Fitness review: Zumba your way to a good time
Heard about Zumba, but not sure it’s your thing? Don’t write it off until you give it a go, is my advice. Zumba is one big dance party where you’ll sweat AND smile at the same time.
Zumba is perfect for those of us that like our exercise to be fun. And that’s the great thing about dance inspired workouts – you get lost in the music, moves, and energy in the room that you’re unaware you’re sculpting a dancers’ body and torching some serious calories at the same time.
According to Pop Sugar, if you weigh between 58 to 77 kilograms and go all out in a class, you can burn up to 679 calories in an hour! Not bad for you ‘just being you’ on the dance floor.
If you’re a Brisbane local, free classes are back on at Southbank as part of the Medibank Feel Good Program running until the end of March. I’m a regular and it’s worth dropping in, just to say you’ve tried it….or to add as a story on your Instagram reel 😉
The details
Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
Style: Group fitness class
Cost: Free at Southbank till March 31 or $20 casual drop-in at a gym
Who’s there: Mostly women, all ages
What to wear/bring: 3/4 tights or shorts, moisture wicking tee, water, towel
What to expect
Like any group fitness class, Zumba will have a certified instructor who will be at the front of the room (or designated grassed area) on an elevated stage so that you can see and hear them clearly.
Wired up to a microphone with a Latin inspired soundtrack blasting from speakers, you’ll be shown how to do a simple combination of moves, that are then put together into a sequence that goes with the music track playing.
The moves are done in real time ie. you follow along and imitate what the instructor is doing on stage and they’ll use non-verbal cues and gestures to show which direction to go, and what movement your body should be doing. It’s not like a ballet class, for example, where the sequence and movement is explained, you mark it, and then perform it.
Zumba was born in the 90s, by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto Perez. The workout is an aerobic one (expect to lunge, jump, stomp and grapevine) with movements that draw on dance styles like salsa, merengue and samba. You can also expect a little bit of hip hop and Bollywood, and every sequence will have you working your whole body – arms, legs and core. It’s really popular, and I think Les Mills’ Sh’Bam was created specifically to try and tap into this market too.
Three handy tips
But for now, familarise yourself with these three steps, as you’ll come across variations of them in a Zumba class that act as transitions to other moves.
Merengue – footwork alternating stepping from left to right. Start feet parallel. Step onto your right foot, bend the knee and drop the hip, step onto the left foot, bend the knee drop the hip, and repeat. Swivel hips and let your upper body follow the direction of your foot work.
Samba – alternating footwork sequence. Step back on the right foot, take a small step forward with the left foot, then move the right forward directly behind the left foot to close the gap. Repeat on opposite leg, and repeat sequence together, picking up pace and moving hips and arms in time with footwork.
Salsa – footwork done in 6 counts. Start with feet together, step back on the right foot, swivel hips, step feet back together. Wait a count. Step forward with the left foot, swivel hips, step feet back together. Repeat movement, with confidence.
Would I recommend this workout to a friend?
Yes, it’s a lot of fun if you like to dance and don’t take yourself too seriously.
What I liked: energy of instructors, learning new choreo, all body workout. There’s also Zumba Step and Zumba Aqua.
What I didn’t like: you can get disheartened if you can’t master the sequence – hence the prompt to not take yourself too seriously. To combat this, schedule a jog/yoga sessions afterwards if you want to feel a sense of mastery.
What do I rate this fitness workout out of five?
Fitness: 3/5 Strength and toning: 1/5
Weight loss: 2/5 Wellness (mind, body, soul connection): 5/5
What song was on the playlist of this fitness workout?
Despacito – Justin Bieber featuring Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee
If this review has inspired you to give it a go, let me know! Don’t forget to get in touch if there’s a workout you’d like me to review. Just post it on my Facebook page or email hello@askthatfitgirl.com
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Until next time,
Maryanne K
