Photo Taken By: Richard Miller
Article By: Cher Kohl
If you’ve been anywhere near the Coplay pool on a Monday or Wednesday evening this summer, you’ve probably noticed a packed parking lot and a crowded pool, or maybe you heard the hip shaking, head bobbing music emanating from the shallow end. You may have asked yourself what is happening? Well, it’s an exciting , fairly new exercise called Aqua Zumba, or as we call it “the party in the pool”.
Part of the largest fitness brand in the world, Aqua Zumba is an up-tempo, challenging workout that burns calories quickly (up to 310 calories an hour class) and strengthens virtually your entire body. It’s a low impact, easy on the joints exercise alternative to regular Zumba or “land” Zumba.
Zumba originated in the 90’s, when a Columbian dancer, fitness instructor, Alberto “Beto” Perez forgot his aerobics music. Instead of cancelling his class, he grabbed his personal tapes from his car and played his Latin, Salsa and Merengue music. Seeing the joy and excitement on the faces of his students, he realized he was on to something. Soon he was teaching to full, overflowing classes. Not long after, he brought this new fitness phenomenon to America. A few years later the Zumba craze was taking over gym classes, churches, firehouses and the World!
Zumba consists of many different dance styles, from salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbria, reggae-ton, rhumba, cha-cha, samba and hip hop. The music is taken from many different genres. In fact, several well-known artists have recorded music for the Zumba crowd, including PitBull, Daddy Yankee and others. Even Vanilla Ice re-recorded his biggest hit “Ice, Ice Baby”, specifically for the Zumba craze.
There are many benefits to Zumba. Besides the obvious weight loss and calorie burn (up to 650 per a typical hour class), there’s also the Physiological benefit as well. Zumba is like a happy drug, a total and complete de-stressor, the energetic music, dancing, the group dynamic all factor into an hour of fun cardio that leaves one sweaty, euphoric and grinning with happiness. Typically, one hour feels like 10 minutes, it flies by so fast. The best part is you’re having so much fun, you don’t realize you’re exercising!
There are different types of Zumba for every level of exerciser;
There’s Zumba toning, for strength
Zumba-tomic or Zumba kids and Zumba kids Jr.
Zumba Gold, for seniors or golden agers
Zumba Sentao involving chairs
Then there’s Aqua Zumba or water Zumba.
Water Zumba is much easier on the joints, with the water resistance, working against gravity and buoyancy. It is perfect for Arthritis sufferers and of course it’s good for people who don’t like to sweat.
All of these styles of Zumba are taught by folks who are licensed/certified. They’ve gone thru rigorous training to be able to lead classes. Each style requires its own training and license program. One instructor can be licensed to teach multiple styles if they’ve gone thru the various training classes.
So how did Coplay pool end up with an Aqua Zumba program?
Four years ago, husband and wife instructors, Tessy and Pedro Ayala decided to introduce Aqua Zumba to this area. They contacted the Coplay Pool and spoke with Steve Burker. They had been teaching in Emmaus and wanted to expand their love of Zumba, elsewhere. With the blessing of Steve, Tessy and Pedro laid the groundwork for this fun exercise program. Each year proved to be more successful than the previous year.
A move earlier this year for the Ayala family, took them farther away and it became clear the drive to Coplay would be more of a hardship for them. With their recommendation, Northampton raised, licensed instructor Tara Miller, made the smooth transition and the summer of 2017 started with a Bang, or should I say Splash!
Classes have been averaging 50-60 or more each night!
Tara has been teaching Zumba since May 2011. Three years ago, her husband Rich, arranged a surprise visit to NY, for her Aqua training. Newly licensed/certified proved to be an exciting adventure for Tara. Also certified in Zumba Kids, she teaches regular Zumba in the Whitehall area, Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday mornings. She even works with Multiple Sclerosis patients every Thursday at Good Shephard. All this instructing in addition to a full-time job, 3 growing boys at home, and of course, Benny, the family dog, leaves her little time for relaxation! She does all of this with a constant smile & uplifting attitude.
Her love of dance was evident early on, starting classes at 5 or 6 years of age, following thru to the dance team in high school. Approximately 7 years ago, Tara took her first Zumba class, immediately falling in love with it. Wanting to teach, she was licensed in 1 day, April 2011. She already had the idea she wanted to start classes at her church, Faith Evangelical Lutheran. She felt she could “bring something to the church”. “Music is therapy” she says. “I am there to make sure people have fun 100%, to make them feel good about themselves and feel the music”. “An hour to de-stress, to not think about the moves, to just have fun and smile”. “Dance like no one is watching” is a favorite quote of hers.
As for Aqua Zumba, she calls Tessy and Pedro her Aqua Z mentors. 3 years ago she went to 1 of their Coplay classes and fell in love right away. “People love the water, this is much different than land Zumba”. “Water therapy is great for people with different abilities, ones who don’t feel comfortable doing regular Zumba, especially if they have back or knee issues”. “They are much more comfortable in the water”
Aqua Zumba classes will continue, weather permitting, every Monday and Wednesday evening 6:30-7:30, till the pool closes. There’s even been talk of a class during the Coplay Community days Festival!
If you are interested in trying a regular Zumba class, Google Zumba.com/classes. You can find Tara’s schedule there as well.
In the meantime, check out her Aqua classes, but remember you WILL get wet and you will leave with a smile, guaranteed!
If I may, on a personal note, I’ve been taking Tara’s classes since the very beginning. I was actually contemplating knee replacement surgery, when I found her class in the Coplay press. With a significant weight loss, thanks to a slight change in diet and Zumba classes, I’m Still replacement free, after 6.5 years!
But this isn’t the best part of taking her class. In my opinion, it’s the friendships that were made, the camaraderie shared, the people I’ve met, because of her classes, are such a wonderful blessing, this is what brings me back to every one of Tara’s classes.
More information about and directions to Coplay Community Pool can be found on the Coplay Borough website, http://coplayborough.org/recreation.html
