UPDATE: OKEMOS - Zumba is a workout routine that combines dance with exercise in a party-like atmosphere. At the Meridian Senior Center, the students in this workout course aren't the average Zumba dancers. Since December 1st, instructor Rebecca Newcombe has been teaching Zumba Gold at the Senior Center. She says the popular Latin dance-based workout has actually been made quite accessible for seniors. She explained how Zumba Gold is specifically tiered for active aging adults, and so the moves are a little bit slower and they concentrate mainly on large motor movements.

Zumba creates workout routines based on the natural beat of music and dance styles. Zumba Gold takes the exercises and matches them with the anatomical and bio-mehcanical needs of active, older adults. The students, however, are taught not to focus on the exercise, but on performing the dance moves instead.
They do merengue, salsa, samba, and a little bit of belly dancing.

Zumba is all about enjoying the music, spending the time with their friends, and dancing. The dances are only made simple into three to six moves that repeat so if a student doesn't get it the first time, they have a chance within the song to practice three or four more times.

Residents who are interested can being the ten week course starting again in February, or if the need to dance is sooner, can drop in on any session to try it out.

ORIGINAL STORY: OKEMOS - Zumba Gold has come to the Meridian Senior Center! Watch Senior Living on HOMTV to see more.