{"id":19328,"date":"2018-07-25T21:11:14","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T02:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=19328"},"modified":"2018-07-25T21:14:51","modified_gmt":"2018-07-26T02:14:51","slug":"my-very-first-zin-jam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=19328","title":{"rendered":"My Very First ZIN Jam"},"content":{"rendered":"

After being ZIN\u2122 (Zumba Instructor Network) member for over six years, I finally attended my very first ZIN Jam\u2122 session. You’re probably wondering what that is. ZIN Jam\u2122 is the officially authorized program, sanctioned by Zumba\u00ae Fitness, for any Zumba\u00ae-related choreography jams, choreography sessions, or choreography exchanges that are held anywhere in the world. The ZIN Jam\u2122 program can only be led by a Zumba\u00ae Jammer (ZJ) and is an exclusive benefit to ZIN\u2122 members.<\/p>\n

You can learn more about ZIN Jam\u2122 sessions here<\/a>.<\/BIG><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Because of my busy schedule Jam sessions have been somewhat of a low priority to me. That and I had a different perspective on choreography and routines when I first started teaching Zumba\u00ae. In the beginning I wanted to be different from everyone else. Besides the songs from my favorite instructors that I had to use early on (with permission, of course) to get me through my first few classes, I generally stayed away from songs that others were already doing. <\/p>\n

Over the years I realized what really bothered me about doing the same songs as others is when the choreography is completely different. If it’s the same or similar, I actually quite enjoy it. So nowadays I don’t mind doing the same songs as other instructors as long as I know we are all using similar choreography. <\/p>\n

This change in perspective has allowed me to be more open to attending a ZIN Jam\u2122. And so, it happened that I found myself at Eventum Salon on the South side of town, attending one. ZJ Jaime Ortiz led the Jam. The experience was such a positive one that I know feel significantly differently about Jams. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out on this very useful ZIN\u2122 perk all this time. <\/p>\n

Here are some pictures from the Jam…<\/p>\n

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Here we are learning some choreo. <\/p>\n

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My friends Alex and Rose attended the same Jam. <\/p>\n

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I had to get a separate photo with Rose because we had matching outfits. (She usually tells me what to wear. LOL.)<\/p>\n

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This is a group photo we took at the end but some people had already left so it’s not the entire group. Our group was small enough that it was conducive to learning but a good turnout overall. I met ZIN\u2122 members from the surrounding area who I hadn’t met before and learned about some newly-minted ZINs. <\/p>\n

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Here we are with ZJ Jaime Ortiz at the end of the session. Jaime taught us choreography to five songs:<\/p>\n