What is ZUMBA? 
Let's face it, working out can be healthy, rewarding, beneficial? working out can be lots of things, but its never been known to be much fun? UNTIL NOW!
Zumba is NOT a dance class - it is a dance-based aerobic fitness class. But what's really cool is that even though you're exercising, you'll STILL be learning basic dance steps to such dances as Cha Cha, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and more! You'll even be able to take these moves with you when you're out dancing!
Zumba fuses hypnotic latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic workout system that will blow you away.
We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba Fanatics achieve long term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exhilarating hour of caloric-burning, heart-racing, muscle-pumping, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life!
The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you've got ZUMBA! Normally we mix Latin tunes (about 70%) with other tunes such as Rock 'n Roll and Bellydancing (the remaining 30% - more or less).
In the past years Zumba has become nothing short of a revolution. Coining the concept of "fitness-party" and making fitness fun, Zumba has spread like wild-fire, and has positioned itself as the single most influential movement in the industry of fitness.
As of February 08, Zumba has a rapidly growing community of over 11,000 certified instructors in thirty-five countries, sold over 3 million DVD's, and changed the lives of an estimated 2 million Zumba Fanatics.
Why? Because it's the best party around ... Zumba takes the work out of working out!
For those of you who want to know the difference between Zumba Basic Fitness and Zumba Gold, here's an article I found (thanks to www.blogcyclopedia.com:
Differentiating between Zumba Basic and Zumba Gold
Zumba Basic and Zumba Gold have been created to specifically cater to the fitness and entertainment needs of various individuals. But do you really know the difference between the two? Instructors can be certified to teach either or both, depending on the workshop type. Understanding the features and characteristics can help you decide which one is ideal for your current condition and situation.
About Zumba Basic
Zumba Basic is the primary type of the workout routine which provides you the basic movements and exercises to stay supple, lean and trim. It usually lasts an hour or less, depending on the routine. You get to move nonstop from one type of dance and music to another such as doing the salsa, merengue, belly dance, hip hop, cha cha, etc.
This is a fun and good workout for most individuals, allowing you to burn around 450 calories or more per session. Classes are held in fitness facilities, most usually.
Zumba Gold Details
Heather's Note: Our Zumba Gold classes are not just for the people suggested below, but also for anyone who hasn't exercised in awhile, or for those who want to try a slower-paced Zumba class.
Zumba Gold was specifically created to help individuals who may not be capable enough of following Zumba Basic. This is a special type of workout that focuses more on very sedentary individuals, physically incapacitated people, true beginners and senior citizens. The course was designed to address the different needs of the growing senior population. Some of the advantages include better balance, flexibility, agility, mental focus and stamina, with special considerations on sensitive body parts like the hip, joints and shoulders.
Zumba Gold effectively takes care of the physiological and mental needs of the aging individual. The music, steps and routine are generally the same as Zumba Basic, except for the pace, which is quite slower.
THE BENEFITS OF ZUMBA GOLD CLASSES
Who should take Zumba Gold classes? Everyone from the ages of 10-100 should, as long as they are interested in learning the dance steps of the salsa, merengue, cha cha, mambo, cumbia, calypso, belly dance and rock & roll. The importance of staying active throughout our lives is not in question. The question is, how will we stay active?
Changes Take Place
As we age, change takes place in our bodies. Changes can occur in blood pressure, blood sugar, bone density, muscle mass, body fat and strength. What we do to offset the changes is up to us. Doctors and nutritionists advise us to stay active, eat healthy, and think positively. An easy way to follow their advice is by taking Zumba dance classes which help us in all three areas.
Not only is aerobic dance great for our bodies, it's great for our minds. While dancing to the exciting beats of Latin music, the brain's pharmacy begins to release its natural 'fixes', serotonin and dopamine to make us feel good. In other words, dancing is a natural high! In our modern day lives fitness should register high on our daily to-do list to combat stress and inactivity.
Zumba Gold Program
The Zumba Gold program improves balance, flexibility and cardiovascular strength with its unique program. Feeling the music is the first and most important step to learning Zumba. Feeling the music happens when one suddenly forgets she's dancing in a class and the music is the reason to move with joy.
Physiological Benefits of Zumba Gold
· improved cognitive function (from learning new steps and moves)
· improved motor control and performance (practice, practice, practice)
· improved range of motion, overall strength and flexibility
· improved bone density
· increased caloric expenditure
· improved ability to perform pain-free activities of daily life
Psychological Benefits of Zumba Gold
· enhanced self esteem
· enhanced general feeling of well being
· empowered & enhanced quality of life
· enhanced relaxation
· reduced depression, stress, anxiety
· increased opportunities for social interaction
· increased opportunities to dance, party, & have fun!
Zumba Toning
In Zumba Toning, we blend body-sculpting techniques and specific Zumba moves into each calorie-burning, strength-training class. You get to use weighted, maraca-like Zumba Toning Sticks to enhance rhythm and build strength, or you can purchase 1 or 2-lb weights at any department store. We incorporate 1 or 2 Zumba Toning songs per regular Zumba class.
Here's a wealth of information for those of you tracking your workouts/weight loss with charts on how to figure out your calorie intake, BMI, Heart Rate Calculator and more: www.healthfitness.com and www.self.com
HISTORY OF ZUMBA
Celebrity fitness trainer, "Beto" Perez, stumbled upon the concept of Latin inspired fitness in his native country of Colombia (South America) in the mid 1990's. One day, he walked into his class and realized that he had forgotten his aerobics music, and his only option was to grab whatever tapes he had in his car. Beto?s tapes were comprised of the songs that he loved, the traditional Latin salsa and merengue music with which he had been raised. But it was a challenge to improvise a whole class on the spot using non-traditional aerobics music. Beto rose to the challenge and from this last-minute improvisation was born a revolutionary fitness program ? Zumba! The class soon became the most popular class at his fitness facility.
In 1999, after his success in Colombia, Beto brought the class to the United States, where he was approached by entrepreneurs Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion to create a global company based on the Zumba fitness philosophy. The three young entrepreneurs then set a goal to offer Zumba classes all over the world.
In 2002, Perlman and Aghion secured a deal with a large infomercial company to launch the concept nationwide resulting in the sale of hundreds of thousands of videos to the US market. The overwhelming response created a demand for more Zumba instructors, and Zumba created an instructor training program. The program was an instant success. By September 2006, there were over 2000 Zumba instructors worldwide.
In 2003, Zumba teamed with Kellogg's to develop a fitness campaign for the Hispanic market. Kellogg's has since expanded the campaign to five additional countries and has consistently renewed the relationship with Zumba every year. Zumba has been featured in over 1.5 million boxes of Special K cereal around the world.
The following year, in 2004, Zumba launched a successful infomercial campaign in Spanish for the US Hispanic market and Latin America, increasing sales to more than 2.5 million DVD?s in over 30 countries.
In 2005, the demand for Zumba instructors across the nation and abroad spurred the creation of the Zumba?s Educational Division. To ensure integrity and quality above and beyond the industry standards, the Educational Division has over 50 years of combined industry experience in their Vice President, Petra Robinson and Educational Director, Koh Herlong. Our two industry leaders have aided in the development of fitness industry standards over the past 25 years and now bring to Zumba their expertise and experience.
Under their guidance and leadership, Zumba has aligned with AFAA (Aerobic & Fitness Association of American), ACE (American Council on Exercise), IDEA (the world?s largest association for fitness professionals), SCW Fitness Education, Can-Fit-Pro (International Trade Show & Conference in Canada), and many top national fitness facility chains and organizations.
The Educational Division was specifically designed to complement the creative direction and innovation of Beto Perez, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Zumba. Under Beto?s guidance, the Educational Faculty provides Zumba Instructor Workshops worldwide.
Currently, Zumba offers:
1. Zumba Basic Skills Instructor Training workshop which allows instructors to teach basic Zumba classes.
2. Zumba Gold workshop for the active older adults and the deconditioned exerciser.
Zumba has several other workshops and programs set to launch soon.
In 2007, Zumba launched internationally. Zumba's foray into Mexico, Japan, China, the UK, Italy, and Spain has been explosive and very soon, the entire world will be partying to the tune of Zumba!
In 2008, Zumba launched it's third DVD collection with direct response industry leader, Guthy Renker. This time around, Zumba has added great surprises like the Zumba Toning Sticks and Zumba LIVE!
So please join us, as Zumba's fitness-party continues to expand into healthclubs, living rooms, schools, community centers, YMCA's, corporations, and any other empty room where you can pump up the volume and live the experience that is Zumba."
Read more about the History of Zumba (including some interesting facts about Beto and how he started!)
7 BENEFITS OF ... ZUMBA!
1. It is a workout using dance steps that are easy to follow in a truly fun and party-like atmosphere. It can leave a person with a "feel good" sensation. (Zumba is GROUP FITNESS.)
2. It is a fantastic core workout. Zumba uses moves during the workout that target the abs and back to increase agility and strength as well as to tone & sculpt the torso.
3. Zumba also has the potential to reshape all parts of the body, including the arms, hips, heart, and mind.
4. Zumba is a great fat burning workout. Calories burned will differ from person to person depending on their fitness level and the intensity put forth. Calories burned during one hour of Zumba have been estimated to be anywhere from 500 to 850.
5. This workout provides for a great sweat without even realizing you are exercising.
6. People have reported losing weight doing Zumba, combined with a sensible and well-balanced nutrition plan; this combination can have astonishing results.
7. Zumba also provides for great interval training.
Source: Zumba LLC
Zumba: An Effective Workout
"It's fun...the type of exercise you'll want to do everyday and feel good about doing it!
It's different. You probably never thought you'd be exercising to this type of music.
It's effective. It is an aerobic workout which we all know works. But it's more fun, which makes you stick with the program until you get results!"
More Luscious Comments about Zumba Fitness
The Rebel Yell: "Movement, rhythm and sexiness ? adrenaline rushes through the body as dance takes over the feet and the excitement of aerobics are seen in the hips."
"Imagine an exotic place where you can work out, feel sexy and forget about daily routines. Escape to Zumba, a new kind of cardio exercise sweeping the nation."
Live...laugh...love...ZUMBA!
Vivez...Riez...Aimez...ZUMBA!
For all you Zumba Fitness lovers out there, please check out our Blog:
Zumba With Heather.
If you want to know what Zumba Fitness is, it is a latin dance-based fitness class that's guaranteed to be fun!
This site was designed by Heather Diodati
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