Zumba Fitness and Dance
Zumba has become the latest craze in dancing and fitness. There are variations everywhere that cater to people of any age. Even senior citizens can get to enjoy the programs and burn calories the fun way. It is important that you understand the concepts and principles first, so you can get the most out of the workout. Here is an introduction to Zumba.
Describing Zumba
Zumba is a program for fitness inspired primarily by Latin Dance. It was created by a dancer and choreographer from Miami, Alberto “Beto” Perez, together with a couple of entrepreneurs named Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion. There are different videos or DVDs of Zumba that can be acquired via the web site and infomercials. DVDs in the millions have successfully been sold in more than 30 countries. Today, there are more than 25,000 official Zumba instructors all around the world. It has been featured in numerous media outlets, newspapers, shows and magazines.
The Principles
According to Alberto Perez, Zumba uses the principles of resistance training and fitness interval training to enhance caloric output, overall body toning and fat burn. It is a method of combining easy dance steps with movements that sculpt the body. The program is also very fun and addictive. Zumba has worked with AFAA or Aerobic & Fitness Association of America, Can-Fit-Pro or the International Trade Show & Conference in Canada and the American Council on Exercise. It has also collaborated with several leading national fitness organizations and fitness facility chains.
Music and Inspiration
Zumba is inspired by Latin dance and music and incorporates several styles in the routine like meringue, reggaeton, pop, cumbia, mambo, salsa, salsaton, flamenco, rumba and calypso. The selections of music involve both slow and fast rhythm so dancers can tone and sculpt their body well. Zumba is very fun and highly addictive so most individuals tend to do the exercises daily, maintaining both a fit body and a happy disposition. It is unique compared to other types of dance exercises because of the variety of music selections. It is also very effective, providing you a good aerobic workout.
Zumba History
Beto Perez is a celebrity fitness trainer who discovered the concept of using Latin dances for a fitness program. The Latin-inspired fitness program originated in his native Colombia in South America during the 1990s. During one of his training days, he forgot to bring the usual aerobic tapes and was forced to use the ones in his car. Most were meringue and salsa, so he had to make do right on the spot. Afterwards, he found how fun and effective the changes were and improved the program, leading to the recent Zumba. It became the most popular at the facility.
Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion saw the potential of the program and approached Beto to bring Zumba into America and the global scene. The company was primarily based on the Zumba fitness principles and philosophy, so they began offering Zumba classes worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of videos were introduced to the US market, leading to a very huge response and the creation of more than 2000 Zumba instructors everywhere.
Infomercials and different types of advertising efforts soon followed, spreading Zumba like wildfire until it became a driving force in the fitness industry. Now, there are over 2,000 instructors with millions of people claiming the beneficial effects of the program.
Zumba Information
The Zumba has captured the hearts of many and has successfully helped hundreds of thousands of individuals all over the globe lose their extra pounds finally. You also get the benefit of keeping the pounds off through dedication and consistency. Knowing the details will help you understand the concept, as well as the proper ways of doing the Zumba.
On Interval Training
Zumba incorporates the interval training concept, wherein the entire workout goes from one routine to the next without stopping. The pace will change depending on the type of dance or musical influenced used. There will be no need for slowdown when moving from one constant motion to the next, so every individual can just go along with the flow. The steps are relatively easy to follow. Complete beginners and seniors can stay comfortable with the Zumba Gold, which does the routine at a more comfortable and easy pace. The same addictive music and dance steps are used, except that the pace tends to be slower. More time will be given in helping individuals get to know the steps.
More Cities
Zumba has spread all over United States and the world. It is one of the most popular in states like California, New York and Texas. International craze has also been on the rise in areas like Japan, Mexico and Europe. More and more individuals are getting hooked because of the unique approach of the program. Most beginners report that the steps are very easy to follow, plus they can focus more on fun and enjoying the music, instead of just mastering the steps. The fusion of different influences, plus the camaraderie are the best factors that eliminate workout boredom for good.
Becoming an Instructor
Thousands of individuals are now training or certified instructors of Zumba. There are workshops and seminars offered wherein people can be trained and become certified Zumba instructors. You get to receive materials and gain access to a network of instructors via the internet from all over the world. This way, you can enhance your knowledge and skills continually, plus get new contacts regardless of your location.
Losing Weight
Zumba is one of the best ways to losing weight. As opposed to other types of programs and workouts, Zumba takes away the boredom effectively since the dance steps are very entertaining, introducing the likes of the merengue, salsa and belly dance. There are also international education specialists who can further help individuals achieve the body they have always wanted. Zumba keeps your heart rate and breathing going steadily, and can burn as much as 450 calories in a single session.
Types of Zumba
There are generally 3 types, the Zumba Basic, Zumba Gold and Zumba Level 2. Zumba Basic is the most basic which incorporates different dances, most commonly Latin, into a continuous series of workouts. Zumba Gold is specifically designed to help the elderly and the physically incapacitated to cope with the various steps and moves. Zumba Level 2 is more advanced, using more sophisticated movements for a more intense workout and effective fat burn. You can start on either the Zumba Gold or Zumba Basic, depending on your current physical condition.
There are workshops available for each as well, should you decide to improve your skills or teach others how to lose weight the fun way.
Zumba FAQ
Although millions of individuals have successfully experienced the fun and fitness benefits of Zumba, there are still a lot who want to find out more. Zumba is very unique compared to other dance-inspired fitness programs, in the sense that it provides rich history, an exhilarating experience and the best moves that truly give you that calorie burn.
What is Zumba?
Zumba incorporates both hypnotic Latin music and easy-to-do moves that lead to a dynamic and effective workout program that will help you de-stress, have the greatest time and burn fat. The goal is to give individuals an entertaining time so they can consistently stick to a program and reach their health and fitness goals. Zumba fanatics get to have the long term benefits of the dance and exercise by doing body-energizing and muscle-pumping movements that are also very addictive.
The routines include interval training sessions that use both slow and fast rhythms, plus resistance training to sculpt and tone the body for effective fat loss. International zest and Latin inspirations are also included in the program for uniqueness. During the past few years, Zumba has become a revolution, giving the impression that getting fit can be fun. In February 2008, the program has grown to having more than 11,000 certified instructors in 35 countries and has sold more than 3 million DVDs, changing the lives of more than 2 million individuals.
Is There a Special Attire?
There is no special attire required for Zumba. Ideally, you should wear only comfortable and breathable workout clothes. Dance sneakers and gym or tennis shoes are good for classes. You have to be careful in choosing to wear track shoes since these limit your movement from side to side. Depending on your skills, you may also wear other types of clothes. Some people enjoy flaunting Latin dresses for a more formal approach.
What Does Zumba Offer?
Zumba has aligned with IDEA, SCW Fitness Education, ACE or the American Council on Exercise and AFAA or the Aerobic & Fitness Association of America, plus other leading fitness organizations and facilities. To design and complement the innovation of creator Beto Perez, the Educational Division was built to give instructor workshops and make the program as effective as ever.
Zumba, at present, offers the Zumba Basic Skills Instructor Training workshop wherein instructors can teach basic classes for Zumba. The Zumba Gold workshop was designed for active older adults, and is used frequently as an exerciser for the deconditioned. There are several other workshops launched internationally. Some of the countries that help push the program include Japan, Mexico, Italy, the UK, China and Spain.
What a Typical Class Like?
A Zumba class lasts for about one hour based primarily on the principle of interval training. Dancers get to alternate low and high intensity exercise. This is great for both beginners and advanced individuals. The intensity changes are controlled by the various musical rhythms and steps, taking out the negative effects that can be acquired from high impact aerobic sessions.
The class always begins with a warmup, followed by a series of routines that incorporate the cumbia, flamenco, meringue, reggaeton and salsa. Everyone can participate regardless of age. A cool down is done at the end of the session composed for stretching moves. The routines can repeat for many weeks so that individuals can practice.
Two to three sessions a week is good enough for most individuals to stay fit and burn extra fat and calories.
Zumba Workshop
If you want to become really good at Zumba and hopefully teach it to different individuals, you need to join some workshops. These are available in almost all states in America, as well as several other cities around the globe. Consistency and discipline is the key if you aim to become certified. Knowing the details and understanding what to expect are also essential.
Skills Needed
Do not worry so much about your current skills since everyone who joins the workshop is not expected to be much of an expert. However, there are some requirements needed to become a truly good and certified Zumba instructor. Dance background can help a lot since you need to immediately pick up the rhythm to teach other exercisers. Another thing that could help is having a background in teaching fitness and dance. Zumba is mainly taught using visual cues, since the program wants to let students listen and enjoy the music more.
Music can greatly motivate students to move, shake and have fun. It is very easy to teach visually. Teaching more will help you quickly signal the students that there are new steps arriving first. A number of teachers also use microphones present in health clubs for added verbal backup. Both visual and verbal methods are highly effective in teaching.
Where the Workshops Are
There are plenty of areas where you can have a Zumba workshop. In most cases, health clubs host Zumba classes, job openings and workshops all around the United States, as well as other countries. You can sign up immediately. There are also other places that require prior reservation. On the average, a workshop can last anywhere between 1 and 2 days. Expense in joining will be around $150 to $300 or more, depending on the instructor, venue and lesson.
If you intend to hold your very own workshops, other ideal places include dance or yoga studies, yacht clubs and community centers. You may rent the space or get one of your own, provided that you already have a strong following. You can actually have a workout almost anywhere. It is ideal, however, to have someplace with mirrors so you can watch your movements.
The Next Level
Aside from Zumba Basic and Zumba Gold, there is also Zumba Basic Steps level 2. It is a new workshop which includes concentrating and learning 4 basic steps namely the Samba, Flamenco, Tango and Belly Dancing. Although several Zumba instructors already include these dances in their programs, the workshop provides more time and focus to the rhythms and backup the formula, so that individuals can take on the next level of Zumba.
The first few workshops generally concentrate on style, professionalism, teaching tips and techniques. Some of the inclusions when joining the workshop are the Basic Steps Level 2 music CD, a Level 2 instructor manual, a review DVD and a certificate or completion. ACE and AFAA trainers get to have CEUs and CECs for joining Zumba workshops.
Final Tips
Pre-registration is highly recommended among those who plan to join the Zumba workshops. New techniques, steps and other freebies may be available if you check the web site. Payment may be through credit card, check or cash, depending on the host. Sold-out workshops usually do not allow any walk-ins to ensure quality and safety.
On Zumba Workshops and Instructors
There are plenty of ways to improve your skills in Zumba such as looking for a certified instructor and joining workshops every now and then. Workshops can be found in most cities all around the world. You can also check the web site to find the most convenient one that fits your schedule and lifestyle. Here are some more details about the workout.
Looking for a Workshop
The Zumba web site is the easiest way to look for any available workshops near your area. Official schedules are posted every now and then. If you do not have any workshop available, you can contact the web site to ask for more information. You can also suggest for potential areas where Zumba workshops can be hosted.
If you see a place, you may want to assess if it is legitimate or truly have certified instructors available. You can have a more exciting and fulfilling experience if you invest in real Zumba classes. Find out who the instructors are and the type of Zumba class to be held such as Zumba Gold or Zumba Basic. Choosing the right type of workshop is essential for your health and fitness progress.
Instructor Requirements
You can become a Zumba instructor by attending one of the available Zumba workhops. Check the dates and locations of upcoming Zumba workshops. There are no requirements to become a certified instructor, but having a dance or fitness background can work to your favor. Only those 18 years old and above can join a Zumba workshop, although in some cases, special allowances can be extended to younger individuals.
If you have taken a 1 or 2-day Zumba Basic workshop, you may be allowed to teach Zumba. Simply use the name “Zumba” in the title of your class, and you can legally call yourself a Zumba instructor. All uses of the name “Zumba”, as well as the use of the logo should be approved first by the Corporate Office of Zumba. Zumba Fitness is considered as a trademark of Zumba Fitness, LLC, holding copyright ownership on every material related to Zumba, as well as the use of the name and logo. Any individual who intends to teach Zumba without a present Certificate of Completion will be violating the laws of trademark and copyright.
Teaching Zumba
Once you have successfully finished the Zumba workshop, you can teach anytime. Every Zumba instructor is considered an independent contractor, so feel free to set up your own venue, facility, rates, terms, schedule and other agreements. The Zumba workshop will provide you all the details and help hone your skills to teach and make Zumba routines for your class. DVDs and music CDs will be given to you wherein you can start to improve and develop your routines.
Getting Help
Those who are just beginning to teach Zumba may contact an experienced Zumba instructor, plus a group exercise coordinator to help teach classes. There is a continuing education in Zumba so you can improve in your craft nonstop. You will also be provided with new music, choreography ideas, marketing items and a ZIN newsletter for updates. Joining this type of program is only optional.
Depending on the fitness facility, you may be required to have certification for general group exercise. Zumba is a specialty class so know more about the requirements before investing in a venue.