This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Whole Body Lifestyle: Zumba Juice

                                Zumba Juice:  At Whole Body Life Style a daily dose restores body and mind

                                                                               By Sara Ford

                                                         

Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Who wants to attend a fitness studio with no contracts, a full, varied selection of classes, and high-energy, motivating instructors?  To a life-long gym rat, Whole Body Lifestyle, 4573 Artesia Blvd. (across from Nordstrom,) is the jewel in the crown of fitness venues in the South Bay.  Fitness, in general, should be a lifestyle.  In this case, the lifestyle has a family-like atmosphere, with a staff that is welcoming and encouraging.  I would like to point out some of the aspects of WBL that showcase the experience of its unique atmosphere and class offerings.

Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I joined because of the 14 classes of Zumba, per week.  Thinking I was going to easily ace the first class I attended, taught by owners Martin and Christina, I was quickly schooled by the fast pace and the innovative choreography.  I was invigorated by the tempo, entranced by the music and enchanted by the energy and spirit of the instructors.  It left me pondering the quote from Byron, “On with the dance.  Let joy be unconfined.”   Classes are $5 each.   Like many of the members of the studio, I soon lost weight and felt more energetic.

Cardio, however, is not the only fitness component offered by WBL.  Many of the amazing people I met were taking a strength/core class called Iron Ripper.  It seemed like it was so much fun, so I started taking that class, as well.  As a senior, I found some of the stations a bit above my level, so instructors Martin and Christina were at hand to suggest a modification or provide a lighter weight.  In a few weeks, I felt stronger.  I thanked Martin for all of the personal help he gave me and he said, “I have to make this work for everyone in the class, to make everyone successful.”  I feel like I have personal trainers in a group exercise program. WBL also offers boot camps, Tae Kwon Do, kickboxing and other activities.  Many members participate in a free hiking group.  WBL members often run in 5 and 10K races as a group.  A number of brave souls, including the owners and instructors, even ran in the L.A. Marathon.

I am interested in all aspects of fitness.  According to Dr. Paul Thompson, distinguished USC neuroscientist and Redondo Beach resident, “Current research suggests that active individuals, and those prescribed structured exercise regimes demonstrated improved cognitive function and reduced brain atrophy.” It occurs to me that WBL serves a component of brain fitness that goes beyond walking, running and weight training.  As I take the Zumba classes, I wonder about the significance of the multitasking aspect of following routines.  To what extent does counting, memorizing subroutines, listening to the music and executing all of the above with your body, at a very fast pace, further improve cognitive function?  Could this be even more critical to forestalling dementia?  I am not a scientist, but I know that music activates the brain, as does involving the whole body in a series of procedures.  I believe that incorporating all of these skills into a bodily-kinesthetic mode does challenge the mind, by incorporating multiple modalities.  So here’s to having fun and achieving whole body fitness at WBL.






We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?