Fitness expert Monica Pulgarin ends 3-week PHL tour with Zumba party

Colombian Zumba star Monica Pulgarin ended her Philippine tour with a bang at the Palace Pool Club in Bonifacio Global City on August 31. The by-invitation only event was an hour packed with movement, music, and everything Zumba.

Pulgarin is a certified Zumba instructor and a personal trainer who has made her name by being one of the first to combine Latin-American dance moves with the Zumba workout. She is the co-founder of Dancefit, a dance studio and fitness hub in Dubai, where she currently resides. Pulgarin has toured the world with her advocacy of “keeping fit through Zumba.”

She was recently in the country for a three-week tour during which she shared her knowledge with Zumba enthusiasts from Dumaguete to General Santos City to Cavite.

The Aug. 31 event served as her last hurrah. It was attended by Zumba fanatics, celebrities like Ana Roces and Karylle, personalities like Tim Yap and Tessa Prieto-Valdes, and supermodel-hosts Tweetie De Leon and Apples Aberin, who both confessed to be first-timers like this author.

For those who have tried Zumba and who regularly engage in this fitness program, the one-hour masterclass was a piece of pie, with most attendees grooving easily to Pulgarin’s combination moves and taking only minimal breaks in between songs. Actress Ana Roces, whose weekly fitness regimen includes an hour or two of Zumba, shares, “Some of Monica’s routines are very similar to what we do at the gym. So for those who frequent Zumba classes, these are familiar and easy to follow.”

 

If I #Zumba, maybe I'll look like them ???? #SkechersZumbaFun

A photo posted by Frances (@francesasales) on

Aug 30, 2015 at 9:20pm PDT

On the other hand, for us "Zumba virgins," we found the routines slightly confusing, a bit intense but 99.9% fun. We were able to get a hang of the workout after spending time familiarizing ourselves with the steps. As the hour progressed, the combinations became more complex. On the second song, we were already sweating bullets. Tim Yap cheered us on, saying, “You can do it, back row!”

We all agreed that Zumba is more than just choreographed fast-paced dancing, as we all thought it would be before trying it out. Zumba is a high-impact program that can help in weight loss and body toning. This form of exercise is also best practiced and enjoyed with a group. The right music can also make or break a routine.

Pulgarin enjoyed her classes in the Philippines, and thanked her hosts and attendees on social media.


— BM, GMA News