I Think I Sprained My Zumba Bone

So it's been a few months since I started doing the Zumba thing. I've been feeling all high and mighty because not only have I not fallen flat on my face because I can't keep up, but not once have I fallen on my ass either. (If you've ever seen my klutz factor, you'd know this is a coup for me.) So once a week I go for my weekly dose of confident woman A.K.A. Zumba and everything's good, fine, great....until today.

Because of the holiday, there were only two classes: 8:30 and 5:30. Since I was planning on making up for lost calories in the afternoon at the Memorial Day picnic with our family, I figured I'd better do the 8:30 class. Even if it did mean I had to get up at the crack of early on a holiday that I could have slept in on just so that I can get the amount of coffee I require to be pleasant to people before 9 AM.  Sure, I could have slept in and skipped the coffee until after Zumba, but I don't think murder was on my agenda today. (Nope, I checked, my day planner definitely doesn't have that scheduled.)

So we get there and we're waiting for the instructor and there are a few notices on the door that we're reading and my daughter says, "This is a Zumba toning class." Um, okay. A what now? Zumba, that's dancing slash exercise moves plus toning, that's with weights? Okay now, just wait a damn minute. Like regular Zumba wasn't had enough now I have to do it with weights? Did I mention that I've got no rhythm and two left feet and that it took a month to get basic steps down? Okay, THIS should be fun.

So I ask the instructor which weights I should use: green, purple, or purple-er? She tells me green is 1.5 pounds, the purple is 2, and the purple-er is 2.5. At least I think that's what the purple duo was, I wasn't really paying that close of attention because now this inner monologue is going on: "Okay, 1.5 seems really light. I don't want to seem like a wuss but she just said there's some songs that 1.5 feels like a ton. If I get a heavy weight and I'm flat on the floor because all my unused muscles seize, I'll feel even dopier. Ok, look like a wuss or be the one who thinks she's tough?" In the end I went with the 1.5'ers. I didn't know what I was in for but I figured I'd err on the side of caution.

So, we warm up a few songs without the sticks (I learned they have actual names instead of colors!) and then we add the toning part. "Ok. I can do this. I know these steps. It's Zumba with sticks! Wow, this is easier than I thought. Ohmygod I'm a wimp! Why didn't I get the heavier weights? I should have gotten the heavier weights. I'm probably not even toning anything with this puny thing. One and a half pounds? I think my purse is heavier than this and I haul that thing around all day. I'm such an idiot." The hour ends, we all go sweatily on our way and life is good.

Until tonight comes. And my shoulders are killing me. I have muscles up there? Huh, well I'll be. I'm glad to know they're there, in case I ever need them. What? Use them now? Oh no! No, thanks. I think I'll wait until the feeling comes back in my arms. But when I do, watch out! They're gonna be some slightly better toned mom arms!