KOCHI: Zumba is becoming a preferred workout regime. And why not? Dancing your way to health is more preferable to lifting weights and slugging it out on the various equipments.
Zumba, a form of dance which enables full body workout, is the next level in aerobics routine. The music is fast, upbeat and contagious.
“Zumba is both a dance and fitness class. Besides being beneficial for the heart, it provides a workout for the whole body. From head and shoulder rolls that loosen up the neck and warm up the upper body, to foot exercises that strengthen and stretch calves and ankles, this method touches nearly every muscle and joint. An average person will burn around 600 to 1,000 calories in a Zumba class,” says Sreejith, a trainer at Leeway Fitness Gym.
The classes are offered at all levels. Standard Zumba is suitable for all, Zumba Gold for senior citizens, Zumba for kids and Aqua-Zumba which is done in swimming pools are the variants.
A Zumba freak Sheeja Ranjith from Beats and Steps, Kalamassery calls it a perfect tool for getting a toned body. She says, “It proved challenging at first. But now I have eased into it. I have lost a lot of weight and this has made me feel confident.”
One doesn’t have to worry about missing a beat. “You can catch up easily. It’s not about executing a perfect step, but going through an entire series of movements that uses every muscle in your body,” she says. Sheeja says, “For ladies, a training plan is drawn up based on the body type. Whereas in the case of men, the height and weight proportion, muscle content, fat percentage and water content are taken into account.”
Benefits of zumba
Burns calories
Lowers risk of heart diseases, blood pressure and cholesterol
Improved body coordination
Aerobic benefits
Controls diabetes
Confidence building and limited age constraints
What the dietician says
Never skip your meals: You may miss on your essential nutrients and you may end up eating more. Eating at a regular time helps burn calories more easier
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables: They are low in calories and fat, high in fibre - the 3 essential ingredients for weight loss
Don’t ban any food: Especially the one you like. This will only make you crave for them more. You can enjoy them occasionally
Drink plenty of water: People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up consuming extra calories
Keep a diet diary: When keeping a diet record book, make sure to track what you ate, how much you ate, anything you added to the food and what you drank
Enjoy exercise: The type of exercise is not as important. As picking an activity that you enjoy. Do your regular workouts to maintain you weight and also a healthy youthful look