Teacher offers free Zumba lessons at Chicopee Boys & Girls Club

Date: 6/20/2012

June 20, 2012

By Lori Szepelak

lori@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE — If you're ready to burn calories and have fun in the process, Stephanie Roy has a fitness class for you.

Zumba Fitness, the Latin-inspired, calorie-burning "fitness party," is now available at the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee on Meadow Street on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 10 to 11 a.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Roy, a licensed member of the Zumba Instructor Network, reminds participants to wear comfortable workout clothes and sneakers, and bring a bottle of water and towel. For participants during the day sessions, child care is available for $1 per child.

Free Zumba classes are planned June 27, both during the morning and evening, to "celebrate the beginning of summer and school vacation," Roy said during an interview with Reminder Publications.

"Zumba is a great way to stay in shape as well as a great de-stresser," Roy said. "When you attend a Zumba class, you are so busy dancing and enjoying the music that it's almost impossible to think about anything else. It's a great stress release, you forget about your worries for that one hour and just enjoy yourself."

On the evening of June 11, close to 15 women all agreed with Roy's assessment as they moved to the music in the air conditioned gymnasium.

"It's fun and a good workout," Kim Russo of Springfield said, who notes she would rather be at this class than on a treadmill. "Zumba is not like working out."

Russo's daughter, Shayla, 16, echoed her mother's sentiments.

"The class is fun and I like exercising with my mom," she said.

Another mother and daughter team, Rosalyn Gomes of Chicopee and Melissa Rhodes of Springfield, enjoy the "bonding" from the class.

"It's a good stress reliever after working all day," Gomes said, adding, "it's great to be able to have a good time and get into shape at the same time."

Rhodes said she too looks forward to the class after work to spend quality time with her mom and exercise at the same time.

All agreed that Roy makes the class fun, and Leigh Nolet of Chicopee added, "You have a feeling of accomplishment which is a good feeling."

For Joanne Martins of Chicopee, she attends classes twice a week because she feels "less stressed" after the workout.

Health benefits are the driving force behind Roy's passion to teach Zumba.

"Benefits of Zumba include reducing stress, burning fat, maintaining a healthy weight, building endurance, coordination and balance, toning the body and increasing one's circulation and flexibility," she said.

Roy's incredible warmth — and stamina — can coax anyone to give Zumba a try.

"One of my favorite things about Zumba is that it is so fun, and going to a Zumba class where there are so many others just like yourself who want to be healthy and get into shape is so energizing," Roy said. "The music is fun, the dance moves are fun, and there is so much excitement and energy in the room. I love seeing the big smiles my students have on their face while they are working out. I've never seen anyone on a treadmill at the gym smile like that."

The cost for each one-hour class is $5.

Roy warms up participants with basic moves to stretch and warm up the muscles during the first few minutes of the class. Then it is onto the Latin rhythms that include dancing to Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, and Cumbia.

"They are all choreographed so they are easy to follow, even a beginner student with little to no dance background can follow along," said Roy.

During the last few minutes of class, Roy leads participants in cool down exercises to stretch the muscles.

For more information, e-mail Roy at sroy83@verizon.net, or call 246-9414, or visit www.chicopeezumba.com.

Roy cautions that everyone trying Zumba for the first time needs to know their limits.

"I always tell my students that if I am doing a move that they are not comfortable with, they are welcome to modify it based on their abilities," she said. "Know your own body, and know your limits."