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All is well with employees in Wash. County, thanks to a Zumba routine that exercises the mind, body
dbachman@observer-reporter.com
Normally, the Washington County commissioners' meeting room at Courthouse Square is a model of decorum, with those in attendance politely seated and decked out in some of their finest suits and skirts.
But every Friday at 4:45 p.m., the room is transformed into a dance hall, of sorts, with self-proclaimed "addicts" dressed in T-shirts, shorts and Spandex, groovin' to the beat of hip-hop, reggae and salsa music.
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It's a Zumba class, a high-energy workout that combines aerobic exercise and dance to pulsating Latin music. It was introduced in the United States in 1999 and became an instant hit. By September 2006, there were more than 2,000 Zumba instructors worldwide.
According to instructor Rhonda Armbrust, owner/operator of Mon Valley Fitness Center, an hour-long workout can burn between 500 and 800 calories.
"I wore a pedometer, and the first time I did 4,200 steps - and you don't even know you're doing it," said Pat Maxon, Employee Wellness and Benefits administrator for Washington County.
"We're addicts with Zumba," she said, " ... but we're not quitting our day jobs."
Zumba is just one of several free activities made available to Washington County employees through the Washington Employees Living Longer program. The WELL fitness program was launched in 2006 and is strongly endorsed by Commissioners Bracken Burns, Diana Irey and Larry Maggi.
"We're very blessed to work in this environment. We have a pretty active wellness program," Maxon said.
The Zumba class draws a diversified group of county employees - from the jail to the health center to the courthouse - of varying ages.
Considering the Friday time slot, Maxon wasn't sure how popular the class would be. But she spoke for all of the exercise fanatics when she said, "It's so fun. It's a wonderful way to end the week."
Zumba exercises the body and the mind to promote long-term health benefits, and the routines are designed to tone and sculpt the body, maximizing caloric output and fat-burming.
On a recent Friday, 11 women - men have attended the class in the past - came ready to carry out Armbrust's every command.
Despite the chilly weather outside, the room quickly heated up as the soulful rhythms generated constant body movement from head to toe. In fact, between songs, the women scrambled to grab a swig of water, either from bottles or the fountain.
It wasn't until 20 minutes into their routine that some additional relief arrived: The air-conditioning was turned on.
Meanwhile, Armbrust made each movement seem effortless as she encouraged the women to add a little bounce to their step before taking the "ball and chain forward."
For Nancy Bielawski, a self-described senior citizen who works in purchasing for the county, the class has increased her energy level to the point that "my husband can't keep up with me, and my mother-in-law moved out."
Bielawski also takes pilates and works out on a treadmill. But it's Zumba that has her hooked.
"I love it. It's a stress reliever, which we need at the end of the day, and it's fun, too."
Marcie Legler, 36, however, is the consummate Zumba addict.
She listens to Zumba music while shutting down her office before class, and when she discovered at the last minute that Beto Perez, the Colombian fitness trainer who invented Zumba, was scheduled to conduct a two-hour master's class at the Serbian Cultural Center in Weirton, W.Va., she pleaded with organizers to attend.
"The class was 10 times faster than this," she said.
And did she keep pace?
"Yes, I did."
It's obvious that Legler, a secretary with the Drug Task Force, enjoys Zumba. Her motions are fluid, she's constantly smiling, and the gaze in her eyes is hypnotic.
"It doesn't matter what physical condition you're in," she said.
Terry Crawford, 59, who works at the county health center, attended class even though she had to leave early.
"I just like the movement. I like dancing," she said. "We mess up the steps and nobody cares."
She said she's become more limber, and combined with her daily walks, she's been able to shed some weight.
Andrea Hess, a former dance teacher at Moschetta Performing Arts Center for 30-plus years, is taking Zumba to help offset menopausal weight gain. So far, she's lost 12 pounds.
"It's free for the county, and I think that's great for the employees," said Hess, who works as a visitors' receptionist at the county jail. "It just give you a different outlook on life, period."
Erin Jeffries, 34, and Kristin Marcy, 35, who both work in the Clerks of Courts office, began taking Zumba classes in October. Marcy said it's so much better than Weight Watchers because a scale is not involved.
Still, it's working. Her clothes are fitting better.
Besides, Jeffries said, "We wanted to get exercise. It's so fun. It doesn't even feel like you're exercising."
