Zumba: What is it and How Does Effect to Your Health?

Zumba is a workout featuring movements inspired by various Latin American dance styles played to the music. It has become a popular and trending form of workout training all over the world.

Many of you may be thinking whether it is an effective way of burning calories, conditioning your arms, and strengthening your muscles or not. Zumba does have some amazing benefits.

Designed as a combination of salsa and aerobics, there is no right or wrong way to do Zumba. As long as you move to the beat of the music, you are participating in the exercise. You do not have to be a great dancer to feel welcome in a Zumba class. The class emphasizes moving to music and having a good time without the need for rhythm. And Zumba receives whole body training that does not feel like work because it involves whole-body movements from arms to shoulders and to your feet.

Zumba classes range from aqua Zumba workouts to classes like Zumba toning that incorporate weight with additional calorie burning and strength training. There are also several Zumba classes available for children. Sweating in an a60-minute Zumba class consumes an average of 369 calories which are more than cardio kickboxing or step aerobics. You will get the great aerobic exercise that melts fat, strengthens your core, and increases your flexibility.

Zumba classes always keep you grooving. If you have seen or ever been to one of these classes, you must have probably noticed a mysterious similarity to the dance floors of popular clubs on Saturday nights. It is quite different from your typical CrossFit and indoor cycling classes. Zumba classes have catchy dance music, clapping, and a few occasional “Woo’s!” and even excited gasping from enthusiastic participants throughout the session.

According to a small 2012 study, a standard 39-minute Zumba class consumed an average of 9.5 calories per minute. That is a total of 369 calories for the entire class. The American Council on Exercise recommends consuming 300 calories in a single workout to promote weight loss and maintain a healthy weight. Zumba perfectly fits their criteria. There is evidence to also show that the 12-week Zumba program can lead to significant improvements in aerobic fitness.

Some areas the workout targets are:

• Core: A lot of the dance steps used withinside the workouts emphasize the hips and center to assist enhance the core.

• Arms: Traditional Zumba instructions now no longer goal the arms. Specialized instructions like Zumba Toning use weights to assist enhance and tone the arms.

• Legs: The jumps and lunges which might be elements of the choreographed actions assist paintings the quads and hamstrings.

• Glutes: You`ll experience the burn on your buns whilst you flow to the beat.

• Back: Though the exercise entails your complete body, it`s now no longer targeted in your again muscle tissues.

Types of Zumba

• Flexibility: Yes, it helps improve flexibility. The dance actions had been designed to decorate flexibility.

• Aerobic: The high-and low-depth periods make Zumba an exceptional aerobic exercise.

• Strength: Traditional Zumba exercises emphasize strengthening the core, whilst Zumba Toning and Zumba Step exercises contain weights to construct muscle tissues withinside the arms, legs, and glutes.

• Sport: The instructions are not taken into consideration sports.

• Low-Impact: It does not come under the low impact category. The instructions are high-electricity and contain jumping, bouncing, and different high-effect actions.

Make sure to also check about the session’s cost. You will want to join instructions via a gymnasium or purchase Zumba DVDs to comply with the choreographed steps. It is good for beginners. Zumba emphasizes transferring to the song and having fun irrespective of your fitness level. It is not done outdoors. The instructions are provided in health studios and can also be done in the comfort of your home. You can purchase Zumba DVDs and comply with the dance exercise at your place or wherever according to your convenience. You may even be able to find sessions free of cost on the internet. Some trainers’ Zumba workouts may be mistaken for a dance party. It basically accompanies a one-hour session and contains a lot of sweating and some serious infectious songs. This video is perfect for beginners who want to try a combination of Latin dance and traditional aerobics. You get a total body burn and will keep wanting more. The fact that no equipment is required just makes it all a lot easier. Nothing is required, besides you and your sneakers.

If you need a complete strength training program, look for a Zumba class that includes light weights on your upper body. You can start as slowly as you need, or if you are in good shape, start-up, dance your heart out. If you like to move with music, Zumba is for you.

If you are inactive, have some medical condition, or are taking medication, just to make sure Zumba is suitable for you, consult your doctor before attending class. Before class, talk to your instructor about your fitness level and health issues so they can suggest changes.

How Zumba Helps Improve Your Health?

It helps in building endurance

The music played in Zumba’s classes is relatively fast-paced, so moving to the beat can help you build stamina in a few training sessions. According to one study,12 weeks (about 3 months) after the Zumba program, participants showed lower heart rate and systolic blood pressure as their workload increased. These trends are consistent with increased endurance.

They help in improving a person’s cardiovascular health

According to the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, accepted fitness industry guidelines show that individuals seeking to improve cardiovascular fitness should exercise in either 64 and 94 percent of their HRmax, a measure of an athlete’s maximum heart rate or 40 to 85 percent of VO2 max, a measure of the maximum volume of oxygen an athlete can use.

According to the same study, all participants in the Zumba session were within these HRmax and VO2max guidelines. They trained on average 79% of HRmax and 66% of VO2max. This makes Zumba an efficient training to increase aerobic capacity, which is a measure of cardiovascular health.

Helps in the improvement of blood pressure

A 2016 study of a group of overweight women found that participants experienced a decrease in blood pressure and a significant improvement in body weight after a 12-week Zumba fitness program.

Another 2015 study found that participants’ blood pressure dropped after a total of 17 Zumba classes.

Quite suitable for all fitness levels as its strength is scalable (you move on your own to the beat of the music), so it is a workout that anyone can do with their own strength!

It is a social tool as it is a group activity, so every time you enter a class, you are immersed in the social situation. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, the benefits of group exercise are:

• Exposure to a social and enjoyable environment
• Accountabilityfactors
• Safe and effectively designed training you can follow

This is all an alternative to a training plan that you must design and follow yourself.

It may help in raising your pain threshold

Make sure you try Zumba if you want to do your best. 2016 study found that participants experienced reduced pain severity and pain interference after a 12-week Zumba program.

Improve your quality of life

An effective Zumba program offers not only health benefits but also social benefits for group training. People can enjoy improving their quality of life due to these combined benefits. Whoever it is, that is ready to dance as soon as you hear music, try Zumba classes at the earliest, be it at your local gym or your home.

Is It Good for you if you Have a Health Issue?

If you were absorbed in Zumba’s beat before you became pregnant, your pregnancy does not have any problems and your GYN also thinks it is fine, then you can continue. However, there are some changes that need to be made in order to ensure safety. Zumba has many influential movements that can cause havoc when hormones loosen joints. Talk to your instructor about jumps and bounces that can get out of balance or exchange some of the routines. Also, do not forget to stay cool and hydrated during your workout.

Avoid high-impact exercise if you have knee or back pain or arthritis. Another way to get a good workout is to be gentler on the joints. If you have a handicap or other physical restrictions, consider a wheelchair Zumba class. This is a fun, non-weight-bearing workout.

For diabetic patients, Zumba is a great way to lose weight and build muscle. As energy levels rise, blood sugar levels fall. If you need to change your diabetes treatment plan, check with your doctor first.

Zumba not only helps you lose weight, but also lowers your risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol, and helps increase good cholesterol. If you have heart disease, your doctor may suggest getting used to a cardiac rehabilitation program instead of jumping directly into Zumba’s class.