The UREC has many great activities: rock climbing, basketball, yoga and many more.
But those shouldn’t overshadow the Zumba classes which are seemingly the most overlooked and arguably the most fun of them all.
Zumba is an interactive cardio workout that incorporates movement and dance, mostly held in a class setting. LSU holds this hour-long Group X Fitness course in Studio B on Wednesdays starting at 6:30 p.m. with instructor CoChea Long.
Long is a part-time fitness instructor and full-time business owner. She is a mother of two girls and wife to Casey Long, assistant coach to the men’s basketball team.
Zumba instructor CoChea Long dances Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at the University Recreation Facility at LSU in Baton Rouge, La
“Seeing people’s faces when they finally grasp the concept of a choreography or a routine, or when they come back and are like ‘I lost weight!’, and then just the people that come in that want to be a fitness instructor too… it’s very rewarding,” Long said passionately when asked what motivates her to teach.
Long incorporates her own music taste and dances into her classes, mixing it up from Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” to Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor”, even incorporating Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” for the spooky season.
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As the students line up, the low-impact movement begins: side-stepping, fist-pumping, and getting loose. Energy increases with the music, working in more intense workouts like squats, jumping, and bigger movements overall.
In class, concentration on student’s faces quickly turns into smiles as they get more comfortable and begin to branch into their own style. They lose themselves in the beats and movements, while Long and the other classmates hype each other up during and in-between songs.
Third-year law student Anna Mester enjoys the break she gets from her normal life through Zumba, especially as opposed to her regular workout routines.
“I always get bored of doing the same thing when I work out, so this is a lot more fun for me and a lot more active. You burn so much in this class,” Mester said.
Students leave dripping in sweat after a successful workout. Once you get lost in the groove, you’re no longer checking how many calories you’ve burned or how much time you spent doing cardio versus weight training: you’re just happy to have had fun.
LSU students participate in a zumba class Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at the University Recreation Facility at LSU in Baton Rouge, La
Zumba is one of many Group X Fitness classes among others like Barre, Pilates and Turn Up Dance, which Long also teaches.
Criminology junior Alexis Dow is an active participator in all of these classes, but Zumba was her gateway.
“[Long] makes this a very accepting setting. You can really do whatever you want and still have a really fun time,” Dow said. “If you’re scared to go to Group X classes, Zumba is a great place to start.”
