If you're interested in finding a new fav sport or exercise, but are just a little bit nervous about actually taking the plunge and want a few pointers first, our new section Active nzgirl, is perfect for you!
Julz Darroch (you might have seen her on Good Morning), our resident fitness guru, will try out a range of new and different fitness classes and bring you her very own verdict. It's a little like trying before you buy - without you having to ever step foot outside your home! This week she tries her hand at hip hop dancing...
Pre lesson
Can I admit something? I am a wee, little, tiny bit nervous. I am imagining a room full of really cool dancers (I blame music TV) shaking their very coordinated booties. Maybe I’m having flashbacks to my primary school days when I really wasn’t cool at all in the dancing department (OK so I’m still not cool!). This is officially outside my comfort zone so wish me luck.
After the lesson
I am the biggest dork (you don’t have to agree so quickly). When I arrived there were three people sitting around chatting. It turned out two were new (yay- like me) and the youngest one was the instructor. It turns out Libby, the instructor (and director of the studio) has a VERY grown up telephone voice! She was younger than I expected and not at all intimidating.
It was all very relaxed (not a bad thing considering my heart palpitations earlier) and there were only seven of us in the class. It turns out that as opposed to what I had imagined (throwing myself around in an uncoordinated fashion for an hour, trying to keep up) the class consisted of Libby showing us moves slowly and then us practicing them over and over.
Once we had mastered one set of moves we added on some more. By the end of the class we had a wee routine put together. There were a couple of moves that I just never got but there were more that I could actually do (in my own way) so once we were adding together the routine I could just ‘flub’ the moves I couldn’t get and break loose on the ones I could.
The verdict
I should stop getting nervous before doing things! I’ll launch my music video back up dancer career after one or two more lessons I think. I found the small class size less intimidating, so if you are feeling a bit nervous about shaking it in front of a big group of people give your local studio a call and ask about class sizes.
Pros
It’s more about fun with the exercise part something you get along the way. You’ve got plenty of time to pick up moves, rather than the follow the leader style of fitness classes.
Cons
The stop/start nature will drive cardio junkies mental! If lack of perfection frustrates you or you’re not very good at being a beginner at something then take a chill pill before you go.
Now it’s your turn
What you’ll need: Clothes and shoes suitable for exercising in, nothing special.
Where I went I went to Pump Dance Studio in Wellington City with the very talented Libby Calder. Visit www.pumpdance.com or call (04) 472 0703. The lesson cost $10. She runs adult and teenager classes. A search on yellowpages.co.nz will give you a list of all hip hop dance studios in your area.
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Pre lesson
It was all very relaxed (not a bad thing considering my heart palpitations earlier) and there were only seven of us in the class. It turns out that as opposed to what I had imagined (throwing myself around in an uncoordinated fashion for an hour, trying to keep up) the class consisted of Libby showing us moves slowly and then us practicing them over and over. 
The verdict
What you’ll need: Clothes and shoes suitable for exercising in, nothing special. (86).jpg){kind=small}