needs/wants...toMAYto/toMAHto

God may not give us what we want, but He always provides what we need. #truestory

I finally got back on the zumba wagon--yeaaahhh boooiiiii!!--in hopes of getting myself in [some sort of] shape for my dreaded 30th birthday.  And the fact that I'm gonna be reconnecting with an 'old friend' even before my birthday is beside the point... more on that later.

This week, I went to zumba and found out that my usual instructor wasn't there but I knew the person who was substituting.  My heart kinda sank because the sub isn't as 'upbeat' as the regular (who is awesome in EVERY way and has spoiled me for any other zumba experience).  Her style is really mellow and I'm thinking, "Mellow ain't gonna cut it when I need to burn off these rolls as many calories as possible!"  But I had already gotten dressed and I figured it was an opportunity to get something done, so I went ahead to the class.

After the warm-up, I grabbed my bottle to head to the water fountain when the desk attendant informed me that the water was out at the moment. o_o  Well that was the worst!  So I went back into the studio consciously aware of the fact that I needed to fall back for the rest of the class to avoid overheating with no way to hydrate myself.  That wasn't gonna be too much of a problem since I had the mellow instructor that day...

And then it hit me: God actually did me a favor.  He knew that there would be no water at the gym, and worked it out so that my usual instructor wouldn't be able to make it.  Had she been there in all her bouncy, bodacious glory, I'm quite sure I would've been carried out of the studio on a stretcher for trying to keep up with her.  But in His infinite wisdom and caring, the Lord sent "Miss mellow" to keep things low-key enough for me to burn some calories without collapsing from internal combustion.

It may seem trivial, and even sheer coincidence to some, but I'm convinced that God used this opportunity to remind me of something that I already knew.  I may want something really, REALLY badly but having it may be detrimental.  Yet, what He sends my way is exactly what is best for me at that time and place.  *sigh*   Gotta love the way God uses  even the most mundane occurrences of life to get His point across.  Well played, Lord... well, played!

be blessed,

pVI

It's the little things...

I was early for my Zumba class so I decided to sit in my car for a while and listen to the radio. As happens more often than I care to admit, my mind eventually started to wander. It decided to settle on a long-time gripe I have going on with God: my cruel and unusual, seemingly perpetual state of singleness. I won't make you suffer through my barrage of thoughts and words to God but the crux of it today was that I felt invisible to the opposite sex. Emotionally, my existence amounts to the process of petrification... no, seriously--I feel cold and hard, as if I am slowly turning to stone.

So I was pleading with talking to God about this--of course, anyone looking into my car would swear that I was having a bonafide conversation with the voices in my head--when I told Him something to the effect of "God, throw me a bone, here! If my soulmate isn't ready to appear right now, at least some positive [as in non-relationship] testosterone in my life would be greatly appreciated!" 

I'm sure I had a lot more to ask and to say, but I decided to just give it up and head inside the gym. I still had plenty of time before class so I was walking deliberately slowly up the stairs and towards the front door. Approaching the entrance from the opposite direction was a uniformed National Guardsman, and I couldn't help but notice that he was tall, attractive and had a nice physique. *eye candy proximity alert* If I was walking at a normal pace, we would have hit the door at the same time, and I didn't feel like finding out which one of us was supposed to walk through the door first. Nowadays, if guys are in a good mood they might kick the door back open after they pass through. Whatever... But Mister Military Man decided to defend my honor [sorry for the cheesy reference; couldn't help it] by opening the door and holding it open until I made my way through it!  It took me a couple of seconds to process his gesture (since it hadn't happened in a while) before I smiled and thanked him.

WHAT just happened here?!? I'll tell you what happened. As trivial as that moment in time may seem now, I thanked God as I walked to the locker room--for hearing and answering my rant in the car prayer. To be treated like a lady by a gentleman is something that I revel in, but it shouldn't catch me--or any other female--off guard. Not having any meaningful interaction with guys in such a long time just added to my appreciation of that single instant... God knew that I needed that boost SO badly just then and He made it happen just for me.

Thank you Lord, for reminding me that you still care.

Sincerely,
pVI

Fling Chune FRIDAY: Lo Que Traigo es Flow

¡Feliz viernes! *¡¡¡¡weeepaaaaa!!!* ¡Es para todas las Boriquas! :o)

No, I surely don't speak Spanish, but I can muddle my way through enough to scrape by--besides, that's what Google's translation tools are there for! But I'm venturing over to the Latino side to celebrate my return to Zumba earlier this week. I felt like a million bucks after the workout.... then I had to call in sick the next day (on top of  being outta shape, I had the beginning stages of a cold--brilliant idea to push myself, right?!)

Anyway, the heartbeat of Zumba is Latin music, and there's plenty of reggaeton in our workout lineup. Don't tell me you can listen to this and keep still... you might need to check for a pulse! And then there's the switch-up at 1:30... *squealing with hands in the air* BIG CHUNE!!! This one is by a Christian artist named Funky and I'm flingin' dis chune in honor of my island neighbor to the west, Puerto Rico, after getting flooded out by Tropical Storm Irene this week. The Google translation of the title, Lo Que Traigo es Flow, is kinda awkward, so I'm guessing that is actually means "I bring the flow", or sumthin like that... Spanish speakers, let me know if I'm even kinda close! LOL

Dios te bendiga,
pVI

getting over the slump

I don't like working out. There, I said it for the record! Perspiration is not one of my favorite pastimes and unlike most other people who are gym junkies, I just don't get that rush that they say you're supposed to get from exercise. I've started a whole buncha home workout/DVD programs--Slim in 6, Masala Bhangra Workout, Sweating in the Spirit--but they're all just catching dust. It's not that they weren't fun but I can't say whether or not they 'worked' because I just didn't stay consistent with them... I got lazy, slacked off, then did absolutely nothing.

And then there was Zumba...

Disclaimer: This is not a paid endorsement. I am receiving no compensation from Zumba fitness or anyone else. Everything that follows is purely my opinion.

image credit: http://www.queenbeessd.com

I started doing Zumba last summer as part of a workplace fitness challenge. It was a live class that started out with just my co-workers and then exploded into something much bigger. For me, it was the exercise intervention that I had been needing! Its an aerobic workout based on movements and music from around the world, but focuses on Latin/Spanish flava. Being the world music lover that I am, Zumba had me at the first couple of songs... and then there is the dance component. I've never been a dancer, per se, but I know that I've got natural rhythm so learning bellydancing, salsa, merengue, cumbia, bhangra, calypso/soca and reggaeton moves has been a welcome challenge for me. My instructor is Latina and has a classical dance background, so she really takes the techniques to another level [Did I mention that she's freakin' awesome?!]

Surprising to even me, I stayed faithful to Zumba for several months, without interruption. I was having a blast twice a week while getting the exercise that my body so badly needed. I didn't loose much weight in pounds, but the inches, which mattered more to me, were melting off. By the 6-month mark, my clothes were fitting noticeably better and I had a revived confidence in my physical appearance. And then came this past summer...

My "workout woe-is-me" attitude eventually slithered back into my life and I became a bum. First it was down to once a week, then once every other week, and then none at all. By the time my instructor took a week off to go to the Zumba convention, I unconsciously called it quits. That was in July... didn't go back to class until today. Of course, by now, my clothes got more 'snug' and I could see the difference in my body composition. Fat > almost everything else. But it's amazing to think about how much time I let pass without doing anything physical (except a friendly game of kickball that kicked my butt because I was so outta shape).

Speaking of "butts", I've taken the first step to getting mine back into Zumbalicious shape! I'm too young to let my health suffer on account of sheer laziness. Besides--this shouldn't make a difference, but it's pure vanity on my part; just so ya know--now that I'm back in touch with a certain someone, I have this sudden, strange motivation to look hot. *sigh* Just pray for me on that one, please! But the good part is that I hope to use whatever motivation I need to to get up outta this slump and achieve the results I want. My goal is to look trimmer by/before Christmas... and then proceed to pig out on everything under the sun! LOL

Be blessed (and let me know if you're a Zumbaholic, too!)
pVI

Fling Chune FRIDAAAAAY: Gata Brasileira

I first heard this song in my Zumba class and had an instant world music-flavored amorous experience! It's called Gata Brasileira which loosely translates to "Brazilian chick" in Portuguese. Though I've scoured iTunes and other web music stores for about a year, I have yet to get my hands on this joint! *le sigh*

So far, I've seen two names credited as the artist--Dr. Cevada and Axé Bahia--but I'm inclined to go with the former for 2 reasons:

1. There's one vocalist, and one rapper, but no group or even backup vocals that would indicate a multi-member ensemble
2. It turns out that Axé is also a genre of Afro-Brazilian music, most likely the one that applies to this song

Apparently this Dr. Cevada person was a one-hit-wonder because I can't find any Wikipedia page legit sources on him--no album title, no other tracks, no photo... NADA! If you know who this artist is or where I can purchase this joint, PLEASE hook a sista up! 

Well, Dr. Cevada if you're real and you happen to read this, just know that I think your song is thebomb.com!!

Have a blessed weekend, errybody!