Zumba is a fitness program that was developed by a fitness trainer named Alberto Beto Perez in the mid 90s, based on dance and Latin and international music that usually lasts for 60-90 minutes. It incorporates interval training with alternative fast and slow rhythms along with resistance training.
People are taking more interest in zumba dance for weight loss than as a dance form. It’s effectiveness in improving fitness is the main reason for people choosing zumba for weight loss over other ways. Does zumba work for weight loss? If you like dancing but aren’t sure about the answer to this question, you should learn more about zumba.
What is Zumba ?
Zumba, as a business entity trademark, belongs to Zumba Company. There are now several variations of zumba dance program depending on the country and the academy from which an instructor has been trained. The dance program has been very popular all around the world, especially among people trying to lose weight.
Being quite an aerobic activity, a session of Zumba can be considered equivalent to performing 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic exercises or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity which is recommended for most healthy adults. Since an aerobic exercise reduces health risks, helps one stay lean, strengthens the heart and boosts the mood, so does zumba.
Why you should do Zumba?
Almost everyone can perform and enjoy Zumba at any place, any time. If you enjoy dance there can be hardly any better option for you than zumba dance for weight loss. Performing zumba dance for about 60 minutes a day can help you lose enough weight to become fitter and leaner in a few weeks. A zumba dance class is actually a combination of a Latin dance class and an aerobic class. The aerobic moves provide you the benefits of resistance training as you are often moving against your body weight.
Consuming a calorie rich diet will not let any exercise help you lose weight, be it zumba or any other exercise regime. However, if the zumba dance for weight loss is accompanied by a healthy balanced diet within reasonable calorie ranges then the dance program can help you lose the extra pounds.
The amount of calories you would be able to shed with zumba dance would depend on the intensity, the duration and the style of the workout. Zumba for weight loss will not only help you shed the extra kilos from around your waist and rest of the body, but it will also improve your cardiovascular fitness. It tends to move most parts of the body so you will be using your legs, your arms and quite a lot of hip action to dance around. However, if a certain movement or position hurts, try to modify the movements to lose weight without hurting yourself. Following proper technique is important for zumba.
Image source : Shutterstock