I don’t know about you, but I love Zumba! You heard about it, and now you want to know what a Zumba class is?

In one word – FUN!

Now seriously. Zumba has taken over the cardio workout world because it is intense but yet a lot of fun, so you get to burn a ton of calories while dancing. Sounds amazing? It is!

Now let’s get into some details. People who hear of Zumba for the first time usually think that it is probably not for them. They don’t know how to dance, so it will be embarrassing to make a fool of themselves next to a room full of people. But how exactly are you going to change that?

Keep on reading, and I’ll tell you how you can eliminate that fear very easily. But first, let’s see what the hype is all about. (Notice there are “normal” people doing Zumba and not only crazy, skinny, model-looking dancers).

Is Zumba For You? Three Questions That Will Help You Decide

Zumba has been around for more than a decade, and its popularity is growing worldwide.

Zumba is Colombian slang for “moving fast fun” and combines dance training with aerobic and resistance training to help with weight loss.

But before you try it, here are three questions to help you decide if Zumba is for you.

1. Do you want to lose weight fast? – this program can help you lose weight at a rate of between 500-800 calories per hour but requires consistency to achieve and maintain results.

2. Do you love energetic and vibrant training? – Zumba is an activity that raises the adrenaline allowing calorie-burning exercise, with a cover that makes us feel that we are not even training – this “mask” is, of course, the dance.

3. Do you enjoy Latin music? – Zumba is Latin Fitness. The lessons incorporate a variety of Latin rhythms: McComb, Ragaton, salsa, cha cha cha, merengue, and more, raising the adrenaline and energy and sweeping us to a wonderful place where calories simply disappear.

With Zumba, no dance experience is required; it simple and easy dance concept to allow anyone to join and enjoy.

How Zumba helps boost your confidence and reduce weight?

If you’re looking for a way to shed extra pounds and feel good while you do this, Zumba is the perfect solution. The best exercise is the one you’re waiting for, the one that makes you feel good about yourself. That is why women and men of all ages flock to Zumba classes.

So let’s understand why Zumba increases confidence and helps reduce weight?

Pleasure and makes you feel good

Zumba can have a positive effect on your body and mind. When participating in a Zumba class, it’s like you join an energetic dance party where no one is judging you. You are surrounded by other people, like you, who want to enjoy and become healthier. The result is 60 minutes of physical activity that feels more like a worry-free celebration where you can dance and move any way you feel.

The music makes you move

It’s no secret that listening to rhythmic music can improve your mood. Zumba offers an hour of Latin music (mostly) different rhythms – slow songs that make you feel good with yourself, with less inhibition and even sexy. Zumba can help people who usually feel shy or uncomfortable to dance in public to feel more confident.

You get a good workout

Zumba makes you want to invest in physical training effort because class does not feel like working or exercising in the first place. For example, unlike a walker, when you increase the incline on many levels to increase physical activity, Zumba can move a little more than the thighs and hips, move your hands from side to side, or leap over the studio. Zumba incorporates different rhythms, some faster and some slower, than changes in pulse causes a higher calorie expenditure more effective training.

If you are looking for an unusual practice, Zumba is the ultimate choice. A fun-free atmosphere at a rate concerns will feel better about yourself, and the steps and movements will help you lose weight and get fit.

Now that you got in the mood to go and Zumba a little, let me give you some tips on doing it right.

Before You Join A Zumba Class

Before you join a Zumba class, you should get some training. Think about it, and if you come to a Zumba class for the first time and have no clue what you are doing, you will quickly get discouraged and probably won’t keep on going. However, if you are already comfortable with the basic Zumba moves, you will “blend in” with the crowd and will be able to focus on your workout and not on what other people are thinking about you.

Once you are all set and prepared, it is time to find your Zumba class. You must use a certified Zumba instructor for your class as you want to make the most out of it. The best place to go is the official Zumba website, and you will only find certified Zumba instructors there.

Zumba Fitness Game And DVD

But what if you want to get Zumba training at home with friends? Easily! You have two options to choose from. The first one is the Zumba DVDs. These will show you all the moves you need to know before or after joining a Zumba class. You will be able to train at the comfort of your home and prepare yourself for the real thing.

Or you can try some Zumba console games to check your performance and see if you are doing it right. For example, my choice is this game from 2013

Basically, Zumba console games is all about a fun way to do Zumba on your own in your home and see if you are doing it right. These are ideal if you are new to Zumba and want to get the moves right before going on with the DVDs or a fitness class.

The Zumba Fitness (2013) comes in 3 formats – Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation 3, and of course, the Xbox 360 Kinect. What I like about the Zumba Fitness is that you can actually practice the moves very easily and at your own pace rather than just go to a Zumba class and get lost in the crowd.

Despite being a bit old, the game is very easy to use. All you need is to strap a belt around your waist with the controller in the front, turn it on, and you are ready to go. The controller could be a little annoying sometimes, especially when you make moves that have to do with jumping or intense waist movements.

It would help if you make sure that the controller is placed right and tight and secure around your waist. Otherwise you will find yourself losing momentum while struggling with it in the middle of your Zumba game routine.

Final Words

If you love to dance, why not make this your exercise workout. It’s great fun and a fantastic calorie-burning exercise. Get yourself some amazing Zumba DVDs or games for exercising at home. Split them up for around 10-minute workouts if you’re pressed for time or want to break up your exercising into smaller bites. And you’re ready to go! Zumba is exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, a great motivator.

Dance the night away! ?

Reference List:

• Inouye J, Nichols A, Maskarinec G, Tseng CW. A survey of musculoskeletal injuries associated with Zumba. Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2013;72(12):433-6.
• Vendramin B, Bergamin M, Gobbo S, et al. Health benefits of Zumba fitness training: A systematic review. PM R. 2016;8(12):1181-1200. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2016.06.010
• Araneta MR, Tanori D. Benefits of Zumba Fitness® among sedentary adults with components of the metabolic syndrome: A pilot study. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 2014;55(10):1227-1233.