Testimonials
Janine Lewis loves Zumba!
Let's Zumba!
Ooo, twitchin' feet!
Heart pumpin'
Body starting to move to the beat.
Party time at the Gym – its Zumba circuits!
I hate the gym. It's dull and repetitive. It's also indoors.
But I need to use the equipment to compliment my training programme, learning to run, as a novice for my first marathon next year. I hate running too. But it's a challenge I would like to aspire to.
I don't have the discipline to do the circuit style cardio assault my body needs at home. So after a curious nosy around a special little gym near my Superstore, I joined the Curves gym; a gym for women with a resistance style 30min-cardio workout.
Perfect! I go in, have a routine to fast music with like minded happy people. Not a lycra bunny with manufactured nails in sight. I am also warmed and energised enough to go off for my run immediately after. It has improved my ability, focus and attitude to actually want to run and complete the day's scheduled routine!
However, something else caught my eye on the noticeboard. Zumba! "Wassat?"
Wikipedia informs me "Zumba is a dance fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez in Colombia during the 1990s. The program combines international music with dance in an effort to make exercise "fun"
So I went along for a half-hour session. Oh my! Hooked! Total crazy circuits to fast Latin music using the resistance equipment and transition boards! There was a specially trained Zumba Instructor who was as vibrant and energetic as the music. The idea is that you are on "resistance machinery" for 1 minute, then, as the 1 minute whistle blows, you move onto a "board" which is the transition area to follow her salsa moves doing aerobic style exercises, for a minute.
I have as much co-ordination as a dysfunctional giraffe on ice. However, the Zumba Instructor took the time and patience to help me through the steps without making me feel like an inferior sodden old teabag. The rest of the class also helped me out, shouting out the steps with the Instructor, Oh yeah, this baby was Zumba-ing. The class was over far too quickly. The endorphins were coursing through my body! I had so much fun, was on a real adrenaline high and felt I could go and run my first marathon there and then! Ermm, hold that thought I can only just run 3km in 20 mins at the moment!
I am now signing up for some salsa classes, and now do two Zumba sessions for an hour each, a week. What was a chore, a challenge, my monster mountain to climb, training for next year's Virgin London Marathon, has turned into a most enjoyable Latin experience.
Everyone really must give this fast paced, smile raising, happy-soul energetic exercise session a go!
Esme Bates
"Everyone used to tell me it doesn't matter what exercise you do it's just what you eat. WRONG!!!
Curves gym makes you get back in touch with your body hence you are less inclined to over eat. The exercises are simple, safe and you go at your pace. If you have problems many of the exercises are sat down and the team embrace difference. They are highly trained and experienced and sense whether you want interaction. Why pay for expensive physio when you can use curves gym?
Sandy, Sammy, Sam, Laura and the team are amazing and just as delighted as you at your successes and never ever make you feel guilty about putting on up to 3Ilbs which is normal to reboot metabolism, time of month etc.
It's good fun especially if you hula hoop! Relaxing especially the stretching machine. Energising low-resistance machines tone you up as you loose. I cannot recommend Curves enough."
Sarah Gee
“Curves Reading West is such a friendly and welcoming place - I was so impressed when I joined that the staff all knew my name! The biggest benefits for me are that I am better toned and noticeably less stressed than before I joined. I've never stuck to any exercise regime before for more than a few weeks but Curves works for me - even if I can't always make it 3 times a week, I have kept coming and am on year 2 now. Curves Zumba has been great fun too - I don't think I would have tried this at a gym full of super thin ladies-in-lycra but at Curves women of all shapes and sizes give it a go and that's fabulous!”
Erica Clark
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"Nervously I entered the building and what a warm welcome awited me."
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| BEFORE | AFTER |
Hi. My name is Erica Clark. I’m married with two sons.
I’ve always had a weight problem and was on the large side as a child. I even had to buy a new wedding dress the day before my wedding as the dress I had bought was too tight! Luckily, I am average height and it didn’t need any alterations.
I have tried numerous diets – Cabbage Soup diet, Hard Boiled Egg diet, Grapefruit diet. You name it and I’ve probably tried it. I weighed 17 stone after the birth of my first son and looked hideous on a video.
I decided it was time to seriously try to lose weight. I successfully lost several stone but then fell pregnant again. Approximately a year after the birth of my second son I knuckled down and lost weight. I reached my target of 9 stone 13 pounds and managed to maintain this weight for several years.
However, my life hit a rough patch and eating sensibly and exercising was the last thing on my mind. My weight had increased again to just over 14 stone. I decided that 2009 was going to be a better year. I saw that Curves was going to open in Reading West. Easy for me to get there and plenty of parking. It was the beginning of February that I decided to join.
I have never joined a gym before and was quite wary of what Curves would involve. Nervously I entered the building and what a warm welcome awaited me. Curves is a 30 minute workout for women only which is fantastic. Three times a week is recommended but I try to attend as much as possible as I really enjoy it. The owner Sandy is full of enthusiasm and her team are always there to help and encourage me. Since joining I have achieved over 400 workouts and managed to lose over 2 stone.
Thank you Curves for helping me back on the straight and narrow.
Aimee Wakefield
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Pounds lost: 68.5 "Three nights a week at 30 minutes a time has made a big difference for me. Thank you Curves." |
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| BEFORE | AFTER |
It's January 2008 and I want to start getting fitter and healthier but I didnt want to join the average Barbie and Ken gym! Then I read the local paper and saw a two page spread about a fitness centre for women only that provided a fun, fast and safe environment to get fit - this sounded right up my street!. That was 28 months ago and Curves really has worked for me. I have gone from a size 26 to a size 14/16, After over 400 workouts I am now 68.5lbs lighter and still going strong. Thank you Curves!
Tamina Khan
When I joined Curves 3 years ago I never thought that it would change my life. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia which left me unable to complete an effective workout without feeling drained. However, the 30 minute circuit worked wonders for me. In my first month I lost 20 inches and gained 3 lbs – my confidence soared right up to the sky!
The 30 minute workout fitted in nicely within my day. I worked all my muscle groups and burned fat at the same time. There was no queueing for machines like other gyms. But best of all were the results. I was always told to combine aerobics with resistance training to achieve the right look and I found that Curves did both.
Sadly, the Curves facility closed. When I heard that a new Curves was opening up in Reading I was delighted.
I took time to build up my fitness level and I only lost 3 inches in my first month. However, this did not put me off. My fibromyalgia had become worse and I’d lost my fitness level, but, with the support of the wonderful Manager and Curves Team I’m slowly building myself up again. I also slowly started to regain my confidence.
Each time I go to workout I feel great because I know that I will shape up and lose weight and, if I follow a sensible diet I can achieve both.
Best of all, it’s been great to go to such a warm and welcoming gym. I’m so pleased it’s run by women because I find only women can understand the issues we have with out body size and fitness.
I’ve also noticed Curves is the only gym where women of all race, size and age feel comfortable. Each time I attend I feel great. Also the staff are present in the circuit to motivate and guide women on how to use the equipment and get maximum result. You can see that Curves works just by coming in and seeing the achievement boards on the wall.
This has been the best thing to have happened to me, as it’s proved that I can look good and get into shape in only 30 minutes.
