So he pretended to his students that he had planned a special class, and during the 30 minutes he improvised moves that worked with the music. The class was an immediate hit, he says, with everyone having far more fun than usual. So he decided to stick with the Latin sounds and rhythms. There would be lines out of the door of people waiting to get in. Word travelled fast. This was the beginning of Zumba. From that start Beto eventually went on to launch his business Zumba Fitness.
Today the Miami-based company is a household name with a reported 15 million people across countries attending Zumba exercise classes every week. It is a far cry from his impoverished childhood. Born and raised in Cali, he started working when he was 14 to help his single mother.
One year later she moved to the US on her own to start a new life. She emigrated after she was struck and injured by a stray bullet, and Beto wouldn't see her again for 10 years. Initially he did a wide range of jobs; packing groceries, construction work, selling ice cream and working in a coffee shop. Yet his love was always music and dancing, and he became an aerobics teacher.
As Beto's classes grew in popularity he moved to the Colombian capital Bogota, and further grew his following over the next 13 years. He was even hired by Colombian pop star Shakira to choreograph the dance moves for some of her songs.
The name Zumba didn't exist at the time though, as he instead called his classes "rumba", meaning party. Zumba, dubbed a "dance party" rather than a workout, grew from an improvised dance class in a Colombian aerobics studio in the '80s to a widespread exercise phenomenon.
Although the fitness program of Zumba started in the late s, Zumba has roots in Latin dances such as the merengue, salsa, cumbia and samba that date back in some cases to the 17th and 18th centuries.
Flamenco, for example, originated in Spain in the 18th century. Cumbia, which originated in Colombia as an infusion of Latin and African influence, established a presence in the early 19th century. The interplay of these Latin rhythm and dance styles come together to define Zumba. Alberto "Beto" Perez initiated the Latin dance class now known as Zumba in an aerobics class in Cali, Colombia in Perez arrived to teach class one day without his traditional aerobics music, so he substituted Latin music he had with him at the time.
The improvised class was a hit with his students. The literature is clear that Zumba can provide cardiovascular benefits, but the jury is out on whether there are significant benefits to flexibility and strength. Unless you're taking Zumba classes, such as Strong by Zumba, that specifically incorporate strength-training moves as a primary component of the workout, you shouldn't view Zumba as a well-rounded general fitness class.
In addition to taking two to three Zumba classes a week, you may want to add a few strength training and flexibility activities to your schedule as well. Consider trying a minute strength circuit followed by a minute stretching session on days you're not doing Zumba.
Zumba is considered a generally safe fitness activity, but because all physical activity carries inherent risk, you should think about your own physical health before diving into a program. If you have a known lower-extremity injury, or if you have a history of ankle or knee problems , talk to your doctor before trying Zumba, or start with a lower-impact version of the program, such as Zumba Gold or Aqua Zumba. And if you're brand-new to dance choreography, don't overdo it and push yourself too hard.
Give yourself time to master the movements at your own pace. Moving quickly or without coordination can lead to an increased risk of injury. Zumba is a fun, effective dance workout that is a good option for people who enjoy upbeat music and an energetic group exercise environment. Here's how it compares to other similar classes. Jazzercise is the original dance-fitness class that took the world by storm in the s and s.
While it experienced a bit of a resurgence in the s, Jazzercise has yet to return to the popularity of its heyday.
That said, like Zumba, it offers choreographed dance moves to upbeat music in a fun, group environment. If you want the atmosphere of Zumba, but you don't feel comfortable with the booty-shaking vigor of Zumba's dance choreography, Jazzercise might be a mellower option for you.
BUTI Yoga is a workout that combines high-intensity exercise with African dance-inspired choreography and yoga flows. The nice thing about BUTI is that it really does hit all the bases for general fitness—you'll develop strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. The program is also available online and through independent instructors at gyms and fitness centers, so you can access classes pretty much wherever you are.
That said, the movements are less appropriate for a general audience, making it more suitable for healthy adults with a solid baseline of fitness, rather than an older audience or those with known health issues or injuries. Barre fitness classes are highly popular programs most often available at boutique fitness studios.
These workouts tend to be focused more on flexibility , muscular endurance , and core strength , and less on cardiovascular fitness. The movements are slower and more controlled, and while the classes are choreographed, you're not trying to keep up with a series of fast-paced steps. Barre workouts may be a good supplement to Zumba, as strength and flexibility are a greater focus.
They're also considered a low-impact workout which can be a good option for beginners or those with known lower-extremity injuries. Zumba provides a fun and positive workout experience with options appropriate for almost all ages and ability levels. There's a lot of independent research to support the efficacy of the program and not much to detract from its potential benefits.
However, if you don't like dancing, fast-paced choreography, or Latin-inspired music, Zumba might not be a good fit for you. But if you're looking for an addictively fun, high-energy group dance workout set to upbeat music, Zumba is a great one to try.
Get exercise tips to make your workouts less work and more fun. Health benefits of Zumba fitness training: A systematic review. Araneta MR, Tanori D. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. A survey of musculoskeletal injuries associated with Zumba. Hawaii J Med Public Health. An 8-week exercise intervention based on Zumba improves aerobic fitness and psychological well-being in healthy women.
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Table of Contents. Original Zumba. Types of Classes. How It Works. Pros and Cons. How Zumba Compares.
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