There are two types of people in this world: Those who Zumba, and those who don’t know what they’re missing.
Invented in the 1990s by fitness expert and choreographer Alberto Perez, Zumba was widely considered a ‘happy accident’. This happy accident has lead an entire generation of health minded, fun loving, and fitness inspired individuals to bounce, shake, and laugh their way to long lasting wellness.
But what makes Zumba so incredible? What makes it a phenomenon that has survived and thrived for over two decades (an eternity in the fitness industry)? Let’s take a look.
- You Lose Weight and Tone Muscles No better way to say this: You lose weight. Rapidly. Effectively. Zumba is a high intensity cardio workout, and works many of the major muscle groups. For those who sluff it off as just being a silly dance class, you are terribly mistaken. Zumba is a real workout with real results. And all that fat you lose? As it melts away, you discover tone and muscles that you long since forgot you had.
- It is Super Social Those that dance together, stay together. There is something about music and dance that bonds people in ways that nothing else can. Everyone walks into the studio nervous and unsure of themselves, and when you break through that fear, you find yourself forever connected to those around you who helped you and supported you. Zumba is an incredibly supportive and social exercise program. You shake, you sing, you sweat together.
- It is Addictive True, most things that are considered addictive are not healthy for us. Zumba is the happy exception to this rule. The endorphins, the sweat, the music – all of these things will get stuck in your soul and drive you to go back to the next class. It is the addictive nature of Zumba that makes it stand out as well as stand the test of time. Participants find themselves planning their next class, singing the songs, dancing in the car, or looking for new outfits for Zumba classes. In other words, they leave the Zumba studio, but the Zumba studio doesn’t leave them.
At the end of the day, any type of exercise can bring you weight loss, friendship, and keep you coming through the door, but there is something about Zumba that separates it from any other exercise program or cardio workout. Whether you like to dance, like to sing, or just want to shed some weight, Zumba is a ‘happy accident’ that does all that and much more.