I belong to a local gym, and I like trying out the different types of fitness classes.
A little over a year ago, I got involved with Zumba. This style of fitness is mainly centered around Latin dance, using highly choreographed movements set to upbeat salsa music. It is a super fun, high-energy workout that keeps me motivated. The dance class includes both high- and low- intensity intervals that help with cardiovascular fitness, balance, coordination and agility. I was a bit intimidated when I first started. I’ve never taken any sort of dance class before and worried I’d be unable to follow along. However, I quickly realized that no dance skills are necessary. Having a natural rhythm was helpful, but no one is judging my abilities. The choreography is fairly repetitive, making it quite easy to catch on. We always start with a slower song to warm-up and steadily build intensity throughout the workout. We end with a cool-down. No special equipment or outfit is necessary, and I always work up a sweat. The classes tend to be all women but with a wide age range. I’ve tried Zumba Step, which is still the Latin-style dance choreography but with an increased aerobic intensity and more leg-strengthening moves. I’ve also taken Zumba Toning that adds in light weights, and Zumba Sentao that uses a chair and focuses more on core strength. All of the classes last around an hour and are held at my local gym. They are led by a Zumba-certified instructor and are always a great time.