Zumba is one of the best and most popular fitness systems in the world, with over 200,000 classes available in 180 countries worldwide.
Zumba was officially created in the USA in 2001 by Colombian dancer Alberto Perez, who started his own fitness classes in his home country Colombia. So, Zumba music mainly relies on Latin rhythms.
You don't need special dance skills to succeed in Zumba classes, just let your body move to the rhythm and enjoy. Of course, if you have special dance skills, your enjoyment will be greater.
Classes usually consist of a series of Latin songs with dance rhythms. They start slow for warm-up, then the tempo speeds up throughout the workout, and the class finishes with a slow rhythm. So no matter your dance skills, just follow the people around you and you can exercise very smoothly.
• Types of Zumba classes :-
There are many different Zumba classes and you just have to pick the right class for you.
1- Aqua Zumba :- Zumba done in water (swimming pools) suitable for those with injuries or who need low impact exercises.
2- Golden Zumba: This Zumba is for older adults who want to enjoy doing Zumba classes.
3- Kids Zumba: This type is designed for kids aged 7 to 11, it's a modification of regular Zumba with games and activities that fit kids.
4- Little Kids Zumba: For kids aged 4 to 6, it's basically just a dance party for kids.
5- Zumbini: This class is for kids aged 0 to 3 who come with their caregivers. The goal is more about learning experiences, fun, and boosting kids' activity than exercise.
6- Step Zumba: It's traditional Zumba with added aerobic moves that help strengthen the legs.
7- Circle Zumba: This is done in a circle switching between traditional Zumba moves and strength exercises to work the whole body, aiming to improve heart fitness, blood vessels, and muscle strength.
8- Senato Zumba: This class uses a chair as a dance partner to slim the lower body without weights.
9- Toning Zumba (Sculpting): In this class, weights are used to sculpt the waist and build muscle.
10- Golden Zumba Toning: It's basically the same as regular Zumba Toning but designed for seniors.
• How to do Zumba:
Almost all Zumba classes are designed as group sessions in sports clubs, fitness centers, parks, and can even be in schools, led by a certified instructor. So all you need is to join one of these classes, which usually have two to three sessions per week.
• Main benefits of doing Zumba:
1- Easy to join Zumba classes:
Because Zumba is very popular, classes are easy to find and join. You can pick the style that fits you. You might find classes in fitness centers, parks, or make a private session with an instructor. You can also do it at home online.
2- Improves overall body fitness:
Studies have shown Zumba exercises improve heart and blood vessel fitness, as well as muscle fitness and body flexibility.
3- Getting positive results about your weight:-
Studies show that regularly attending Zumba classes gives positive results for weight loss by burning calories, improving metabolism, and getting a good shape by building muscles and slimming the waist.
4- Safety aspect in practicing Zumba:-
When you do any sport activity you might face some risks like muscle strain, twisting your ankle, or falling. You can avoid these by doing Zumba, of course by choosing the right class for you.
5- Psychological benefits of doing Zumba:-
Many practices showed that healthy women who did Zumba for 8 weeks noticed positive changes in muscle health and physical strength, plus a feeling of independence that improved their mental and mood state.
6- Financial accessibility of Zumba classes:-
Zumba is a low-cost sport. If you have a gym membership, you can easily join the classes. If you don’t have the money, you can do Zumba classes online.
* Zumba is an easy and flexible physical activity, but since all sports have some risks, you should think about your health before choosing any of those classes *
