Registered Zumba instructor Selena De La Fuenta stretches with students Thursday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. De La Fuenta taught fine arts sophomore Patrick Hawbecker, prenursing freshman Brittany Zavala and business administration sophomore Nikki Star Zumba moves in an effort to get students active. Only three students were present for the class. “It’s usually between 15 and 30,” De La Fuenta said about the number of students in attendance. “I’m thinking it was midterms and the rain. Sometimes we get more people, sometimes we get less.” Photo by Zachary-Taylor Wright
College student teaches class once a week in Fiesta Room for stress relief.
By Estefania Flores
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
A free Zumba class takes place 3-4 p.m. every Thursday in the Fiesta Room in Loftin Student Center.
Political science sophomore Selena De La Fuente, a registered Zumba instructor, is in charge of the program and the primary instructor of each class.
“Our first class was 35 people, which was very exciting,” De La Fuente said. “They usually range from 30-40 students a class.
“Not only is Zumba a great way to meet people, it’s also a great way to relieve stress from school,” she said. “Because I am in college and up-to-date with the current music, I offer all sorts of genres to dance to. I like to include all types of music, including salsa, merengue, bachata, hip-hop, Bollywood, you name it.”
The Zumba classes are cardio-based, both high intensity and low intensity.
“With every song, I offer a high intensity step and a low intensity step. That way all students are comfortable in the class, and each can go at the pace of their choice,” she said. “It’s repetitive steps, and you forget you’re working out because there is dance involved.”
Although Zumba is predominantly categorized as a female exercise routine, De la Fuente is trying to let students know all genders are welcome.
“I think that men should know that the dancing aspect of the exercise is not the scary part, although there is nothing scary about Zumba,” she said. “Here in SAC it’s very friendly and inviting. You get to be a part of a community because you’re dancing with other people.”
Not only does De la Fuente want to have her students enjoy Zumba, she also helps her students maintain a healthy lifestyle through the program.
“I ask students after class if they have any goals to reach, physically. I bring out a journal, write down their names, try the best that I can to teach them about living a healthy lifestyle and try to keep track of each student individually,” she said.
“Sometimes students miss class, which makes it harder for me to keep communication, which I understand because of exams and busy schedules.”
She said students keep losing weight.
“It is a great workout for them, and they keep coming back, and that’s always a good thing,” she said.
Students are welcome to join in, and no registration is required.
For information, contact the office of student life 210-486-0125.
