What Type of Exercise Is Zumba?
Zumba is a type of workout that mixes dancing with cardiovascular exercise. It allows people to get in shape without the strict, boot camp style that most exercise classes offer. Zumba is a Colombian slang term that means to move fast or buzz like a bee.
-
History
-
The creator of Zumba, Beto Perez, brought his Latin-inspired fitness routine to the United States in 1999. His partners, Alberto Aghion and Alberto Perlman, approached him in 2001, and the company skyrocketed to success in 2002, when it sold hundreds of thousands of videos in the United States.
-
Types
-
Zumba combines body-sculpting moves with the dance steps of meringue, cumbia, reggaeton, salsa, mambo, hip-hop, rumba, calypso and flamenco. Zumba instructors personalize their classes by making up their own choreography and music selections.
Function
-
A Zumba workout targets the legs, glutes, arms, heart and abdominal muscles. You can do the workouts in the privacy of your own home by watching them on DVD, or you can find a Zumba instructor near you at Zumba.com.
Benefits
-
Not only is Zumba incredibly fun, it is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise. A high-intensity Zumba workout can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour.
Famous Ties
-
Many celebrities have raved over Zumba workouts. Eva LaRue, Stacy Kiebler, Vivica A. Fox, Hunter Tylo and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres have said how much they love getting fit with Zumba.
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Luis Markovic
