Zumba Fitness

Dance Wear

Looking Good

Costumes

Fun Dance Stuff

Classes

[?] Subscribe To This Site

ZUMBA FITNESS

Zumba fitness is a new dance exercise program taking the world by storm.

zumba fitness Although it is an exercise program, you can buy dvd's or take a class,
you may think you're at a dance party.

Part aerobic, part dance, using latin music and rhythms, you
jump, shimmy, sway, salsa and crump your way through "one exciting hour of calorie burning, body energizing, awe-inspiring movements."

Working every muscle in your body, it has revolutionised the fitness industry. If you're bored with the old style of aerobics and workouts, Zumba classes will change the way you feel about exercising and make you want to workout (it doesn't really feel like a workout!)
You will get hooked!

If you love to dance but don't want to take formal lessons - this is better - it is easy to learn, you dance and burn calories at the same time.
Have fun and make friends, too.

History

"Beto" Perez was a fitness trainer in the mid 1990's in Columbia. One day he forgot his aerobic music, and, having a class waiting to exercise he found some tapes he had in his bag that he liked to listen to, and used them.

The music was latin salsa and merengue style, not music to do aerobics to. He improvised the whole class, doing latin style moves to the music. People went crazy, they loved it because it didn't feel like an exercise class and soon it was the most popular class.

Perez later came to America, started these classes there and soon everyone was talking about these new style of aerobic class. He then teamed up with some business people to bring Zumba to the rest of America and the World!

The Workout

The class works by using interval training sessions. There are fast and slow rhythms as well as resistance training intended to tone and sculpt the body whilst burning fat. It targets every muscle group in the body.

You will see parts of your body trimming up and toning without being aware you were working them. You will feel muscles you didn't know you had. And doing ab work standing up is the best way of working those muscles that I have ever done! The results show for themselves.

The basic steps are easy to learn, then you can put as much energy as you like to get the most from your workout. The steps are based on latin dance steps such as salsa, cha-cha and merengue, as well as other influences such as belly dancing and hip hop moves.

Burning Calories

You can burn up to 1000 calories in a 1 hour class, as well as toning and sculpting the body. You can reduce a dress size in a matter of weeks by regularly doing this dance fitness program.

The cardio Vascular workout gives good health benefits and increases your energy levels, which can lead to weight loss.

The Instructor - Classes - DVD

You can buy the zumba dvd set and practice at home, this is really good to learn the basic moves, but I really recommend doing a class. The fun, upbeat, energising atmosphere you get in a class, stays with you long after the class has finished. It makes you feel alive!

"I do a class on a friday evening and it gives me an energetic, fun vibe that lasts all weekend!"

All instructors have to be trained in Zumba to be able to teach it. This is enforced world wide, so you have security knowing you have professionals teaching you. There are different levels so all instructors learn the basics themselves before advancing.

The Zumba fitness program is recognised by America's leading fitness educators, the Aerobic Fitness Association of America, IDEA Health and Fitness Association and America Council on Exercise.

Zumba dance is especially popular with teenagers eager to learn the sexy dance moves!

There is a new class called Zumbatomic - which is for 4-12 year olds. Another class you can take is Aqua Zumba - classes in water.

Read more about what's on the Zumba dvd set

You can also practice Zumba at home with Zumba Games for Wii, XBox and PSP3

The Music

Music plays a big part of the workout. Its loud and upbeat, and in a room full of people moving and dancing it gives you the feeling you're at a dance party rather than an exercise class.

The lively beat and tempo and the exciting latin music is not so familiar to most people and has a renewing, energising feel to it. It has a sexy overtone to the music and dance moves, and is a great release to just let go and move to this music.

The music borrows from the latin dance style influences such as cumbia, salsa, merengue, flamenco, cha-cha, and tango.

Zumba Takes The World!

This form of exercise and dance has taken off like wildfire, first in America and now around the world. In 2010, Zumba is being taught in 105 countries at over 60,000 locations. Over 7.5 million people participate in a weekly Zumba class. The DVD's are selling by the millions.

Pronounced Zoom-ba, in Columbian it means to buzz like a bee or move fast!

Have a look at this short video of a Zumba demonstration, this is more belly dance and hip hop influenced, each instructor brings different strengths to their classes.