Zumba: The New Fitness Craze

Running on a treadmill, sitting on a stationary bike, and climbing endless amounts of stairs may keep you fit but, boy, can they be boring!  For everyone who is growing weary of the same old workout routine, a new craze has hit the world of fitness.  It’s called Zumba, and it’s guaranteed to spice up your exercise program.

Zumba was started in the mid-1990’s when, one day, a fitness trainer forgot to bring his aerobic music to class.  He was forced to make do with the salsa and merengue tapes that he kept in his backpack, and the result was a high-energy cardio dance class infused with Latin rhythms.  Zumba combines moves from salsa, flamenco, merengue, rumba, calypso, hip hop, and other styles of dance.  You’ll find yourself shaking your hips, doing the cha-cha, clapping along, and maybe even hooting with excitement in this party-like environment.

Zumba classes vary the speed at which you move, creating cardio intervals that are perfect for fat-burning, weight-loss, and body toning.  And because it’s dancing rather than a straightforward workout, many people find it easier to do for long periods of time.  Zumba works the core of the body, as well as the arms and legs, giving you full-body results.

For anyone who can spend hours dancing in a club but can’t stand the gym, this is the perfect workout.  The beat is infectious, the atmosphere is fun, and you can even take home the dance moves and show them to your friends and family.  And don’t worry- if you’re on the uncoordinated end of the spectrum, Zumba moves are easy to follow.  You’ll catch on before you know it!

Zumba classes are now taught in over 50,000 locations around the world, so why not pop in and give one a try?  You might just find yourself having a blast and burning calories at the same time.