Exercise can come in any number of forms. If you're looking to try something different, think outside the traditional realms of running, walking or swimming. Cross-country skiing, hiking and dancing are all great ways to get your heart pumping while engaging all the muscles of the body. Latin dancing, in particular, continues to gain popularity as a great form of exercise.
Zumba
Zumba is perhaps the most popular Latin fitness program. Zumba is a form of aerobic conditioning through Latin-style dance moves. The classes are set to Latin music and are taught by certified instructors. Zumba offers several class formats. In addition to traditional classes, there is Zumba Gold for older adults, Zumbatonic for kids, water-based or Aqua Zumba, Zumba Toning, which uses weighted maracas, and circuit-training Zumba. The American Council on Exercise identified Zumba as one of the fitness trends that will continue to rise in popularity in 2011.
Core Rhythms and Salsacise
Core Rhythms is a Latin-inspired workout that incorporates dances like the Salsa and the Samba to get you moving. Core Rhythms is a set of DVDs, available for home use. The set comes with an instructional video which helps train you on the basic moves you'll use as you progress through the DVDs. Salsacise is another form of Latin-dance class. DVDs are also avalable that use the salsa as the main form of aerobic exercise.
Settings
Zumba is widely accessible. It's hard to find a fitness center that doesn't offer a Zumba class. In addition, there are numerous DVDs available, so you can practice it at home. The Wii, Xbox and Playstation gaming consoles also have Zumba workouts.
Currently, Core Rhythms is only available in a DVD format. Salsacise is accessible through DVDs and classes. However, you don't need to practice these programs specifically to get a good dancing workout. Local dance studios offering Latin dance classes can also be an extremely beneficial form of cardiovascular exercise.
Benefits
The Mayo Clinic website states that a key motivating factor in exercise is to find an activity you enjoy. Latin dances are physically demanding, but they're also fun. Many people feel as if they're just out dancing or partying, and don't even think about the calorie burn. Dancing involves the engagement of the whole body, and after just a few minutes, you'll feel the burn in a Latin-inspired class. In a one-hour class, a 150-pound person can expect to burn approximately 375 calories.
Member Comments