Why is Zumba?

Exercise for the number of people to glimpse the promise to "fit," usually as a New Year's resolution. It is fair then to say that unless one is a die-hard health nut or a highly motivated, treadmill and weights may not excite much enthusiasm for regular exercise.

New, after walking 50 minutes on the latest electric Lifetime Fitness, I glanced to one's fitness studio, drawn by the strains of the song Maroon Five hit, "Move like Jagger."

The studio was dimly lit and packed to capacity, especially with women who danced with what looks like a complete freedom to choreographed routines. Instructor at a stage routine performed with energy and panache openly. I thought, "Wow, a practice party!" The women who participated in a group fitness class called Zumba.


Zumba is an exercise that captures the latest fitness classes across the nation. International phenomenon conceived by Alberto "Beto" Perez is a program several years of dance that includes salsa, meringue, and cumbia, and African, tango and flamenco genre.

As we struggle with the dominant state of obesity, many people are trying to embrace a healthy lifestyle despite strong resistance to exercise regularly. Women in particular seem to have found an antidote in Zumba.

Why the fascination with Zumba? First, the class and the instructor made up of mostly women, and have shown that women find a gay crowd less inhibitive. Zumba classes, like yoga, sports offer a different experience than working with a muscular guy next to you.

According to Heidi Burtner, a certified Zumba instructor at Lifetime Fitness I go to in Burr Ridge, "There is a friendship between a 'regular.' Although we do not always know the names of each, we share a special time. Class beyond age, fitness level, and ethnicity. There is intimacy in the classroom as we do. We ate from the energy of each and get without a hitch. We closed the door, we dim the lights, and we lose ourselves for an hour ".

Herein lies the appeal. Zumba fun, flirty and sexy without being pretty or popular. Typical class includes the generation of teens to seniors; all seamlessly blend the typical age.

Burtner said people in her class commented that they like Zumba because it is a fun way to lose weight and feel good yourself. He said that a typical 45-minute class can burn over 600 calories.

A 2009 CDC survey said, "More Americans are exercising regularly, but still less than half of us exercise enough to meet the exercise guidelines for healthy adults." It is therefore very encouraging to see the happiness she found in an activity that improves their health.