What is Zumba?
Apparently almost 1 million Americans have taken Zumba classes. Zumba is a style of intense dance-aerobics workout with pulsating latin music.
"It's a party," Jones said in trying to describe Zumba (pronounced ZOOM-buh), which is Colombian slang for "fast." "It emulates being in a nightclub without the drinking, the smoking, the bad pickup lines." (via Yahoo)
To be honest just visiting the Zumba site had me grooving in my office chair.
The 60-minute program incorporates footwork and body movements from flamenco, salsa and other dances. Participants pump their legs, windmill their arms, gyrate their hips, clap their hands, dip, slide and spin — all to a frenzied beat that leaves them with flushed cheeks and dripping in sweat.
Anything that gets you up and moving is a good thing.
Has anyone taken a Zumba class? Looks like a lot of fun!
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Oh my... I LOVE ZUMBA. I absolutely love the Advanced DVD from the newer edition of the set. I'll never get bored of it. I can't express how much fun I have whenever I do that DVD. I like the music in there too. It's a great workout if you love dancing. I also like that they don't teach you a choreographed routine... you just follow along to the movements.
I don't really do any of the other DVDs in the set. I also bought the older version of the set, and I don't like that one too much. Anyway, my love of Zumba Advanced recently inspired me to take salsa classes. It's my new passion in life!
ReplyThis is like Batuka - currently taking off in Spain and heading towards the UK. Check out the website http://www.batuka.com, it is fantastic. It combines latin, african and brazilian dancing but is taught aerobics style.
If you are thinking of trying zumba then I would recommend it as it sounds similar to my experience with batuka. Get grooving!
I love Extrapounds.com
ReplyI've never taken it, but my husband and I are taking salsa classes. They're a little less fast-paced (at least for beginners) but still a ton of fun!
ReplyZumba sounds like lots of fun. I do Latin dancing and I love it. Vicki where do you buy the DVDs? I'd love to get one and give it a go.
ReplyI have no interest in this kind of thing. Most of the enjoyment I get from exercise comes from the progression, being able to measure my performance and break new records.
ReplyI was wondering by chance if you live in California, your responses sound very much like the son our our friend Bubba (RR)? Any chance?
ReplySometimes, though, it's nice to let go and just use your body for something other than competition. Dancing is like sex that way!
I haven't tried this, but I have tried NIA dance and it rocked.
ReplyAs a cardio hater, I have to admit I take classes like that once in a while, but I get bored too quickly to do anything that requires you to learn complicated moves. I use enough of my memory at work. I just got myself a big dog to see if dog walking cardio will get me out of the treadmill.
ReplyWell, I just went to the website and think it is awesome. I am a personal trainer but I want to be an Zumba instructor.
ReplyI just started Zumba 2 nights ago and I signed up for unlimited monthly visits! Tonight will be my third night and I absolutely love it!!! This not work it is so much fun I need to lose about 45lbs and I know I can keep doing this plus it makes you feel energized and sexy!!
ReplyZumba rocks! The Zumba classes at our fitness center are packed... men and women, young and "not so young"! To Ryan- measure performance? I'm currently wearing a pedometer for Walk With Spirit. A one hour Zumba class clocks in over 6000 steps! Far and above a typical step aerobics class! And Jan- complicated moves? Zumba is about energy and fun, not perfecting moves. Just groove; the roof is on FIRE!
ReplyBridget, I have 2 left feet. Anything a 5-year-old can do with ease is complicated for me, hahaha.
ReplyJan, I think I have 3 left feet, LOL. I was very hesitant about going to the zumba class for the first time. I am not coordinated at al!!! But several of my friends are doing it and love it,so decided to give it a try. I found it to be very fun and a great workout even though I occassionally stopped and shook my head and laughed at myself thinking about how silly I must look. Honestly no one cares...no one is paying attention to how you look while learning the steps/moves. My 10 yr old daughter did have this OMG I cant believe my mom is dancing look on her face..but other than that I LOVED it and cant wait to go back tonight.
ReplyI have been teaching Zumba for 3 years and it's changed my life! I lost 25 pounds in 2005 and have kept it off. A live class is the best thing, but the videos are great too. Go to www.zumba.com and find an instructor near you! Anyone can do it.
ReplyI am scheduled for a Zumba cert at the end of June. I'm a step/cardio instructor and a former college athlete, how hard is to go from group fitness/cardio to something so dance based. Any insight would be helpful!
ReplyZumba is the best fun I've had in an aerobics class. I'm an instructor and dancer in the UK and have just become one of the first very few qualified Zumba instructors in the UK. Definately check out a class. They are choreographed - as in they follow a verse chorus pattern but the steps don't change immediately like in a normal dance aerobic class so you have a chance to actually get into the grove and burn loads of calories rather than trying to play catch-up all the time with the instructor!! It's a blast and if you ever get a chance to be at a workshop or class with Beto (the creator of Zumba) you'll be on a high for days!!
Replywhere do you teach Zumba classes in the uk
ReplyI heard about Zumba one week, and got certified to be an instructor a week later! I was amazed at variety of people there to become certified! ANYBODY can do this! It is the MOST fun of any type of workout I have ever done, and I am a personal trainer and an athlete by trade. The best part, is that you can adjust the workout to your own level so easily. Honestly, it will be HUGE in another year or two, and I am so glad to be in the forefront to help bring it there!
ReplyMy gym started offering Zumba classes about 4-5 months ago. After I went to my first one, I haven't missed one yet! It's great!! Fun! Sweat! I now travel to any branch of my gym that is holding the class -- I love it so much!
ReplyThree months of Zumba have helped me lose 20 pounds, go off my blood pressure medication, and my cholesterol level improve dramatically. My doctor was blown away when I showed up in such good shape! It's fun and an excellent way to relieve stress. People in our class range from their early 20's to 80's. I'd recommend it to anyone!
ReplyI teach Zumba in Milwaukee, and it's just so much fun. Aside from being a great work out that gets your heart pumping and tones your whole body, it a big dance party. The class goes so fast because I feel like I'm hanging out with friends and not "working out."
ReplyI started Zumba about 2 months ago after losing 80 lbs. to tone up. I had so much fun and was addicted immediately! I will become certified in May and can't wait to share the moves and fun with others! I will probably start with teaching kids and go from there. Who would have thought over 80 lbs ago that I would become a Zumba instructor!!!
Replyim thinking about doing Zumba....will it help me lose weight???....is it really hard to catch on?
ReplyHi, I saw your comment and Batuka is coming to the US soon. We are looking for people to try out the DVD's. If you interested please email me.
thanks
rob
ReplyRob, I am also interested in obtaining the Batuka DVD's. I have looked all over the web to buy them as well (my kids especially love the video we saw online) with no luck. Any help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks!
ReplyHi, Rob. I'm a group exercise instructor in Florida, USA, considering a Zumba certification, but I stumbled across info about Batuka and it looks awesome! Could you email me some more information?
Thanks!
Aimee
ReplyRob - I created an account so you might be able to better get in touch with me.
Thanks!
Aimee
ReplyBye the way, Zumba really works!! I lost 44 Pounds like in 5 months, it changed my life completely, I did also change my eating habits, but that was not hard at all, it was fun too.Now I'm trying to find a website where I can buy the Batuka Dvds, but I can't find them, I would really like to know, cause it looks like Zumba, so much fun!
ReplyHi Lovely,
ReplyI was reading how you lost 44 lbs....congrats to you! Fantastic. May I ask how many times per week were doing the Zumba class or DVD. I am asking because I just purchased the entire program and I am going to start, but I would like to lose about 50 lbs. I was wondering how often you were doing a class.
Thanks so much
Hi Naomi,
ReplyI'm moving to England for four months, and I desperately want to get certified to instruct Zumba. Unfortunately, I visited the Zumba website and can't find any places to become certified in England. How did you obtain your certification, where do you teach, and do you have any suggestions for receiving certification while in England? I'm going to be studying at Oxford September through December. Thanks!
Kimberly,
Did you ever get a reply to your question on teaching Zumba at Oxford? I will be heading to Oxford this fall and would like to know if there would be a possibility for me to teach over there. I would love to know what your experience was!
Thanks,
ReplyKate
Where do I purchase Batuca CD's?
Thanks!
ReplyI love Zumba. I started in May and I have lost 14 pounds without drastically changing my eating habits. It is alot of fun. A great way to get off the couch and dance off the pounds.
ReplyI live in Damascus,15mins from Gaithersburg and 10mins from Germantown.I took a zumba class in Herndon with my girlfriends. Where is the nearest location for zumba lessons? I really enjoyed the class and also like to salsa
ReplyHey we're talking about ZUMBA here, no Batuka (they ripped off Zumba Fitness...appalling!)
ReplyKimberly, I'm so sorry I didn't read this page until now: we've just had an instructor training workshop with Beto (the creator of Zumba) and it was heaps of fun but that's no good for you is it. Unfortunately we won't have another one until the new year :(
Sebia Bull, go to www.zumba.com and use the new geolocator tool to find a class near you. Alternativey click on 'find instructors'.
Zumba DVDs are available from zumba.com and you will also find them on ebay. Also check out some of the instructors' websites as they often sell them too (I don't though!)
Find a class it'll transform your way of exercising - and it is measurable Ryan!!
can you tell me if any zumba are in South Carolina
ReplyThey also have classes in North Augusta.
ReplyJessica, they have Zumba classes in Columbia at Total Solution Weight Loss Center on Garners Ferry Road. Lots of fun....
ReplyBatuka is a knockoff of Zumba. I heard these guys ripped Zumba off. Why buy the knockoff if you can buy the original?
ReplyI am from the Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario Canada area and am interested in getting involved with Zumba.
ReplyI read the article in the K-W Record on Thursday December 20, 2007.
Is there only video's and DVD or does someone teach lessons? Do you have to have a partner to do Zumba?
I not good at doing exercise video's and DVD.
I love to dance.
Thanks Merle
Hi Merle
I live in Cambridge Ontario and I just saw your comment and I was wondering if you found anything Zumba around this area? do you have the dvd's ? where can i get them?
ReplyThanks a lot!!
Remember salsa dancing? Well, think salsa on steroids and you have Zumba. Zumba is a fusion of Latin and international music and dance that creates an effective aerobic workout.
And it’s fun. I took a Zumba class at my local fitness center, and if you can find an instructor half as fabulous as ours, I think you will definitely not be bored and you will get the workout you are looking for, plus learn some great moves that you can use on the dance floor that will be, to say the least, impressive! There are DVD's and no, you do not need a partner.
ReplyHey, I was teaching zumba last year in a gym in Orpington, I am Colombian where zumba borned. Everybody that were in my class told me. When you back? because this is the class that I enjoy, I want to take your class again. So I back next January 2009, to teach again for long time, if are you ineteresting to take my class, write to me and see you there soon, So while don't left to enjoy the music, Feel the music, always.
ReplyI would love to join your classes.
ReplyWhere and when are you teaching in Orpington?
In regards to Zumba, I hear nothing but positive things. But I really want to know is....does it actually help you take off those pounds?
ReplyMy gym offers these classes, however I've been a member for a year and have only been to the gym maybe three times because of lack in assistance. I've never been in a gym till I joined and sad to say I didn;t know where to start and had no help.
Anyhow I tought you know, I'm going to start going and just see if I can make something work for me. Problem is, I've had a few knees surgeries and will need a replacement for both soon. Other than Aqua classes I don't have a clue on what else I can do. I have always loved to dance, especially club type music. Yes, it's hard and I'm usually not able to do what I used to and I'm worse for wear for a bit but I still love it.
My question though is Zumba something I can do and keep up? I've never done a class so I'm not sure if the newbies can stick toward the back and go at their own pace or how it would work. I assume every place is different.
So what do you think, Zumba with bad knees could work? And what else can I do to shed the pounds without pounding my knees?
ReplyMandy
I took Zumba for the first time 2 weeks and I have had bad knees for 20+ years and it was not a problem. I hung out in the back and I was able to keep up for the duration although the last 10 minutes were a challenge but I noticed that was the case for a lot of people. Many of the moves are familiar and after a few tries the other moves do get much easier. This is the most fun I have ever had in a gym & the energy from others will keep you going. I also liked that there were people from size 2 to about 20 and everybody was confortable and just grooving.
ReplyMerle--I am one of the two instructors in K-W region that was quoted in the article you are referring to. I would love for you to come out to my Zumba class (if you haven't already found us). e-mail me for a 30 day pass: luanns@popeyesgym.com. You will love it! And no you don't need a partner. Come and try it out for FREE!!!
Replyi love Zumba and would love to learn more it gives me a real Hi love it
ReplyI have just completed the most recent Zumba training course, and what a fantastic experience. So much energy in the room, and although I had been up since 6 am I was still buzzing till past midnight when I got home. Cannot wait to start teaching so others can exerience the same. The music is just infectious, I defy anyone to listen to it without having to move in some way.
ReplyI'm over weight...Do you have to be in shape to take this class?
Replyno you dont have to be in shape to do zumba! i am over weight too and the class is so fast paced that you dont have time to worry about that! noone has time to stand and judge you bc the class is just so fast. and you'll feel so energised when you finish the class! I LOVE ZUMBA!!
ReplyWhere can I find a Zumba class near Clifton, N.J.?
Reply