12 Healthy Benefits Of Zumba

Interested in trying out Zumba? Devotees know it's a killer workout with infectious music and a committed following. But if you're on the fence about whether it's for you, check out these healthy benefits of boogie-ing down from Zumba instructor and education specialist Kass Martin. "I always tell people to give it three classes when they're first starting out," she says. "Once you go a few times, you start to recognize the repetitions in the dances, you'll start to get it, and you'll be hooked!"

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Comments

[mrsscott]

04:20 PM on 11/04/2011

I love Zumba! I do agree with a previous poster that there are more effective, efficient ways to exercise (running gives me the best calorie burn and derriere tightening) but Zumba is great because it doesn't feel like work and it really enhances my mood. Whereas, if I'm not in great shape, running feels like torture.

[50PlusSam]

04:23 AM on 11/04/2011

My wife drives me crazy with her Zumba class. Now we go to gym according to Zumba classes timing. As long as it does her good and she enjoys I am happy ;-)
http://www.lifestyle-after50.com

[savory1]

02:31 AM on 11/04/2011

This is one time I would have loved a video!

[newyorkchick]

11:29 PM on 11/03/2011

Looks like fun..I am just not a gym person. I like to brisk walk outside with a pedometer for fitness.

http://www.newyorkchick365.blogspot.com

[annysway]

08:08 PM on 11/03/2011

Not my cup of tea... call me after 15 yrs of doing this and we'll schedule hip replacement surgery.

[WaPoFan]

07:37 AM on 11/03/2011

A serious question here:

I've seen infomercials for Zumba and know they offer local classes. It looks like fun. But from what I've heard (and from the photos above), it seems to only attract 40+ year old mothers. Do regular straight guys take the class often?

[jessiernut]

02:31 PM on 11/04/2011

Honestly, I teach Zumba and have taken Zumba classes for the past 2 years. It is mostly women (the ages range from teens to elderly), although I have seen a handful of men that have taken the classes and enjoyed it - and some great instructors are men. There is a lot of booty shakin and hip swinging that some men probably wouldn't be comfortable with, at least in my class and the ones I have taken. In bigger areas, more men probably attend. You can do a youtube search for Zumba and see many videos of actual classes and see if it is something you are interested in.

[lucky-dog]

06:15 AM on 11/03/2011

trying to set the world record for largest zumba class ever....this saturday, nov 5th...hollister, california 10am. any donation accepted to support the public school music program....

[biglog]

02:41 AM on 11/03/2011

The 1 Glaring Unhealthy Side Effect of Zumba: The Loss of All Dignity and Self-Respect

[RButler]

12:46 AM on 11/03/2011

I took several Zumba classes at a nationwide gym and didn't care for them. The class leaders were hyper, doing more aerobics style than rhythmic dancing which I enjoy and it also a workout. I don't know if they were doing it correctly or not. The steps were unnecessarily complicated and although many class members looked like they learned the footwork, they didn't seem to be good at what should be more like dancing than aerobics.

[ChaCubed]

01:06 AM on 11/03/2011

I did a "Zumba" search on youtube and found several different styles - everything from belly-dancing Zumba to hip-hop Zumba. I'm not sure if they're certified Zumba classes or not, but if you're interested, I wouldn't give up after trying just one class.

I used to take NIA, None Impact Arobics; and each instructor had her own music, her own dance moves, some were very sensuous, some spiritual, some were rock-oriented, and some were the old fashioned arobics (without the jumping). Not sure if NIA classes are still available.

Totally unrelated: Love your microbio. Coincidence: I had Regis Philbin's show on this morning ... VERY RARE OCCURANCE ... and he related that as one of his favorite "Seinfeld" shows. :-))

[RButler]

03:18 AM on 11/03/2011

I love Latin music and grew up dancing to it in the 50s as a kid. They do have a lot of dances, cha cha, samba, mambo, tango, rumba, etc. all very sensuous and rhythmic. It just seemed like the 2 different instructors I saw were not doing 'sensuous and rhythmic', more like racketball, 'fast and frenzied'. I have watched Seinfeld reruns more than is normal. I've almost memorized the dialogue as I know what the next line is. It is a 'perfect' sitcom. All comedy. No kidding. Death and funerals weren't allowed to get maudlin. The casting of everyone, extras, family, co-workers, bosses, girl/boyfriends, delivery boys, unmatched. The camera work and editing was excellent. The sets, the street scenes, the offices and restaurants all perfect. They packed 3-4 subplots into every show and they somehow met by the end. I don't know how they did it. There has never been a show as well done before or since.

[WaPoFan]

07:38 AM on 11/03/2011

Perhaps try a hip hop dance class as an alternative.

[msstrick40]

12:28 AM on 11/03/2011

All I know is it's a very good work out.

[ruhaba]

10:34 PM on 11/02/2011

It is true, i do it 3 times a week and twice spinning... It is really fun..

[HerrMonk]

06:21 PM on 11/02/2011

Is this a Zumba ad or what?

Everything Zumba does could be done more effectively, in less time, another way.

The only thing Zumba has going for it is it's "fun" for those into that kind of thing/otherwise wouldn't move.

[IowaGirl]

11:23 AM on 11/02/2011

I can attest to all the reasons that Zumba is great. I have basically given up tennis for Zumba--more fun, more calorie-burn, the people are more fun (less competitive, and if they're conservative, I don't have to know b/c it's too loud and there's no time for bloviating).

In our area, these classes keep growing and being added on and added on. If you like it, you can't imagine quitting it for any reason.I like the social aspects as much as the exercise--being in a big room w/ people dancing to great music is a complete high.

As for benefits, I have never been in any kind of fitness class where I've seen such striking results. In the 2 yrs. I've been doing it, I've seen women's figures appear to melt w/ their weight loss and tightening. I'm at a great weight and don't seem to have any trouble maintaining it if I just dance a couple times a week and then do some walking/swimming as the mood moves me.

[Siobhan Landis]

10:58 AM on 11/02/2011

I'd love to try zumba sometime - it looks like a lot of fun! Unfortunately, right now my life is so busy that I'm pretty much limited to at-home workouts that I can do when I have a few minutes free (or first thing in the morning, if I get up a little earlier).

So, my at-home replacement for zumba is - hoop dancing! I get the same boppy music, movement, and an amazingly good workout (try hooping at a high speed - you'll be shocked at how challenging it is!)

If you've ever tried hooping, but concluded that you'll never be able to do it in a million years - try again! But this time use a bigger, and slightly heavier, hoop - not one of those cheap kid-sized hoops you can find at Walmart. I've been making my own - they cost under $10, and it's really easy!

For more on hoop-dancing, check out

http://www.naturallyradiant.info/site/hula-hooping/254

[InedaName]

11:17 PM on 11/02/2011

Hooping is awesome! It's cheaper than joining a gym or paying for classes and there are a lot of instructional videos on YouTube. Plus, you can hoop to whatever kind of music you like. I think I might like Zumba but I just hate that cheesy music!