Zumba
Nothing’s an accident. But it sounds good when you’re marketing a workout program like Zumba, which supposedly comes from Columbian native Alberto “Beto” Perez. Some accounts say that he found it by accident in his native Columbia, and others say that he developed it when he realized that he had “forgotten” about his dancing roots.
No matter the actual story, Zumba has become one of the most popular workout sensations on the US market ever since its introduction in 2002. Blame it on the hype around South America, blame it on celebrity hype, a lot of people love it. Today, anybody can become a Zumba instructor, making it more available than ever before.
Zumba is Simple
The major appeal of Zumba is the fact that it’s so simple. There are no special moves, no complicated twists and turns. The idea is that if you move in that general direction, you are on the right path. Teachers are encouraged to let students have free rein, at least some free rein, to mix it up and change the moves.
Zumba keeps it down to 4 or 5 moves per workout, and according to some, “People forget they’re in a fitness class.”
How Effective is Zumba?
Zumba does not target one area of the body or for that matter all areas of the body. It is a form of cardio, and it keeps you moving. Other programs that use specific moods do so to target the abs, legs, arms, or other areas for more specific muscle growth and development.
But over time, properly practiced cardio of any kind will burn fat, therefore helping you to get more toned. It may take longer to get results with Zumba than you would with a more targeted approach. But consumers seem happy to wait.
Should You Buy Zumba?
Zumba is a fun way to lose weight, and it’s been described to be like “dancing with the girls.” It’s getting more expensive, because it becomes more elaborate. Zumba now sells clothes, videos, toning sticks, and other tools, all of which makers hope you will buy. But you can keep it minimal and stick to the basic videos to save money while still getting many of the same results.