Spreading like wildfire, Zumba (pronounced zoom bah) has an ever-growing fanbase of mostly women, aged 10 to 100, who claim that Zumba is the best party around. The Zumba fitness philosophy is simple: interval cardio and resistance training to maximize caloric burning, fat burning, and total body toning all set to an irresistable Latin beat. You move, you sweat, you love the music. And then you keep coming back for more.
What is Zumba
Zumba is a fitness program inspired by Latin music and dance moves such as the Cha-Cha, Merengue, Salsa, Mambo, Calypso, Belly Dance, and Rock & Roll thrown in for good measure. It's more like dancing than exercise, although Zumba is aligned with AFAA (Aerobic & Fitness Association of America), ACE (American Council on Exercise), and CANFITPRO (Canadian Personal Trainer Association).
Touted as the biggest fitness trend for 2008, Zumba has over 3 million people in over 35 countries around the world losing inches while trimming and toning every muscle in their bodies.
The History of Zumba
Celebrity trainer, Alberto"Beto" Perez, stumbled onto the concept of Latin-inspired fitness in his native country of Colombia one day quite by accident. He showed up to teach an aerobics class without his music and had to improvise by using his own music on tapes from his personal collection in his car. His beloved music was comprised of what he'd been listening to his whole life, a blend of Latin and international songs.
His challenge was to improvise an hour-long workout and from this modest beginning - a last-minute improvisation - a revolutionary fitness program was created. His Zumba class became the most popular class at his fitness facility. Not long afterwards, "Beto" took his idea to the United States, where a global company was launched in 1999.
Zumba is All About Fun
The workout begins slowly with simple steps, then moves to a medium pace. As soon as the instructor has the class warmed up, the music pulls you in and no matter how well you know the steps, the music is a magnet and you are pulled along, swept into the Zumba party atmosphere.
You can burn as many as one thousand calories per class. Zumba participants achieve long-term benefits while experiencing exhilarating, energizing, sexy movements that inspire and uplift. Prepare to get hooked on this dynamic and effective fitness program after your first class.
Where Do You Zumba
As of 2008, Zumba has over 11,000 certified intstructors in thirty-five countries, sold over 3 million dvds, and changed the lives of an estimated 2 million Zumba fanatics. By the time this article is published, those numbers will have blasted to a new high. Why? Because, as they say at Zumba, it is the "best party around and Zumba makes fitness fun!"
Whether you want to participate in a local class or ramp it up a notch and become a Zumba fitness instructor, opportunities are available in many cities in North America, and internationally as well.
Zumba Gold for Older Active Adults
For the 78 million baby boomers across the United States, a milder version of Zumba exists. It is called Zumba Gold and offers the same exciting, stimulating music set to a lower impact version of regular Zumba.
No matter your age or ability, there is a Zumba class for you. Baby boomers continue to press the limits of youth and vitality. Zumba Gold is a way to keep body and spirit alive and regenerated. As any good Zumba instructor will tell you, "it's exercise in disguise, so ditch the workout and join the party!"
Vicki F. Chavis - Growing up in Asia, Europe and North America left Vicki with a love of cuisine, history, language, fashion and travel. Today she writes on ...
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