Zumba is all about sweating to the beat

By Shannon Paul and Jo Hendrix

What is Zumba? Is it a dance move? A party? A cardio class? Zumba is a high-energy workout that uses Latin dance moves with fun and energizing music and it’s the latest fitness craze sweeping the nation.

The contagious energy has swept the nation over the last 10 years. Letting loose, moving to the beat and burning calories attracts many fans to this Latin-inspired program.

Zumba classes are held in over 60,000 locations and 105 countries. Zumba’s easy-to-follow moves give people the confidence to move their bodies in a new way. Not only do you get a great workout, but you also feel sexier afterwards. Now that’s a winning combination!

Your body was designed to move, it craves it; but no one wants to be bored or feel tortured through a workout. Zumba creates a positive connection between exercise, having fun and engaging socially. Zumba’s motto is “Ditch the workout, join the party!”

The “party” is a great cardiovascular and core workout. Zumba targets weight loss while still having fun. It offers many of the same benefits of strength training, such as toning the legs, arms and core area, and people are finding that weight loss with Zumba is easier than ever before. “Beto” Perez, founder of Zumba, says “the Zumba fitness program is the most fun you’ll ever have while working out.”

The best workout is the one you will actually do, so why not make it something you enjoy. Reap the benefits of exercise—feel younger, lower your stress levels, increase your energy and sleep better at night. Exercise can improve and even prevent medical conditions such as depression, cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, head aches, Alzheimer’s, dementia, decreased libido, menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia and back pain. There’s no reason you can’t have fun while doing what you know is best for your mind, body and spirit.

Shannon Paul is an avid fitness professional and owner and founder of Long Beach Boot Camp. Jo Hendrix is a Boot Camp program designer. Both can be reached at (562) 343-5230 or through www.longbeachbootcamp.com.