Days filled with moves and news

Think modern Jazzercise, Latin style.

Even the name of what they were doing - Zumba - sounded fun.

That instructor was KOLD News 13 morning anchor Jenny Anchondo, who moonlights teaching Zumba and other fitness classes around town.

"It's my own personal opinion that everyone likes to dance a little bit," said Anchondo, a former University of Idaho cheerleader who also danced for the Tri-Cities Fever arena football team.

Anchondo designs Zumba routines by drawing on a background in ballet, jazz and hip-hop. Since moving in April 2007 to Tucson from her native Idaho, she has learned cumbia, salsa and two-step.

She started teaching step aerobics and cycling classes eight years ago. In her spare time, she likes to bike and hike.

She learned about Zumba two years ago when she did a story about it at the Viva Performing Arts Center.

"She put us on the map," said Julie Gallego, who owns the south-side dance studio.

Anchondo's broadcast brought lots of new people to Viva. In fact, Gallego said, people still occasionally come in saying they watched that report on KOLD's website.

Zumba moves sometimes resemble old-school aerobics with a twist. Sharp arm movements, lunges and squats make it a cardio workout.

"I keep them going all the time," said Anchondo, who is a certified personal trainer and also teaches classes at L.A. Fitness, Gold's Gym and occasionally Miraval. "My biggest thing is efficiency. When we get in there, we work."

After using "every plane and every field of motion" during the hourlong workout, newcomers can expect to feel soreness in their legs, arms and core.

Anchondo brought Zumba to Snap Fitness when it opened at 8567 N. Silverbell Road in February 2009.

"I called and harassed the owner (Ty Smith)," said Anchondo, who usually gets eight to 10 women at her Snap classes. "I kept bugging him.

"I told him every other place I had taught it at, it just blew up."

Snap owner Smith, 32, has a different take on Anchondo's "stalkerism."

"It was actually kind of funny," said Smith, a 6-foot-6-inch former football player. "I was looking for a personal trainer, and I called her and left a message. I don't think she remembered me. I helped her put two and two together."

Smith has yet to try Zumba himself, but he said Anchondo has a great following.

"I love it because the clients love it," he said. "They go in dry and they come out wet. It's a great workout."

According to Anchondo's heart-rate monitor, she said she burns 400 to 500 calories a session.

Linda Jimenez, a 30-year-old nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital, has been taking Anchondo's class about eight months.

"It's just a really great workout," said Jimenez, who also takes cycling, weights and occasional kickboxing classes. "It's one of the classes I go to that I really look forward to. It's the one class that I don't miss."

Another registered nurse, 28-year-old Maria Valenzuela, goes to Anchondo's class a couple of times a month.

"I have more energy, tighter legs and a tighter stomach," said Valenzuela, who even bought Zumba CDs to work out at home.

Anchondo noted an added benefit to Zumba.

"It feels like you're not working out," she said. "It just feels like you're dancing."

Even her mom has done it.

"I introduced her to it," Anchondo said. "At first she felt uncool, but she loves it now.

"She loves the back row. She likes how she can dance when no one is watching her."

At first, the frequently changing moves might make some people think Zumba is too difficult.

And that's the biggest misconception about Zumba, Anchondo said.

"People think you have to have some sort of Latin dance experience or any sort of dance experience," she said. "And they don't."

Did you know?

During her segments on KOLD News 13, the 5-foot-2-inch Anchondo stands on a box to be closer in height to her much taller co-anchor, Scott Kilbury. She is on air 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays.

Fitness Fridays

Watch Anchondo's Fitness Friday segment at 6:20 a.m. Fridays.