Grooving to the beats of salsa, naija beat, sungura, kwasa-kwasa and the popular zim-dancehall music, feels more like a dance party than a workout – that is exactly what makes Zumba so phenomenal.

Zumba is a lifestyle and a health fitness revolution that fuses fitness with an easy to follow choreography. You do not need to be a great dancer to feel welcome in a Zumba class. All you have to do is to move in sync with the beat, have a good time and ultimately burn those calories. Most importantly, Zumba keeps you fit, gives you an amazing body and makes you feel good.

The Genesis of Zumba

The story of Zumba begins with an accident that seems too good to be true. Alberto “Beto” Perez, a dancer and choreographer from Colombia, is credited for conceiving and popularizing Zumba in the early ‘90s, albeit by coincidence. One day, upon arriving to his fitness class, he realized that he had left his traditional aerobic music at home. Improvising, he unpacked some of his favorite Latin music tapes from his bag, popped them into the sound system, and taught his first Zumba class.

The Zumba class became an instant hit and within just months of his impromptu act, Beto became so popular in his hometown in Colombia that music star, Shakira, hired him as a choreographer for her “Pies Descalzos” album. The rest they say is history. Fast forward to this day; Zumba is now a multi-million dollar industry and a globally recognized fitness program, with certified instructors in more than 125 countries around the world.

How it works

Zumba is an interval and whole body workout. The classes move between low and high intensity dance moves, which are designed to increase your heart beat and boost your cardio endurance. The jumps and lunges that are part of the choreographed movements help to work your quadriceps, your hamstrings, and to also strengthen your bones.

Many of the dance steps used in the routines emphasize the hips and midsection (abdomen). This helps to reduce stomach fat and to tone your hips and abs. A six pack (flat tummy) and toned hips are desired by many, and Zumba is surely the perfect fitness regime to attain that.

Benefits of Zumba

  • Calorie and fat burning: At its core, Zumba classes provide a large calorie burn through aerobic activity. The average person will burn around 600 to 1,000 calories in a Zumba class.
  • Improved coordination: By joining a Zumba class, you’ll definitely improve your coordination, which is extremely important to maintain as you grow older.
  • Full body workout: Zumba is both a dance class and a fitness class. Aside from its heart-health benefits, Zumba provides a workout for the whole body. From head and shoulder moves that loosens up the neck and warm up the upper body, to footwork that strengthens and stretches calves and ankles, this fitness method touches on nearly every muscle and joint.
  • Cardio benefits: Exercising for prolonged periods at fast rate can increase the strength of your heart. It builds up your aerobic & anaerobic endurance. Largely, it’s most useful for helping to maintain a good cardiovascular respiratory system, by increasing how much oxygen you can breathe-in during a high-intensity event. If you are trying to build endurance, this is the best thing you can do for yourself
  • It makes you love to exercise: Workouts that feel like work are hard to get excited about, but Zumba is so enjoyable you actually want to keep coming back. It completely changes the idea of exercise because it’s something you really look forward to. It will keep you on a healthy routine!
  • Increased confidence: A Zumba workout lowers your inhibitions, improves your posture, improves your coordination and makes you feel good about yourself. These changes will reflect immediately on your mood and on your appearance. Someone who feels good also has greater confidence.
  • Mood boosting: Zumba is the perfect workout to take if you want to get rid of all that stress you accumulate during your every day. The upbeat moves specific to this type of workout favour the release of those mood-improving endorphins, and by joining a Zumba class, you’ll surely be able to feel your worries melt away as you lose yourself in the music.
  • Socializing & networking: At a Zumba class, you’ll be able to meet and interact with interesting and fun people. You could go to this type of workout for at least two or three times per week and you’ll get to socialize and make a lot of new friends among your Zumba classmates. You can also bring your friends to the party. Instructors sometimes host ‘Zumba parties’ for corporate challenges, bachelorette parties and many more.

Zumba at Zimnat

Yes, we have Zumba classes at Zimnat. The 4th Floor Recreation Space is the place to be every Wednesdays, as we will be dancing and working out for 45 minutes. Don’t be left out! Come and join us. Awesome bodies are attained by those who have the passion to dance for them. Come and feel the heat sandwiched by the beat. No pain, no gain!!! ADIOS!!!