What’s your cardio workout style? Do you prefer the quiet, solo meditation of running, the challenge of a spin class, or do you prefer something fun and exciting, something that feels more like a night out dancing with friends? If this sounds like your style, Zumba is probably right up your alley – and because it’s become so popular in recent years, there’s a good chance you can find a class at your local gym.

These handy hints from Popsugar’s Jenny Sugar will help guide you through your first class and get you on the road to Zumba-mania.

What Is Zumba?

Zumba is a fusion of Latin and international music combined with a heart-pumping cardio workout founded in the ’90s by Alberto “Beto” Perez. The exhilarating class has a party-like atmosphere with the focus on having fun. There are no wrong moves — as long as you’re moving and keeping your heart rate up, you’re doing it right!

Newbie Tips

Certified Zumba instructor Michele Schmidt explains that beginners and students of all fitness levels are welcome in all classes. “Students should come to class with an open mind and be ready to sweat, move, and shake their booty! New students may want to arrive to class a few minutes early and let their instructor know they’re a newbie.”

Michele recommends standing near the front or in a spot that has a good view of the instructor. It typically takes a student three classes to feel like they “get” movements and routines. Michele says, “Instructors also have their own unique styles, so it’s important to try out a few in your area to find one that jives with you.”

What to Wear

Come dressed in comfortable fitness attire that’s easy to move in and can handle sweat. Wear sneakers that support dance movement. Good shoes can include cross trainers, dance sneakers, or even running shoes with a worn-out tread. Students should also bring water and a towel.

How Often Should You Take Zumba?

Michele recommends “starting out twice a week so your body and mind will begin to remember routines, and you’ll build your strength and endurance.” Like any fitness program, it’s good to balance out cardio classes with strength training, stretching, and rest days.

Will Zumba Help You Lose Weight?

Because Zumba is an intense cardio workout, including interval training and strength moves, it can help a person lose weight as well as increase muscle tone. Michele says: “Proper diet and nutrition is also an important part of any weight loss program — many Zumba teachers have said that ‘you can’t out-dance a bad diet!'”

Source

PopSugar.com article by Jenny Sugar

Bronwen Bartlett is a freelance writer, children’s book author, virtual agency director and performing bellydancer from South Africa. When she isn’t bent over a keyboard, frantically crafting articles and stories, or touting the benefits of moving away from traditional offices into virtual spaces, she can usually be found hiking a mountain with her partner and their dogs, or trying to master rib-cage isolation patterns. You can follow her personal blog or her company blog. Her first published children’s book, Callum and the Tiger, can be found on Amazon.

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