Zumba In La Feria Four-years old and Growing

Four years ago, a motivated group of city leaders got together and said: “what this town needs is good Zumba instruction program for our citizens and winter visitors. That group was headed by current La Feria school board member Gloria Casas and then mayor Steve Brewer. Some good instructors showed up and the program got underway at the newly dedicated La Feria Recreation Center on 901 Pancho Maples street.

For the uninitiated, exactly what is Zumba, and what does it do for you? To find out, we met with one of the co-founders and instructors, Mrs. Katie Johnson. When not teaching, this energetic lady handles insurance matters as Executive Administrative Assistant for the Shepard Walton King Insurance Group in Harlingen. For the record, Katie Johnson and Gloria Casas have teamed up on numerous community projects over years.

So, the question was put to Katie—just what is Zumba? “To start with, Zumba is more than rocking out to a variety of music beats and gymnastic dance moves,” Katie said. “If you are not fit and in good shape when you start, you will be after a few weeks of Zumba classes. In these sessions you will be busy burning off calories and getting fit while enjoying the fun of Latin dancing. That, according to Katie, is the main and immediate benefit to sign up for this comprehensive fitness program.”

But, there are other benefits: “Our La Feria city-sponsored Zumba classes are part of an estimated 12 million people at 110,000 sites, in 125 countries around the world who have joined this “in-thing” because they are interested in the many benefits from this effective, high-energy aerobic workout,” she said.

“Zumba,” Johnson said, “is part of a more comprehensive fitness regime that is a total-body exercise also good for core strengthening and body flexibility gains. That is because there are lots of hip and midsection movements.”

She added, “although Zumba fitness sessions may feel like a party, research suggests that it’s a highly effective body workout as you burn off lots of calories, as compared to a steady-state exercise program like jogging, exercise machines, and cardio-kickboxing.”

Another benefit to learning Zumba dancing is that it can be a life-long hobby and a stress buster for many with weight loss as a bonus. There is a $35.00 monthly charge to join, and you can come to classes in your regular workout clothes. The City of La Feria makes the facilities available, so why not take the plunge and join your friends as you have fun and get fit together. It is that easy.

Katie Johnson is joined by a trained staff of Zumba instructors who welcome all to check out what the program can do for you. The instructors are: Mikayla Johnson, Chara Kamins-Abarca, and Susan Leyva Burgueno.

These qualified instructors invite community members interested in losing weight the fun way, to please join them at the La Feria Recreation Center every Monday-Thursday at 7:00 to 8:00 pm and Friday 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Susie also has classes Monday-Thursday 5:30 to 6:30 pm. For more information, call Katie Johnson at 423-8755