Zumba

It’s easy to find a wide variety of zumba classes that are targeted for specific purposes, or people. For instance, Zumba Gold is a low-intensity workout designed for older participants. Aqua Zumba is another low-intensity, low-impact form of zumba dance that you can take in a swimming pool. You can also find zumba classes for kids, as well as zumba workouts that emphasize toning and strength building.

“Zumba dance” refers to a workout that incorporates latin, salsa-inspired dance movement to build cardio health and fitness. In fact, “Zumba” and “dance” are two words that are somewhat interchangeable, as all zumba classes revolve around dance moves that are paired with international or Latin-themed music.

Is zumba just a workout fad or does it actually work? So far, studies are showing that zumba classes can offer participants an effective, calorie-burning workout. Granted, the level of aerobic activity in any given class depends on you, and it’s important to avoid overdoing it. But you can likely count on receiving cardiovascular and mental benefits by taking a class.

If you’re looking to lose weight, zumba may be a good option—since it increases your heart rate and burns calories. This independent study found that an average zumba class burns 369 calories. For a low-impact aerobic activity, you can try a variation of the exercise, like Aqua Zumba—to lose weight while taking it easy on your joints.

Whether you’re participating in-person, or taking zumba classes online, you can enjoy the many benefits of this popular dance movement. Zumba dance not only improves your mood with fun, upbeat choreography and music, but it also builds cardio endurance and burns calories. You may find that a zumba class will also improve your sense of rhythm, while giving you some new dance moves to try.