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Why You Should Attend a Zumba Class
Emma Celeste Scott
9415
English Persuasive Writing
Pearblossom Private School, Inc.
12-17-13
Abstract
Party
yourself into shape! Zumba is the perfect way to stay healthy and happy. It is great for people of all ages! Zumba fitness class is the perfect place to
make new friends and have fun! In this
essay, you will learn about the different dance styles used in a Zumba class
and what kind of music they play. Also,
I will tell you about the different classes made available. You will also learn about the origins of
Zumba, what classes are like, some of the many benefits to your health Zumba
can have, and much more!
Why You Should Attend a Zumba
Class
Hello
my name is Emma Scott, and I am a Zumba enthusiast! I believe that Zumba is a great way to exercise while still
having fun and that everyone should go to a Zumba class at least once to try
it! Let
me tell you a little about Zumba’s background. Zumba was created by accident
when in 1986 Colombian-born aerobics teacher Alberto “Beto” Perez accidentally forgot his usual music tape at
home. He decided to use a mix tape he personally liked to dance to that was
full of salsa and meringue music. It
was a hit! “Everybody loved it!” says Perez.
Zumba’s success grew steadily after Perez moved to Miami. In 2002 Perez,
Perelman, and young entrepreneur Alberto Aghion began selling Zumba Instruction
DVDs’ and were very successful. In
2005, they started a program to teach those interested in teaching their own
Zumba classes.
Today it is estimated that over 14
million people around the world attend Zumba classes weekly, and many train to
become Zumba instructors. Perez has a
theory on why his invention is such a success “When I dance, it makes me happy”
he says. “When you smile something
positive happens in your body” many think he may be on to something “not taking yourself too seriously is
incredibly important for our mental well-being. Learning to dance focuses the attention away from any worries,
but you also have to forgive yourself for making mistakes, and laugh at
yourself!” says professor Mark
Williams, a clinical physiologist at the university of Oxfords Department of
Psychiatry, “people have real problems, but research has shown that brooding
about them too much brings about a cycle of stress and depression that can skew
our perception and make the things that bother us seem even more difficult to
deal with.” (“Is there anything Zumba
can’t tackle?” - Barney Calman)
Zumba helps to keep your body
healthy and your immune system strong, which helps keep you from getting
sick. Also, some in the medical world
have been saying for years that Zumba has amazing health benefits. Many who had back or neck problems before
taking classes see much improvement and are even cured! Zumba can also help manage many different
diseases according to “Is There Anything Zumba Cant Tackle - by Barney
Calman” “Research at Minot State
University in North Dakota has indicated that classes not only have an effect
on physical fitness, but also on cognitive (mental) function. “There was another study done in which 35
participants all over the age of 65 took either a Zumba class or a Yoga class
30 minutes twice a week. After 6 weeks,
they were given a series of tests and all of them showed considerable
improvement. Zumba with its repetitive
movements also can help prevent memory loss, and it can even help to slow down
Parkinson‘s disease. Rhythmic rocking
back and forth and shifting weight from foot to foot was found to help the most. Some people have gotten rid of their
diabetes partly due to their taking regular Zumba classes and having a healthy
diet. But what is Zumba? Well Zumba is a Latin-dance inspired workout
that features salsa, merengue, hip-hop, cumbia, mambo, flamenco, cha cha cha,
reggaeton, soca, samba, and tango music.
Songs by many popular singers are featured such as Rihanna and Jennifer
Lopez, as well as some not so well know artists. Zumba’s choreography incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa,
merengue, mambo, and martial arts.
Zumba instructors add their own personal touches to the routines to make
everything a little more interesting.
Zumba Fitness instructors are trained to explain with their bodies and
with hand motions which steps to follow.
Zumba provides a workout for your entire body, and it is very good for
heart health. Zumba fitness mainly
focuses on the hips, abs, thighs, and butt.
Even if you are just learning the dance steps, you will probably wake up
the next morning with some very sore muscles.
Zumba is a great way to tone your body
“You engage a ton of muscles, often unaware that you are incorporating
traditional fitness moves like squats and lunges into your choreography.”
(“12 Health Benefits of Zumba.”
n.d.) Essentially it is fun
which makes you come back which in turn makes you loose weight. “Why have a workout when you can have a
party!?” That is the Zumba Logo! Just what are some of the benefits of
attending a Zumba class? What makes a
Zumba Fitness workout better than any other workout? Well what is really cool about Zumba Fitness is that the dance
moves can be modified to match a participants level of fitness, coordination,
and ability. Zumba classes are designed
to allow people at any level of fitness to get a good workout while still
having fun! Taking these classes can
also improve your coordination. Zumba
gives you greater confidence in yourself because the dance moves can lower
inhabitations and can also improve your posture which will give you even more
confidence. According to a study done
by Zumba instructor and education specialist Kass Martin the average number of
calories burned in an hour of Zumba class is 817 compare that to the average
amount of calories burnt bike riding for an hour which is 520. Some people even burn over 1000 calories
during an hour of Zumba class. Dance those calories away! Zumba is also a great way to relieve your body
of stress; it puts the body into a sort of endorphin-release zone “It really
does improve your mood! The music is so
infectious and its just so much fun!”
Says Kass Martin (“12 Health Benefits
of Zumba.“ n.d.). Many people agree that the time spent in
class goes by fast; the reason for that is that it does not feel like a
workout, for many it is a fun way to use up some energy making an hour go by
like minutes because you feel like you are in a night club, not an exercise
class. Almost wherever you go you can
find a class to attend, even in India!
All you have to do is log on to the website (www.zumba.com), and you can
find classes near you by typing in your zip code. Even if you live in an area where there are not any classes close
to you, you can buy a Zumba class video on DVD or you could purchase one of the
multiple Zumba Fitness video games they have for gaming systems such as wii and
Xbox. There are different kinds of
classes to choose from besides traditional Zumba as well, some of them include
Zumba Step, Zumba Toning, Aqua Zumba, Zumba Sentao, Zumba Gold, Zumba Gold Toning, Zumba Kids, Zumba Kids Jr., Zumbini, and Zumba in the
circuit! Zumba Toning involves using
light weight, maraca like toning sticks while performing traditional Zumba
dance moves. Aqua Zumba is done in a pool, combining the Zumba philosophy with
traditional aquatic fitness. Zumba
Sentao uses a chair with many of the moves to help strengthen your core and
sculpt your muscles. Zumba Gold is a
class designed specifically for older adults who wish to be more active. Zumba Kids is for children ages 7-11 and
Zumba Kids Jr. is for children ages 4-6 these classes are all about teaching
kids to be fearless on the dance floor, just be themselves, and have fun. Zumbini is for parents, and their toddlers
ages 0-3, this class is a very good bonding experience and great for the
child’s development. Zumba classes are
a great place to hangout with friends old or new! Lots of people attend Zumba class with some of their
friends. If they choose to go alone,
they soon find themselves making friends with many people in the class. From my personal experience, I have learned
that Zumba is a great opportunity to hangout with friends and workout at the
same time. In fact, people love doing
Zumba with their friends so much that many are now hosting Zumba Fitness
party’s in their houses or at community centers. Don’t know if you can handle a Zumba class? “You don’t need any dance experience!” says Christie “Love” Etter a Zumba instructor
in Wildwood, Florida “Just move your
body and follow my lead, Its easy!”
When attending a class you get to wear really cute colorful outfits that
are also comfortable so that you can move properly while dancing. Loose comfortable tank tops, yoga pants, and
capris are good clothes to wear. But
this is a Zumba class, so you have to give your outfit the Zumba touch by
wearing super colorful and fun clothes, workout in style! Also make sure to wear some colorful and
comfortable sneakers. You can buy all
kinds of cute workout gear on the Zumba website. In conclusion, Zumba is a great way to start making some new changes
in your life. It is a good way to start
reaching some of your fitness goals and have a healthier happier life. You can party yourself into shape. Zumba style!
References
Calman,
B. (2013). Is there anything Zumba cant tackle? Mail Online. Retrieved on December
Coleman, E., R.D., L.D. How Many Calories Does Your Body Burn an Hour? Chron.
burn-hour-2199.html: Demand Media
Etter, C.
About me. Christie “Love”
Etter. Retrieved on December 3,
2013 from http://
Gaynes,
S. (2011). 12 healthy benefits of Zumba. Huffpost Healthy Living. Retrieved on
of-zumba_n_1011261.html
Jairam
, S. (2013). Dance away the weight with Zumba. The HealthSite. Retrieved
on
Luettgen,
M. Zumba Fitness: Sure its fun but is
it affective? ACE Certified News. Retrieved on
December 3, 2013 from http://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/2813/
Party yourself into shape. Zumba Fitness.
Retrieved on December 3, 2013 from
http://www.zumba.com/en-US/party/classes/class-zumba-fitness
Sarnataro, B. R.
Zumba: Fun is secret ingredient of Latin dance workout. WebMD. Retrieved
Schultz,
B. Zumba for your health. Hudson Valley Parent. December 3, 2013 from
Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. (2013). Zumba. Retrieved on December 3, 2013 from
Watson,
F. (2013). Zumba workout benefits. Livestrong.com. Retrieved on December 3, 2013
from http://www.livestrong.com/article/68324-zumba-workout-benefits/
