Been wondering about the benefits of Zumba and whether or not it’s as effective as you’ve heard when it comes to improving health, body shape and helping you to lose weight?
Zumba workouts have taken the world by storm in recent years, and our enthusiasm for this fun and addictive form of exercise shows no sign of diminishing. In fact, judging by the large number of Zumba workout DVDs that are available these days, Zumba has not only well and truly arrived, but it is also here to stay.
While an accurate description of this vigorous exercise could be, “Latin dance moves that combine resistance training, a cardio workout, and interval training,” ask anyone who has done a Zumba workout to sum it up in one word, and I can almost guarantee you they will say it is “fun.”
Read on, to find out about the benefits of Zumba for health, weight loss and toning.
Is Zumba for You?
If you’ve tried exercising and haven’t been able to stick with it, Zumba could be right up your alley.
Not your typical exercise, watch anyone doing a Zumba workout, and the first thing you will notice is that while they are moving flat out and working up a sweat, they are also smiling and genuinely loving every minute of it. And loving, not just tolerating your workout, can be the difference between success and failure, both in sticking with an exercise program and ultimately losing weight, if that is your aim.
Zumba is a workout that anyone can do. Whether you’re male or female, young or old, have fantastic rhythm on the dance floor or two left feet, you can Zumba. The amount of effort you put into Zumba moves will determine how much energy you burn.
People who are older, out of shape or brand new to exercising, should have no trouble making it all the way through a beginners’ Zumba workout DVD. If you are already quite fit, you may be able to start with an advanced level DVD. Or simply make the workout tougher by putting everything into it. For example, traveling further across the floor, lifting your knees higher, squatting lower and making more exaggerated arm movements.
If the workout starts to feel a bit too much, make smaller movements, but try not to stop. Keep your hands and feet moving to the music, then get back into the workout when you catch your breath.
Overview of the Benefits of Zumba
Benefits of Zumba for Health
Being a form of aerobic exercise, the heart-health benefits of Zumba are without question.
Along with giving an excellent cardio workout, the fast pace of a Zumba workout puts participants into an endorphin-release zone. It improves one’s mood, reduces stress and helps to lower high blood pressure.
Zumba moves get blood pumping throughout the body, enhancing its function. Over time, this results in a stronger immune system, which can more easily fight off disease. Zumba also improves flexibility, reflexes, balance and hand-to-eye-coordination.
Another of the Zumba benefits is that when doing Zumba, we sweat a lot, then drink water to rehydrate. This process assists in ridding the body of toxins, helps keep us healthy and results in a clearer complexion.
Benefits of Zumba for Weight Loss and Toning
You may have seen Zumba before and after pics and wondered if they’re genuine or photoshopped. Well, chances are, they are real. Zumba moves burn calories. Lots of them. Zumba is similar to an interval workout, in that each session alternates between high and low-intensity moves. As is typical of this type of exercise, it burns more calories than a steady-state exercise such as jogging.
When we are moving, and our heart rate is up, we burn more calories than when we are still and our heart is beating at its normal speed. The number of extra calories burned and ultimately how much weight we lose as a result of this depends on our weight, the length, and intensity of our workouts and their frequency.
People carrying more weight, burn more calories when moving. Someone weighing 120 pounds will burn approximately 370 calories during one hour of Zumba training, working at a low intensity. The same person will burn about 430 calories working at medium intensity, and around 485 calories working at high intensity.
A person weighing 150 pounds doing the same workout will burn around 464 calories, 535 calories, and 600 calories respectively. With a 3,500 calorie deficit required to lose one pound of body fat, it’s easy to see that it’s worth doing Zumba for weight loss.
Zumba typically targets all of the body’s major muscle groups. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone wanting to sculpt and tone their body. Muscles targeted include the ankles and calves, the hip flexors, thighs and butt, core and abs, back, shoulders and arms.
The benefits of Zumba training will increase if you incorporate toning sticks into your workouts.
Benefits of Zumba Summary
Consisting of a fusion of dance moves, including Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, Flamenco and more, Zumba is fun, and it is very effective.
Do high-intensity Zumba workouts on a regular basis, and you will soon be dropping pounds and inches and having a ball as you experience the benefits of Zumba.
To read reviews of some of my favorite Zumba DVDs, click this link
