Going to work shouldn’t feel like work, but rather it should be fun and enjoyable.
With Zumba, a workout isn’t just a workout — it’s a fun, social dance party where the biggest benefit is exercise.
The music is fast, upbeat and infectious, so you can’t help but keep moving.
Plus, because Zumba is a group activity, it’s one of the best ways to get your friends into your “exercise routine.”
City Gym manager and chief instructor James Oketch said they tailor activities to each individual in a progressive and adaptive way.
“Our interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness parties take the ‘work’ out of your workout by combining low-intensity and high-intensity movements,” he says.
“Once the Latin and world music rhythms start playing, you’ll understand why Zumba fitness classes are often referred to as fake exercise,” he adds.
Below are some of the benefits of taking Zumba classes, especially when you take them with City Gym experts.
Calorie and fat burning
Essentially, Zumba classes burn a ton of calories through aerobic exercise with interval training in mind.
Experts say, “The average person burns about 600-1,000 calories during a Zumba class.”
To maximize fat burning, classes include intervals of intensity, both in the pace of the music and the type of movement.
Fitness moves are also incorporated into the Zumba dance, which includes long, slow push-ups on the wall set to an intense beat, and several sets of squats followed by plyometric jumps.
Improved adjustment
Taking part in Zumba classes is sure to improve your coordination, which is very important to maintain as you get older.
Full body exercise
Zumba is both a dance class and a fitness class. In addition to being great for your heart, Zumba is also a full-body workout.
From head and shoulder rolling to loosen the neck and warm up the upper body, to footwork to strengthen and stretch the calves and ankles, this fitness method works nearly every muscle and joint.
Even if you’re just learning the dance steps, you’ll wake up the day after a Zumba class with a distinct post-workout feeling.
Improve your aerobic fitness
Oketch claims Zumba makes it much easier to reach your target heart rate than the standard workouts you’ll find on DVDs or in the gym.
“We achieve this by using songs with a speed of around 145 beats per minute. This fast pace makes moving around quickly feel natural,” he explains.
Continuing this pace for a long period of time will increase your heart’s strength.
Anaerobic Benefits
Zumba music is fast-paced, so all you have to do is move to the beat of the music and your endurance will start to improve after just a few sessions.
“Overall, it’s most helpful in keeping your cardiovascular and respiratory system in good condition,” says Peter Okello, a physiotherapist at Alpha Fitness Clinic in Wandegeya.
“It increases the amount of oxygen you can breathe during high-intensity events,” he added.
Get hooked on exercise
It’s hard to get motivated to work out when it feels like work, but Zumba is fun enough to keep you coming back.
It will completely change the way you think about exercise because you will actually look forward to it, and it will help you develop healthy habits.
Increased self-confidence
The dancing involved in a Zumba workout reduces inhibitions, improves posture, increases coordination, and leaves you feeling good about yourself.
These changes are immediately reflected in your mood and appearance. People who feel good have more confidence.
Elevate your mood
Zumba is the perfect workout if you want to release all the stress that builds up in your day to day life.
The upbeat movements inherent in this type of workout promote the release of feel-good endorphins, so join a Zumba class and feel your worries melt away as you lose yourself to the music.
It’s social
Zumba classes allow you to meet and interact with interesting and fun people.
By participating in this type of workout at least 2-3 times a week, you will be able to interact with your Zumba classmates and make lots of new friends.
