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Top 6 reasons to give Zumba a try

A Zumba class is an instructor-led workout with simple dance moves to upbeat music. The choreography incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo. Zumba takes the “work” out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. Once the Latin and World rhythms take over, you’ll see why Zumba Fitness classes are often called exercise in disguise. Super effective? Check. Super fun? Check.

1. Great music. Imagine starting your day by moving to music like this.
2. Heart healthy. Participants in a Zumba class typically work at an intensity of 60-80 percent of maximum heart rate which is similar to kickboxing, moderate cycling or a slow jog. This is an ideal intensity to give you cardiovascular benefits with the bonus that it doesn’t feel like work.
3. Weight control. A study in the American Journal of Health Behavior showed that when women with type 2 diabetes and obesity did Zumba three times a week for 16 weeks, they lost an average of 2.5 pounds and lowered their percentage of body fat by 1 percent.
4. Balance and core strength. Dancing can help people of all ages improve balance and coordination, lowering risk for falls. A study in the European Journal of Sport Science linked Zumba’s hip-swinging movements to increased core and trunk strength and better balance.
5. Improves quality of life. Zumba is invigorating and freeing. You get to let go and have fun during Zumba. The study in the European Journal of Sport Science demonstrated increased quality-of-life scores (9 percent) and increased self-esteem (16 percent) after just eight weeks of Zumba participation.
6. So much fun! Zumba is appealing to people who might otherwise stay away from exercise. Most of the participants in the study above enjoyed Zumba so much that they continued attendance even after the study ended — very unusual for an aerobic exercise program.

PEAK Health and Fitness is offering a Zumba class for university employees this semester.  Our Zumba class meets Tuesday/Thursday at 6:30 a.m. in HPER West 105.

Registration is available here.

References:

European Journal of Sport Science  Volume 14, 2014 – Issue 6
Zumba® Dance Improves Health in Overweight/Obese or Type 2 Diabetic Women  
Authors: Krishnan, Sridevi; Tokar, Theresa N.,  Boylan, Mallory M.; Griffin, Kent; Feng, Du; Mcmurry, Linda; Esperat, Christina; Cooper, Jamie A.

American Journal of Health Behavior, Volume 39, Number 1, January 2015, pp. 109-120(12)
The effects of Zumba training on cardiovascular and neuromuscular function in female college students
Authors: Lars Donath Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandCorrespondencelars.donath@unibas.ch
, Ralf Roth Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Yannick Hohn Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Lukas Zahner Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland and Oliver Faude Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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