What Is Zumba And Will It Help You Lose Weight?

When it comes to losing weight and being healthy, you have to focus on two things - exercising and eating right. Neither is easy, with the former only working if you find an activity you actually enjoy. There’s no point forcing yourself to go out running if you hate it because you’ll just give up on it before long. That’s why you might want to consider doing Zumba. It’s an exercise with a Latin twist, and it could be exactly what you need to lose weight.

The beauty of dance

When you think of dancing, you probably think of cheesy discos or letting your hair down in a club. In those instances, it’s all about feeling the music and letting your body do whatever it wants. That’s precisely the kind of passion that you need for Zumba, although the activity does require more precise movements than your average dad dance.

You don’t have to be a pro by any means. Whether you’re able to follow the instructor perfectly, or your movements are very loosely based on what they’re doing, it doesn’t matter. However, the more accurate your motions are, the greater the benefits you’ll reap. That’s because Zumba is about more than just moving your body to the music - it’s proper dancing.

What is Zumba?

Originating from Colombia, Zumba classes take the best parts of Latin dance and music and combine it into one energetic experience. Mixing styles from salsa, merengue, and flamenco, you’ll find yourself learning moves you never imagined as you twist, bounce and dance the fat away. Although there are moments to stop and take a breather, and some songs are less energetic than others, you don’t go to Zumba if you want to take it easy. These classes are all about pushing yourself to the limit and having fun doing it.

While Zumba does work best in a group, you don’t have to go to classes to get the experience. There are DVDs and even video games that will help you achieve the same results without the potential of embarrassing yourself in front of strangers. It’s up to you how you partake in Zumba; what matters is that you enjoy it.

Will it help with weight loss?

All you need to do is take one look at a Zumba class to know it’ll help you lose weight. Dancing of any kind is great for your fitness because you have to use your whole body, and it’s no different with these classes. Nearly every dance is high energy and forces you to be active in your movements, no matter how much fuel you have left in the tank.

A 60-minute class will easily help you burn off several hundred calories, and that’s not all. Zumba is also great for improving flexibility and strengthening your muscles, things which make it even easier to shed the pounds. With that in mind, what are you waiting for?

Zumba can be incredibly daunting for newcomers, but you’ll soon realize all that matters is having fun. As long as you do that, the time will fly by, and the weight will fall off.