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Monday, 05 December 2011 01:00 |
Are you ready to party youself into shape? That is exactly what Zumba is all about.
What started out 10 years ago as a Miami exercise fad has turned into a trademarked international fitness party which has many local residents hopping on board. It seems fans of Zumba just can’t get enough and everyone seems to be tuning in and toning up with this latest dance fitness craze. Zumba is stepping on the toes of traditional fitness routines and has salsaed into the top 10 fitness trends for this coming year according to an industry report released this month by the American College of Sport Medicine.
The survey, conducted since 2007 is designed to identify trends in areas ranging from career opportunities to targeting specific groups. The results are used to direct business decisions in fitness. The survey questioned more than 2600 fitness professionals in an attempt to forecast and compile a top 20 list of fitness trends for 2012. A total of 37 potential trends were offered up as choices. Zumba was included for the first time and jumped into the number 9 spot on the list.
What is Zumba. According to Zumba instructor Kathleen Hogh,“Zumba is an easy to follow Latin inspired dance fitness program incorporating international music and dance moves like meringue, salsa, hip hop in an hour long exercise session. Anyone can do Zumba because the moves are easy to follow, you don’t need to be a dancer.”
Zumba is described as exercise in disguise. The feeling you’re not really exercising and having fun instead is one of the biggest reasons for its popularity.
The fitness benefits of Zumba are numerous and include: core strength, high calorie expenditure through intermittent training methods which then translates into weight loss and makes a person feel good about themselves leading to a more positive self image.
And there is another bonus to Zumba…You don’t need any special clothes or extra equipment or a partner to do Zumba.
While there is a funky on trend Zumba clothing line marketed on the Zumba website you can show up to a class wearing regular workout clothes and sneakers and get a great workout.
Obviously it’s a good time but does it work as a fitness program?Participants work their arms and legs continuously during the session using a variety of dance steps which gives aerobic and cardiovascular benefit.
The heavy concentration on cardiovascular exercise means if you only do Zumba for fitness you will miss out. You need to combine Zumba classes with resistance training and a toning workout utilizing weights, machines, bands or body weight to ensure you are getting a balanced program overall.
If you need help with this and don't know where to start a great place is to consult a certified personal trainer. The IDEA website at www.ideafit.com has a fitness connection component which has just launched in Canada and offers the opportunity for those seeking professional fitness services within their communities to go online and link up with certified professionals locally.IDEA FitnessConnect is the largest fitness professional directory, connecting more than 16 million consumers to more than 200,000 fitness professionals with credentials verified by 63 of the top fitness certification/training bodies.
And finally,if you are looking for Zumba close to where you live check out the Zumba website at www.zumba.com which has a listing of certified instructors across Canada and around the world and also lists classes and events happening in their respective communitites.
Written By: Sherry Ogasawara, Registered Dietitian
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