Zumba
Zumba is a popular exercise program that integrates Latin music with choreographed dance movements, creating an engaging aerobic workout. The concept originated in the late 1980s when Colombian instructor Alberto "Beto" Perez improvised a class using salsa and merengue music after forgetting his usual recordings. This innovative approach quickly gained popularity, particularly after Perez moved to Miami in 2001 and partnered with American businessmen to formalize the program. Today, Zumba is a global phenomenon, with approximately fourteen million people participating in classes weekly.
The workout is designed to be low-impact, making it accessible to a wide range of participants, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Zumba classes often feel more like dance parties than traditional exercise sessions, encouraging participants to enjoy the music and movement without the constraints of counted repetitions. Research indicates that Zumba provides an effective interval workout, helping participants burn an average of nearly 370 calories per hour. With its diverse variations and focus on fun, Zumba continues to inspire people to stay active and healthy.
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Zumba
Zumba is an exercise program that combines Latin music with choreographed dance moves to create an aerobic exercise workout. Since its inception in the late 1980s, Zumba has spread throughout the world and spawned a number of variations, including Zumba performed in water and Zumba classes designed for specific age groups and abilities. Exercise experts have determined that Zumba is a safe and effective form of exercise and that the "fun factor" involved in the spirited music and lively moves may inspire people to continue exercising.
Overview
Zumba was created accidentally in 1986 when Colombian exercise instructor Alberto "Beto" Perez forgot his usual music recordings for a class. Without enough time to return home to get them, Perez substituted recordings of music used for salsa and merengue, two forms of Latin dancing. He improvised some choreographed moves to go along with the upbeat music and discovered that his class enjoyed it.
By 2001, Perez had moved to Miami and introduced the United States to his new style of exercise class. He met American businessmen Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion, and the three struck up a partnership. They named Perez's new aerobics style Zumba, a made-up word with no meaning, and prepared to teach classes in multiple areas. In 2013, it was estimated that fourteen million people worldwide took at least one Zumba class each week. The business formed by the "three Albertos," as they are called, sells music, exercise DVDs, clothing, footwear, and video games and is estimated to be worth in excess of $500 million.
Zumba is considered a low-impact aerobic workout. An aerobic workout includes movements that encourage the heart to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body, especially to the muscles. A low-impact workout includes movements that do not involve jumping or other activities that require both feet to be off the ground at once; this protects the joints and lessens the risk of injury.
Zumba workouts incorporate moves similar to the dance moves used in salsa, merengue, samba, and other Latin-style dances. Some classes have evolved to include other music and dance styles, such as jazz, country, and hip-hop. Variations have been developed to focus on the needs of children, seniors, and disabled people. Instead of rigidly counting out repetitions of kicks, lunges, and other moves that are common in aerobic exercise classes, Zumba participants focus on moving their bodies to the music. The louder music and freer atmosphere give participants the feeling that they are at a dance party instead of an exercise class.
Exercise experts and researchers have determined that Zumba provides a good interval workout, with bursts of low- and high-intensity activity interspersed throughout the class. They estimate participants burn an average of nearly 370 calories per hour-long class. That exceeds the results from other forms of aerobic exercise, such as kickboxing and step aerobics.
Bibliography
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Moules, Jonathan. "The Dance Idea That Found its Feet." Financial Times,5 Feb. 2013, www.ft.com/content/7584c828-6ecc-11e2-8189-00144feab49a?mhq5j=e6. Accessed 21 Oct. 2017.
Murphy, Pam. "Origins of Zumba." Livestrong,11 Sept. 2017, www.livestrong.com/article/339452-origins-of-zumba/. Accessed 21 Oct. 2017.
"A Short History of Zumba." Women's Fitness Clubs of Canada, womensfitnessclubs.com/blog/2012/07/17/a-short-history-of-zumba/. Accessed 21 Oct. 2017
Walters, Jennipher. "All about Zumba Class." SparkPeople, www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness‗articles.asp?id=1633. Accessed 21 Oct. 2017.
"Zumba Is a Hit, but Is it Latin?" National Public Radio,5 Mar. 2012, www.npr.org/2012/03/05/147818919/zumbas-a-hit-but-is-it-latin. Accessed 21 Oct. 2017.