Zumba® is an innovative fitness program developed by Zumba® co-founder Beto. The first ever Zumba® class (before it was even called that) happened by accident. Beto was a fitness instructor in his hometown of Cali, Colombia. One day, he realized that he had forgotten his aerobics music at home for his class, so he improvised with some salsa and merengue tapes that he happened to have in his gym bag. He eventually moved to the United States, and, after getting a job as a fitness instructor, his popular Latin-based, dance-inspired exercise routines caught the eye of two entrepreneurs, Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion. The three men decided to form the Zumba® company, which is now the largest branded dance-fitness program in the world.
What is great about Zumba® is that it is exercise in disguise. The music, the moves, and the energy of the classes makes it feel like a dance party. However, Zumba is a powerful fitness program which incorporates three components of fitness – cardio-respiratory/aerobic, muscular fitness, and flexibility – that strengthens your cardiovascular and respiratory systems, increases muscular strength and endurance, increases bone density, enhances range of motion around your joints, and improves posture.
The Zumba® formula is what makes the program unique. The music is the most important element of a Zumba® class. The music is key to the dance party atmosphere and is used to determine the choreography of the different sections of the music (Intro, Verse, Chorus, etc.) The choreography is made up of core steps that can be varied by changing the arms, beat, rhythm, or direction. When a section of a song repeats, the choreography associated with that section also repeats, which makes it easier and faster for the participant to learn the moves.
Zumba® is an easy and effective way to get or stay fit. The program is designed so that people of any fitness level or age can do it. It doesn’t feel like exercise, but you will notice the positive changes in your body that is a great motivator to keep it going! Come check out the Zumba® classes that we offer at our studio!
