Dance Your Way To a Better Body with Zumba

Friday, July 30, 2010 9:35 AM

This Latin-dance based exercise craze is developing a huge following, but it offers a real way to get fit and have fun at the same time.

Zumba is a dance themed aerobic workout that is growing in popularity and sweeping the nation. Just two years ago, less than one million people had tried the Zumba workout. Today, 7 times that many people, spanning 60,000 locations in 105 countries are getting into the Zumba groove. Everyone wants to try the new craze. This workout combines Latin dance moves with resistance training, providing an intense workout no matter your fitness level. It doesn't matter if you've been weight training for years, or if it's your first time ever setting foot in a gym. A Zumba class with definitely have you on your feet and burning calories. Here's our list of reasons you should try Zumba to kick your weight loss goals into high gear.

1. If you like to dance, you'll like Zumba - Dancing is a wonderful way to get in shape and lose weight because you have so much fun doing it that you don't even realize you're working out. This allows you to workout for longer periods of time and execute the moves more efficiently because you actually enjoy what you're doing. There's not a lot of pain to push through as can sometimes be the case with weightlifting. You're also less likely to get bored like you would if you were just doing cardio on a machine. The best part is with Zumba, you get the benefits of weight training and cardio at once.

2. Anyone can do it - If you've let your fitness slide, it can work against your motivation to get to the gym. More often than not, people just quit because it's too hard and no fun. The great thing about Zumba is that it doesn't matter what your current fitness level is. It's simple enough for anyone to do, and still effective enough for everyone to see results. It would be a great way for a beginner to really start getting in the groove of a steady workout plan before starting resistance training.

3. It's fast and effective - As with any aerobics type workout, you're only going to see results if you really stick with it. A recent issue of Shape magazine stated, "If you do the workout at least three times a week, you could see weight loss in as little as two weeks and have noticeable toning within four to six weeks." Zumba will work your core, arms, legs, and butt and get you in amazing cardiovascular shape as well. All you have to do is show up and do your best as often as possible and maintain a balanced diet you will surely see results.

4. It's Widely Accessible - Zumba is offered in most gyms because it is so popular. Many of the major gym chains such as LifeTime Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, and LA Fitness offer Zumba classes. Sometimes you might find it under a different name at certain smaller gyms such as "Latin Dance" or "Latin Grooves" but it's all the same concept. All you need is a gym membership and the classes will most likely be free. Just check the class schedule at your gym and designate the classes you plan to attend. It's like having your own personal trainer three to four times a week without coming out of pocket. Who could ask for more?

Related Topics: Zumba | Fitness | Health | Exercise

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