Zumba is a craze that is sweeping the nation. Many health clubs, community recreation departments, and even senior citizen communities offer Zumba. While Zumba classes differ from club to club and instructor to instructor, all Zumba classes use Latin-inspired music, have a dance party atmosphere, and are filled to near capacity because of Zumba's popularity.
History of Zumba
Zumba was created by Beto Perez in the 1990s. It started as a fluke. One day Beto showed up to teach a group fitness class and did not have his aerobic music. Quickly improvising, he pulled out some of his favorite personal music --- Latin music with a dance beat --- and got his class dancing. The class was so much fun that it was a smashing success! According to Zumba.com, "As of October 2010, the Zumba program is being taught at over 90,000 locations in over 110 countries."
Benefits of Zumba
Possibly the biggest benefit of Zumba is that it is so much fun people look forward to going to class and working out. At its core, Zumba is a cardio workout which burns calories and improves cardiovascular fitness. However, dependent upon the way the instructor teaches it, Zumba can improve muscle tone and strengthen the body. Zumba is also a great stress reliever. The sweating, dancing, and occasionally shouting involved in Zumba will release stress and tension in your body.
Zumba Spinoffs
With its growing popularity, Zumba has branched out with several spinoffs. Zumba.com reports there are five different kinds of Zumba classes available. Zumba Fitness is the original Zumba, a cardio workout in a fun dance-like environment. Older adults can enjoy a version of Zumba tailored to their needs and abilities. It is called Zumba Gold. Zumbatomic is Zumba tailored towards children ages 4 - 12. Zumba Toning uses a toning stick, and while it is still cardiovascular, it emphasizes body sculpting as well. The final Zumba offering is for the pool, Aqua Zumba.
Find a Zumba Class
With over 90,000 locations offering Zumba, it should not be hard to find a class near you. Start by checking with your local health club. Some YMCA's offer Zumba, and many communities are now offering classes through their recreation departments. To find a Zumba class near you, visit Zumba.com and enter your zip code. If you cannot find a class near you, Zumba.com offers a DVD workout as well.
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