Left to right, Shelton Blanton, Teresa Rose, Patricia Curtis, Belinda Parent, and Jan Jackson move to the beat of their individual cardio drums. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)
Left to right, Craig Jackson, Meriel Levy, and Johnnie Arnold cardio drum to Tina Turner’s ‘Proud Mary.’(Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetrbune.com)
Class leader Paige Newcomb (left) encourages Tina Smith, while drumming to Justin Timberlake’s ‘Can’t Stop This Feeling.’ (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)
TV commercials would have you believe that anyone looking to get in shape should be prepared to pony up hundreds — or, more likely, thousands — of dollars for high-tech home gyms, featuring equipment with rotating touch screens, built-in cameras, digital weights, and fancy schmancy full-length fitness mirrors with virtual trainers trapped inside.
But, how about this: what if you could spend nary a penny, get a great workout, and have tons of fun while doing it? According to Paige Newcomb, you can do just that.
Newcomb leads a free cardio drumming class on the first, third, and fourth Thursdays of each month, from 3-4 p.m., at Steele Memorial Library, where she’s a reference librarian and in charge of adult programming. “It’s one of the funnest workouts you’ll ever do,” she promises, adding that its many benefits include improving hand-eye coordination, burning lots of calories, and building endurance.
Tech-wise, cardio drumming is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the pricey contraptions you see on TV. To cardio drum, one needs nothing more than a pair of drumsticks and a large, rubber exercise ball resting just inside the top rim of a big plastic bucket. Oh, and on occasion, a small laundry basket. This equipment is all provided by the library for anyone participating in the class.
During a typical session, Newcomb leads eight or nine participants as they drum on their exercise balls and laundry baskets to the beat of high-energy music like Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Talking Heads’ “Take Me to the River,” Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” and Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop This Feeling.”
Meriel Levy, age 75, has been attending the class for two years. “Tina Turner’s my favorite,” she says. “So whenever she plays Tina, you just get into Tina like you did when you were 25 years younger; you move when you didn’t think you could move.”
Newcomb emphasizes that the workouts are suitable for all adults, regardless of age or athletic ability. Each person customizes the workout to the level of intensity that works best for him or her. Feeling great? Go ahead and whack that exercise ball with gusto! Struggling with mobility issues? That’s ok; you can gently tap on your exercise ball. Heck, you can even do the workout seated, if you prefer.
No prior drumming skills are necessary, nor is an innate sense of rhythm. “I am not very coordinated,” says participant Jan Jackson, 57. “But I’m much more coordinated now than I was before we started this.”
By “we” Jackson is referring to several members of her family who attend cardio drumming together. Her husband, Craig, also 57, began cardio drumming at her urging, to improve his overall health following several strokes and seizures; her parents, Shelton and Ann Blanton, both in their 80s, also attend. And Levy (the Tina Turner fan) is her aunt.
“It’s just a great way to exercise,” says Jackson. “It don’t even feel like exercise. Everybody’s enjoying it. You feel good whenever you leave.”
Her sentiments are echoed by fellow cardio drummer Teresa Rose, 66. “You do not realize you’re exercising so hard because it’s a continuous thing, and you’re going by the songs. You’re dancing a whole song, and when it’s over, you automatically start into another, and you just don’t realize you’re tired.” In just the two months that she’s been attending, Rose says that in addition to increased flexibility and weight loss, cardio drumming has also helped her recover from double knee replacement surgery.
“I line dance, and I swim, and I do the cardio drumming,” says Rose. “And this is my favorite. This is my special time, and I don’t care what’s happening in my life, I don’t miss it.”
Class participants are in agreement on three things: cardio drumming is a great workout, it’s extraordinarily fun, and Newcomb is an exceptional teacher. In describing her, they use words like “sweet,” “kind,” and “easy-going” (although “easy-going” isn’t the descriptor that comes to mind when Newcomb’s attacking her exercise ball!).
“Paige is the best instructor,” says Rose. “I couldn’t imagine taking it under anybody else; she’s that good.”
The cardio drumming class still has spots available; to register, call 919-299-8105, ext 2. Steele Memorial Library is located at 119 W. Main St., in Mount Olive.
