By no means am I a prude. I love to get out on a wedding dance floor and do the electric slide with a group of people. I’ve always enjoyed that. It’s super fun and I can never wipe that goofy grin off my face afterwards. That’s why I’m hesitant to write this post. I know that Zumba is all the rage these days. I almost feel pressured by the mob of my peers.
I’ve taken two Zumba classes and each time it just hasn’t resonated well with my spirit. My gut. His Spirit within me. He’s just not at home in me afterwards. That’s for me, and it may not be that way for you. Don’t go cancel your Zumba class just because it doesn’t resonate with me. His Spirit, in me. I know a lot of godly ladies who get their Zumba on.
What I love about Zumba:
- Hello, it’s a super hard workout!
- I love doing moves all together with a bunch of girls.
- I do love a lot of the moves and dances.
- I sweat like crazy.
- I love hanging out with a bunch of friends.
What I don’t love about Zumba:
- A lot of the dirty music.
- All those provocative, hip shaking, pelvic thrusting, chest popping moves.
- The way I feel almost dirty afterwards.
This post isn’t written because I think you should or shouldn’t partake in a Zumba class. This post is more on a lesson I’m continually learning: If the Holy Spirit isn’t at home in YOU… doing, or watching, or saying something… don’t fight it, just be obedient and you will be at peace with your decision.
The Holy Spirit is a precious gift to the child of God that convicts the heart of personal sin. Don’t grieve Him, for He lives within you if you know Him as personal Savior. “Ephesians 4:30: And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Thanks for visiting!
Lisa Phelps says
I appreciate your candor in this post Traci and you hit the nail on the head – “If the Holy Spirit isn’t at home in YOU…..”. You are talking about obeying a personal conviction. If the Holy Spirit is convicting us about something and we don’t obey that is a sin for us. But we must be careful, as you were, not to assume it is a sin for everyone.
Great post!
Katharine says
What a wonderful, grace-filled post. Thank for sharing!
Blessings on your day!
Jenifer says
I love your post Traci. I do Zumba and greatly enjoy it. I do it at home, to the dvd, with my mom. But the point of your post and what means so much to me is that it is about what God is personally speaking to each person. If God gives us that hesitation, that gut feeling, of if He is just not at home in you with something, we must obey. Definitely a great lesson here!
Aimee says
You are the first person who has posted a blog or said this in a public format…. and I thank you for that. I went to 1 Zumba class and I felt awful afterwards. I’m sure it didn’t help that there were men there and I felt… icky after. It was too sexy, especially for a co-ed class.
It just doesn’t feel right for me. I have 1 friend who agrees; the others love Zumba.
Jenny Yarbrough says
I agree with you. I have never taken the class. Way too sexy for my taste… not too mention I just don’t feel like making a fool of myself. I know it must be a great workout, but in the age of 50 Shades of Gray and Zumba, I try to set myself apart as a daughter of the King by skipping anything that may align me with an oversexed culture. 🙂 Thank you for your honesty!
Shannon says
I agree totally with your list of reasons to love zumba and the reasons not to. I went to one class and this is exactly how I feel. And I appreciate the way you wrote this and not trying to push your convictions on others. I hope others will feel convicted and will learn to LISTEN to God when He speaks to them. I think it is very important that people learn about the different ways God is speaking to us. He uses scripture, our pastor, our Sunday School teacher, our friends, and our “conscience”, as well as, many other ways. If you are reading this and thinking that zumba is really okay I have to wonder if you have ever considered if you would dance that way in the presence of Jesus. If your answer to that is “NO WAY!”, then you need to realize that God is speaking to you about this issue right now. Then the question becomes… will we be obedient. And God gives us that choice. We choose to obey or disobey. Be aware that if you are reading this you may not like it, but God may be speaking to you and you simply don’t want to listen or hear the message. And that is human nature, so don’t fret. God forgives us, but maybe it is time to obey now. {Sorry to get all preachy. I seriously felt sick after doing zumba one time from the disgraceful moves, music, etc.. I have four girls and it I immediately had the thought that I would not want my daughters dancing that way and if I don’t want them to do it, then I should not either.}
ali @ an ordinarymom says
” in the age of 50 Shades of Gray and Zumba, I try to set myself apart as a daughter of the King by skipping anything that may align me with an oversexed culture.” Yes, what Jenny said!
I’ve never even seen any Zumba (no videos or anything), but I see the signs everywhere, and I’ve been curious, and I’ve asked a couple ladies about it, and yeah, I don’t tihnk it’s something I’d be comfortable with- and I love Jenny’s wording of the reason! She hit the nail on the head 🙂
Angela Hunt says
Thank you so much for sharing this! I was just thinking this the other day!
The Better Baker says
I haven’t ever taken a Zumba class, but I’ve glanced at a video…I know I would feel the very same way. Thanks for your boldness in sharing…and in following the Spirit within you. I know God blesses you greatly for that.
Michy (lovingourjourney.com) says
I have a DVD for zumba here at home…sitting here to try..hmmm…I am a country line dancer (which has many of those southern ounces of respect filled in)….I will need to review it. Thanks for your honesty!
Anonymous says
Thank you for writing about this. I can appreciate your pointr of view. I go to a more conservative church. In recent years been hearing of ladies I know partaking in these classes and gave never been comfortable with the idea. Maybe it’s just a 21st century thing… Don’t know but I do know there a song we used to sing a lot, “the way I used to dance I don’t dance that way no more it was a great day when I was born again!”