Zumba in Garden City is preparing for higher attendance

Zumba in Garden City is preparing for higher attendance

By Claire Hubbard

Zumba classes held in the Garden City office building will be moving rooms in anticipation for higher attendance. Classes will move from the Mountain View room to the Lake View room.

“The move is expected to happen this week,” said Carolina Linkogle, the certified Zumba instructor, through her husband Uriah Linkogle, who translated Linkogle’s Peruvian to English.

The Mountain View room has a higher capacity than the Lake View room, according to Sharlene Millard, a member of the planning commission of Garden City. This is a feature that Linkogle will need in order to compensate the high number of seasonal visitors.

“Attendance is growing,” Linkogle said. “As summer approaches, people really start exercising. Zumba is a fun way to get that exercise. You almost feel like you are not exercising because you are having so much fun. It’s not like you are doing 100 pushups.”

The Lake View room is also used for other purposes, according to Millard. The room is reserved for city council meetings in the evening.

“We just move the chairs so the class can take place when they aren’t using it,” Linkogle said. “Attendance is continually growing so moving to the Lake View room is a quick and easy solution.”

The Zumba classes were organized after the 2013 Raspberry Days event.

After performing for three days at the event, the Raspberry Days committee told Linkogle she should have classes of her own in Garden City. Hundreds of people showed interest in the classes, according to Linkogle.

“My husband and I took the committee’s advice and asked the mayor for permission,” Linkogle said. “The city approved it and was kind enough to allow classes to be held in the office building.”

Mayor John Spuhler attends a class almost everyday.

“The mayor told me he is grateful these classes are located right in his own building,” Linkogle said. “He said he has lost 24 lbs since he started taking my classes.”

“The Zumba class is great,” Spuhler said. “Carolina has the energy to motivate all of us.”

Linkogle like to help people feel better about themselves, according to her husband, Uriah Linkogle.

“I believe Zumba makes people feel better,” Linkolge said. “I am happy more people are starting to come and that we will have a space big enough to allow everyone who wants to come, to come.”