Zumba adds Latin flavor to aerobic workout
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It’s sometimes called “Shakira aerobics.”
Zumba is a hot fusion of Latin dance and floor aerobics, and it's hitting fitness clubs and YMCAs and recreation centers in many cities. Invented in Colombia in the 1990s when aerobics instructor Beto Perez forgot his music and had to use the salsa tapes he had in his car, Zumba invaded the United States in 1999. It's not quite a dance class, not quite aerobics, but something very fast-paced and hip-heavy in between.
The moves are Latin-inspired, sometimes downright sexy and fun to do and watch.
“One of the guidelines is that 70 percent of the music has to be international beats,” said Heather Westerfield, a Zumba instructor at Fitness Lady in Pearl. “It’s a little different than the typical athletic dance class.”
Another difference, she said, is that instructors can’t speak. Instructions to participants must be through hand signals and other non-verbal cues.
“It’s a great core workout,” Westerfield said. “It involves a lot of abs and back. It’s great for cardio. It gets your heart rate up and burns a lot of calories.”
Classes last 45 minutes to an hour, and ability to dance is not a prerequisite.
“People love it,” she said. “They come out in droves for this. It’s a lot of fun. … It’s fun music, and stuff people have heard sometimes.”
Like songs by Shakira.
“Beto did choreography for her,” Westerfield said, “so her music is featured a lot."
For more information, visit www.zumbafitness.com.
— The Detroit Free Press contributed to this story.
