Volume XXV, Number 5155
Thursday, Mar 18, 2010
Party Your Way to Fitness With Zumba at the Greenbelt Recreation Center
With invitations to “Ditch the workout, Join the party!” and energizing classes full of Latin-inspired dance moves, it is no wonder that Zumba fitness has grown so much over the past ten years. Zumba was brought to the United States from Columbia in 1999 by celebrity fitness trainer “Beto” Perez, and caught on like wildfire; everybody loved moving and shaking to salsa and meringue music while burning calories and dropping pounds. One of these Zumba addicts is Rosalia Dechbery, a NYC Service fitness volunteer from Staten Island who donates her time to teach Zumba classes on Saturdays at 11 a.m. at the Greenbelt Recreation Center.
Before discovering Zumba, Dechbery was an English/Language Arts teacher. According to Dechbery, working in a classroom translates well to teaching a Zumba class. In school, she motivates students to read and understand the daunting works of William Shakespeare and turns failing grades into straight A’s. When she teaches Zumba, she encourages her students to push through a tough class or master a complicated dance move. “I love inspiring people to do the things they would really like to do, but think they can’t,” she said.
During her first Zumba class, Dechbery admits that she had to stop every few minutes to catch her breath. With perseverance and encouragement, she soon excelled in the class and reached her personal goals. “I wanted to get fit for my own self-confidence,” she said, “and so I could keep up with my very active little boy.”
Upon reaching her goals, Dechbery set out to help others do the same while giving back to programs that have helped her and her family so much. To overcome a difficult childhood, Dechbery sought refuge in extracurricular activities and admired teachers and those who took interest in helping her. “Now,” she said, “I’m honored to be able to do the same for others.” As a child, her husband participated in youth programs provided by Parks, and now they take their son to Mommy, Daddy, and Me classes at the Greenbelt Recreation Center where she teaches her Zumba classes.
“I’m proud to be part of a program that extends itself to the public and promotes healthy development, better fitness and a strong sense of community,” Dechbery said.
So every Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Greenbelt Recreation Center, Dechbery leads her class through high powered wiggling, salsa-ing, and showing off a “mean Cumbia.” It sounds like all fun and games, but this party is definitely an intense work out! Dechbery said that every student ends the class out of breath and dripping in sweat, but they are still excited to dance off more calories the following week.
“Getting fit isn’t easy,” Dechbery said, “but it’s necessary.” But in a Zumba class, you can skip the boring treadmills and barbells, and get fit while partying at the same time.
To find more exciting fitness opportunities near you, visit www.nyc.gov/parks, keyword: BeFitNYC, or call 311. Drop by a recreation center near you on the first Monday of every month to try out a class for free.
(Thursday • March 18 • 6:30 PM • Museum of the City of New York)
THE FUTURE OF NATURE IN NEW YORK CITY
Leading Scientists & Environmentalists moderated by Commissioner Benepe
Create, Preserve, Maintain: Natural Areas in New York City
Thursday • March 18 • 6:30 PM
Throughout its five boroughs, New York’s wild places are abundant with woodlands, streams, waterfronts, marshes, and beaches. Adrian Benepe, Commissioner, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, moderates a discussion of what it takes to maintain and expand natural areas in New York City, with experts Henry Stern, who created the “Forever Wild” program and conceived of the Natural Resources Group; Dave Avrin, Chief of Resource Management, Gateway National Recreation Area; Erika Svendsen, Research Social Scientist, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station; and Mike Feller, Chief Naturalist for Parks’ Natural Resources Group.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Regular Program Ticket Prices
$12 Non-Members
$8 Seniors and Students
$6 Museum Members
*A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
For reservations and information please call 212.534.1672, ext. 3395.
Before discovering Zumba, Dechbery was an English/Language Arts teacher. According to Dechbery, working in a classroom translates well to teaching a Zumba class. In school, she motivates students to read and understand the daunting works of William Shakespeare and turns failing grades into straight A’s. When she teaches Zumba, she encourages her students to push through a tough class or master a complicated dance move. “I love inspiring people to do the things they would really like to do, but think they can’t,” she said.
During her first Zumba class, Dechbery admits that she had to stop every few minutes to catch her breath. With perseverance and encouragement, she soon excelled in the class and reached her personal goals. “I wanted to get fit for my own self-confidence,” she said, “and so I could keep up with my very active little boy.”
Upon reaching her goals, Dechbery set out to help others do the same while giving back to programs that have helped her and her family so much. To overcome a difficult childhood, Dechbery sought refuge in extracurricular activities and admired teachers and those who took interest in helping her. “Now,” she said, “I’m honored to be able to do the same for others.” As a child, her husband participated in youth programs provided by Parks, and now they take their son to Mommy, Daddy, and Me classes at the Greenbelt Recreation Center where she teaches her Zumba classes.
“I’m proud to be part of a program that extends itself to the public and promotes healthy development, better fitness and a strong sense of community,” Dechbery said.
So every Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Greenbelt Recreation Center, Dechbery leads her class through high powered wiggling, salsa-ing, and showing off a “mean Cumbia.” It sounds like all fun and games, but this party is definitely an intense work out! Dechbery said that every student ends the class out of breath and dripping in sweat, but they are still excited to dance off more calories the following week.
“Getting fit isn’t easy,” Dechbery said, “but it’s necessary.” But in a Zumba class, you can skip the boring treadmills and barbells, and get fit while partying at the same time.
To find more exciting fitness opportunities near you, visit www.nyc.gov/parks, keyword: BeFitNYC, or call 311. Drop by a recreation center near you on the first Monday of every month to try out a class for free.
(Thursday • March 18 • 6:30 PM • Museum of the City of New York)
THE FUTURE OF NATURE IN NEW YORK CITY
Leading Scientists & Environmentalists moderated by Commissioner Benepe
Create, Preserve, Maintain: Natural Areas in New York City
Thursday • March 18 • 6:30 PM
Throughout its five boroughs, New York’s wild places are abundant with woodlands, streams, waterfronts, marshes, and beaches. Adrian Benepe, Commissioner, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, moderates a discussion of what it takes to maintain and expand natural areas in New York City, with experts Henry Stern, who created the “Forever Wild” program and conceived of the Natural Resources Group; Dave Avrin, Chief of Resource Management, Gateway National Recreation Area; Erika Svendsen, Research Social Scientist, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station; and Mike Feller, Chief Naturalist for Parks’ Natural Resources Group.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Regular Program Ticket Prices
$12 Non-Members
$8 Seniors and Students
$6 Museum Members
*A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
For reservations and information please call 212.534.1672, ext. 3395.
QUOTATION FOR THE DAY
“People often say with pride, ‘I’m not interested in politics.’ They might as well say, ‘I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future, or any future.’”
Martha Gelhorn
(1908 – 1998)
“People often say with pride, ‘I’m not interested in politics.’ They might as well say, ‘I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future, or any future.’”
Martha Gelhorn
(1908 – 1998)
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