I don't have to tell any of you that exercising is not always all its cracked up to be. Sometimes, you just don't want to do it. To combat these "slacker" moments, fitness instructors are constantly trying to mix it up and make exercise fun. That is essentially how Zumba® came to be.
Zumba®(pronounced "zoom bah")is now mainstream and hotter than ever. If you haven't heard of it -- let me quote Zumba.com and say "Ditch the workout and join the party!". It's not an actual party of course, but it sure feels like one. To be fair, I should say it is a dance party. Over the course of an hour, a Zumba class will span a variety of dance rhythms, like mambo, cha-cha, cumbia, and merengue, with the occasional hip-hop or belly dancing move thrown in.
The popularity of Zumba may be due to the fact that many people say they don't realize that they are exercising. But they are... According to the Mayo Clinic, you can burn between 400 and 600 calories per hour doing Zumba. In fact, many people have lost weight thanks to regular Zumba exercising. Check out this Today Show segment featuring a mother of 4 from Ohio who lost 60#.
I have a good friend, Margo, who is hooked on Zumba. She's been doing it for 2 1/2 years and goes at least twice a week. She often remarks in her Facebook status that she's bummed out when she has to her regular Zumba workouts. So I decided to ask her a couple of questions for some personal insight:
Q: Describe Zumba in your own words.
A: Zumba is "fun dancing".
Q: Is it your preferred exercise?
A: It is my preferred gym exercise (excluding soccer, which is not offered at a gym).
Q: What is it about Zumba that makes you keep coming back for more?
A: It's never boring, always new moves, new instructors bring different styles to class.
Q: Anything else we should know about Zumba?
A: You don't have to be a good dancer to do Zumba, as long as you keep moving. There is no "wrong way". You can put as much flare in the exercise routine as you want. Also, on days when you're less energetic, you can make it more mellow. It allows creativity. I LOVE it.
It may be another fitness fad - only time will tell - but it sure is a FUN way to exercise. At the very least, go out and try it once. Who knows, you might get roped into the party.To find a place to Zumba, you can visit the Zumba website. And of course, several of the Destination Spas offer it as a class as well.
- Green Mountain at Fox Run
- The Heartland Spa
- Lake Austin Spa Resort
- Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge
- Deerfield Spa
- Canyon Ranch in Lenox
- The Oaks at Ojai
- Cal-a-Vie Health Spa
- Golden Door (special weeks only)
- Rancho La Puerta (special weeks only)
Do you Zumba? I'd love to hear about your experience.
