Zumbatomic® coming in January

Zumbatomic® is a dance fitness program created by Zumba® for kids ages four to twelve. It combines high energy international music with kid-friendly choreography and games to teach children that exercise is fun, and that it is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. I will be starting a weekly class here in Valdosta at Leapin' Lizards Party and Fun Zone later this month.

The children will be divided into two age groups. Li'l Starz are four to seven years old, and Big Starz are eight to twelve years old. The first half hour of the Zumbatomic® class will be aimed at Li'l Starz, and the second half will target Big Starz. This is just a recommendation because often children have limited attention spans, but the children are welcome to participate for the entire hour if they wish.

I do take into consideration that children's bodies are still developing, and I encourage them to move freely and naturally. A Zumbatomic® class is not just an adult Zumba® class that uses kid-friendly music. The steps are broken down during Zumbatomic® more so than in an adult class to make the children feel successful. The Zumbatomic® program also uses games to break up any monotony and help develop cognitive processes, as well as make it fun and easy.

The goal of Zumbatomic® is to show boys and girls that exercise is fun, and to help them develop a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise. The program can have many positive affects on children such as teaching them respect for others, teamwork, pride, confidence, and resposibility, as well as helping them improve coordination, balance, memory, and creativity.

The next Zumbatomic® session will begin on January 21, 2012 at Leapin' Lizards Party and Fun Zone on Dale Dr, right off St. Augustine Rd across from Blanton Commons Apartments, about a mile from the Valdosta Mall. The Li'l Starz will begin at 10:00, am and Big Starz start at 10:30 am. The cost for the entire session is $50 per child. This will include the weekly Zumbatomic class plus play time on the inflatables afterward. You can be sure your child will sleep well after Zumbatomic® and active play!

Please contact Jessica at 229.415.3782 for more information or to register your child.

Try our video maker at Animoto.

Zumba® in the Club!

Toward the end of 2011, some other local instructors and I introduced Zumba® to the Valdosta nightlife scene. In November we held our very first "Zumba® in da Club" master class at the Neon Cowboy nightclub. The floor was on fire with six different instructors and dozens of participants! It was so popular, they begged for more, and we had "Zumba® Ladies' Night Out" at Mikki's Bar in December. Check out some of the photos. To see more, please visit and become a fan of my Facebook page Zumba Fitness with Jessica Avera.

Special thanks to Lindsi Jones Photography for capturing all these amazing images!

Thanksgiving holiday class schedule

Because of the holidays, I will be canceling a few classes for the week of November 21st - 25th. There will be no Zumba® in the Circuit classes at Curves or Boot Camp at Anytime all week long, and all classes for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are cancelled. That leaves Zumba® at Anytime Fitness on Monday at 7 pm and at Valdosta Parks and Recreation on Tuesday at 6 pm. Get your workouts in before enjoying the holiday with your families!

Current Zumba® Playlist

Almost daily, someone who attends my Zumba® classes asks me the names and artists of certain songs. I wanted to make it easy for everyone by listing the songs I am currently using in my classes. Enjoy!

I'm Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO
Suave - Nayer ft Pitbull and Mohombi
Mr Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan
Mueve La Booty - Oro Solido
La Vida es un Carnival - Celia Cruz
Walk it Out (Merengue Remix) - DJ Mingo
Arabian Myth - Zumba Fitness Original Music
Dirty Harry (Schtung Chinese New Year Remix) - Gorillaz
Drop It (Coconut Tree Riddem) - Alison Hinds
Obsesion - Aventura
Open Road (I Love Her) - Chris Brown
Ven Conmigo - Daddy Yankee ft Prince Royce
Yeah! (Batuka Mix) - Dj Joao y Payasso
Mi Corazon Esta Muerto - Rakim y Ken Y
Mami - Kumbia Kings
No Me Diga Na - Amarfis y La Banda de Atakke
Danca Do Crue - MC Crue
No Puedo Vivir Sin TI - Los Ilegales
Wepa - Gloria Estefan
Ay Mama - Chayanne
Meniando La Cola - Sexappeal
Party Rock Anthem (Mambo Electro Remix) - Ariana
Promise - Romeo Santos ft Usher

Principles of Training

My personal training clients get results. If they complete training sessions with me, and do not eat in excess of what they are burning, they always get closer to their fitness goals. There is no secret to my success. I simply follow the basic guidelines to create an exercise program, and tailor it to the specific needs of each client.

In order to increase fitness levels, decrease body fat, or increase lean body mass, the body must undergo a type of stress that it isn't accustomed to receiving. Pushing past your normal capacities will force your body to respond, and will increase your limitations. For example, if you are currently sedentary, and then start a brisk walking program, soon walking will be much simpler for your body to perform because it has adapted to the overload you have given it. This is true of any body system.

There are four principles of exercise training, when altered, can help clients achieve desired results. These principles are frequency, how often you exercise per week, intensity, how hard you work out, time, the length of each exercise session, and type, the kind of exercise you are performing.

All the principles are interrelated, such as if you increase the intensity of an exercise, you probably can not perform it for the same length of time. I adjust each one of these variables for every individual client. Each person has different goals and means to get there, and changing the frequency, intensity, time, and type of the client's exercise program to overload the body is a foolproof plan for reaching these goals. Stimulating the body beyond its current capabilities is what makes my clients get results.

I do my very best to push my clients further than even they believe they can go. Whether it is that extra rep of a bicep curl, another minute jogging, or jumping up onto a box, I work hard to motivate my clients to challenge their bodies.

Facebook!

I have a Facebook business page, Zumba® Fitness with Jessica Avera, that I post classes, events, and more on daily! I also offer Facebook only specials on occasion. Check it out and become a fan!

Party in Pink!

Saturday September 17th, another local Zumba® instructor, Aniya Lamyotte, will be hosting a Party in Pink Zumbathon® to benefit the Susan Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. I am excited to be part of the instructor team for this event!

We will start the class at 10:00 am, but the doors will be open at 9:30 am. There will be a few special dancers scheduled to perform before the class and between sets. Some local businesses will be giving demonstrations and offering some special deals as well!

Tickets are $10 each, and can be purchased through Aniya, myself, at Curves on Northside Dr, or at the door if there are spaces left. The class will be held at a big warehouse on Val Tech Rd. There will be signs to direct you once you arrive.

Party yourself into shape for a great cause! Support the Susan Komen Foundation and join us for this amazing Zumbathon. Get your tickets today!