accept the fact that you may not be exercising too much because you are learning the movements (actually, some of the enjoyment must come from the learning). But after that, you should be fine. One word of caution: be careful to make some movements on the mat, especially anything where you are jumping, spinning, or sliding your feet on the ground. And make sure you’ve cleared some space; no fun kicking the coffee table.
If you keep coming back to your cardio dance classes, the time will come when
everything fits and you feel lighter than air. Enjoy it – that
The feeling of euphoria is the dancer’s high, and there is nothing like it.