Written by: Jazmin Gelista on January 26, 2009.

Latin dance moves and spicy music make Zumba the newest fitness trend

Latin dance moves and spicy music make Zumba the newest fitness trend. Photo by: Steven Lawton

Movement, rhythm and sexiness adrenaline rushes through the body as dance takes over the feet and the excitement of aerobics are seen in the hips.

Imagine an exotic place where you can work out, feel sexy and forget about daily routines. Escape to Zumba, a new kind of cardio exercise sweeping the nation.

Richard Kislan, the author of several musical theater books, once said, I move; therefore I am. By moving, one knows they are alive especially when you feel your blood pumping within your body by the Zumba rhythms infringing upon every inch of your living cells.

Its always good to workout occasionally to relieve stress and feel better.

According to about.com, Zumba comes from a Columbian word that means to move fast and have fun, which is how explorative gym-goers describe the routine. Combining upbeat Latin music with an intense cardiovascular exercise, Zumba is aerobic dancing that is amusing and easy to learn.

Traci Smith, Zumba instructor at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, said the exercise can be described as, a fusion of all the different styles of Latin dance and a way to forget that youre working out.

Zumba incorporates different styles of Latin dance such as salsa, cumbia, merengue, zumba, bachata, flamenco, bellydancing and reggeaton. By integrating an interval workout with fast and slow dance moves and resistance training, Zumba not only sheds the pounds, but sculpts the body. Smith added that students attend the class to get an entirely different experience, rather than an everyday treadmill workout. Men seem to shy away from sensual Latin dances as apparent in classes dominated by ladies.

Read the original:
New groove in aerobics