Zumba Fitness was created in the mid-90’s by Colombian native Alberto “Beto” Perez, a celebrity fitness trainer and choreographer for International pop superstars. Inspired by the traditional cumbia, salsa, samba and merengue music he grew up with, Beto paired his favorite pulsating Latin rhythms with the red-hot international dance steps his clients loved and Zumba® Fitness (Spanish slang for “to move fast and have fun”) was born!

Since Beto brought Zumba® Fitness to the US in 1999, it has become one of the fastest-growing, dance-based fitness crazes in the country, with people of all ages falling in love with its infectious music, easy-to-follow dance moves, and body-beautifying benefits.

When some participants of the popular new dance-exercise class called Zumba found all that aerobic dancing hard on the joints, their instructor found a way to accommodate them.

She took it to the pool. Now Water Zumba is offered at The Winds Resort Beach Club where it has become a splashing success.

The Winds Resort is working with the County Parks & Recreation Department to offer Water Zumba to the public along with guests of The Winds. The classes are open to the public but guests of The Winds can participate for free!

The program runs from May 4 —August 31, 2010 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 pm -6:30 pm at The Winds Resort Beach Club, 310 E 1st Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

The cost is $35 a month, $10 per session for Drop-Ins and guests of The Winds Resort are free

Water Zumba incorporates all the fun of Zumba – high-intensity dance movements – with the gentle support of the water.

Kick your legs forward. Pump your fists in the air. Wiggle your hips. Run in place. Jump. Crisscross your feet. Do a ski movement. Hop from side to side. Squat. Roll your shoulders. Now put it all together to the beat of music like reggae, salsa, meringue, or cumbia.

Shake it, baby! Shake it! Tired yet?
Zumba feels like you’re dancing and it’s a fun workout but a lot of people quit doing it on land because it is sometimes hard on the joints. Instructors improvised and started another class in the swimming pool.

Students of all fitness levels range in age from 12 to 87. They simply move at their own pace. Another bonus for the self-conscious: no one can see what your hip movements look like in the water.

While the Zumba craze has really taken off at fitness centers, there aren’t many teaching it in the water. Taking it to the water was a whole new experience.

This method of teaching allows students to observe the moves and the teacher to test the intensity of the workout in the pool.
While some students take the class to keep pressure off the joints, others just like the option of a different form of exercise.

“I took it the first day,” said Jamie Barber, 19, “It’s a lot of hip movement. It’s more like dancing. It gives you a good workout with the water resistance. The water is easier for those who can’t do it on land.”

She wanted to add a new dimension to her exercise regimen.
“Exercising in the water is better on your knees and joints. I like it because you can get a workout without getting hot and sweaty. Exercising in the water is also like using weights because you get that water resistance.”

For more information contact:

Ruthie McHugh
Fitness Coordinator at Brunswick County Parks & Rec.
910-253-2583

This department is responsible for all manner of health inspections – they inspect our accommodations, restaurant,  kitchens, dining area and of course our TikiBar.

When you reach the Platinum level that means that you have received the Golden A Award for five consecutive years.  The Golden A Award is received when you have a 95% or above for all inspections.

The owners and management of The Winds thanks our food service and housekeeping staff for their diligence. We are so proud of this ward and the people who won it for The Winds!

This is the real thing, not the typical “On the Run” expanded continental breakfast served at most properties.

No one offers a free breakfast spread like The Winds Resort Beach Club! All guests can enjoy this buffet free with their stay.

With everything from eggs, breakfast meats, grits, potatoes, waffles, bagels and English muffins to fruit and hot and cold cereals (This is just a partial list).

We promise that you will not be walking away hungry!

Siblings sometimes “pitch in” for one to their parents, employees for their employees, Sunday school classes and churches for their pastors. Our certificates can be customized with your special message, and the recipient has a year to use it. If you have any specific questions then please call us.

As graduation and Spring and Summer weddings quickly approach keep this fun, easy gift idea in mind.

To order, call us at 1.800.334.3581 or request one in an email to us. We mail certificates within 24 hours of your order.

Here’s what they had to say about The Winds:

“Enjoy a two-night “Endless Summer” package at The Winds Resort Beach Club includes accommodations (Camellia Guest Room) with a wet bar, microwave and refrigerator, sitting area and an island view deck; hot Southern breakfast buffet; champagne for a private toast and use of complimentary bikes to explore the island from $199 on Sunday-Thursday arrivals from October 4-29.”

Click here to visit the site to see the entire “Top 10 Off-Season Getaways” list:

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/newsletter/escapes_sept15_09.html#top

For instance the European history of this area goes back to 1524, only two years after Cortez conquered Mexico! In that year Geovanni da Varrazano made a landing just north of the Cape Fear River.

In 1526 Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon arrived at Cape Fear with around 600 settlers. The exact site of the colony, which only lasted a few months, has yet to be found.

Further settlements were tried and failed. The Cape Fear Indians were hostile and pirates abounded.

By 1720 the Indians had been defeated and most of the notorious pirates had been captured.

Brunswick Town (only an archeological excavation today) was founded by 1726 and the area began to thrive.

From these beginnings the lower Cape Fear Area went on to play a significant part in the events leading up to the American Revolution and the revolution itself.

The history of our area reverberates with raids by Spanish fleets, British invasions and bombardments and assaults by Union fleets. Forts from most of America’s wars abound and one even predates the founding of our nation.

Many famous and infamous names can be associated with this little corner of the world. Lord Cornwallis, Francis Marion “The Swamp Fox”, Stede Bonnet – “The Gentleman Pirate” (who, with his ship, was captured in the mouth of The Cape Fear river) to mention a few.

George Washington even paid us a visit in 1791. He stayed overnight in the Gause Plantation house which stood at Gause Landing, only about three miles from The Winds!

Whether you are an avid history buff or just casually interested in American history The Winds is a perfect base for exploring the many old plantations, forts, houses, museums and the archeological site of Old Brunswick Town.

The Winds has an Area Map and Guide folder which will direct you to the many sites of interest in the area. Click here to download and print one!

We will be happy to send it to you free of charge. All you have to do is ask.

The Delgado family has returned and they have been busy sculpting the sands of Ocean Isle Beach. Yesterday it was “Wally Gator” and a giant Sand Crab! Who knows what they’re up to today.

This is the 25th year that they have been coming to The Winds to spend their families’ summer vacations. This time there are 17 of them including their grandchild J.R. and their nephew Jacob who came all the way from San Diego, CA. Jacob is on leave from the Marine Corps and he’s enjoying a little R&R at The Winds!

This all started back in 1984 when Bill Delgado, a printing and graphics teacher from Twinsburg, Ohio, and his family began building a large sand sculpture on the beach.

Look for them on the beach and if you want to – grab a shovel and join in! Or just grab a shovel and act busy like the girls in the video.

One day last year Bill Delgado created Snoopy, a Sea Turtle and a Fish with sunglasses and a ball cap with help from Mary, Katherine, Hunter and others that joined in.  Every day they created something different.

Send us your funny or interesting videos from your stay at The Winds – maybe we’ll put it on the Beach Club site! Just upload it to YouTube.com and send us the link in an email to: garypope@thewinds.com