Zumba Fitness ---Ditch the workout, join the party!

I can't remember exactly when or how I heard about Zumba Fitness.  I think it was right around June of 2011, maybe around the same time Pitbull released his single, "Pause", and Zumba Fitness came out with a video.  Yes, maybe it was around that time.  What I know is that I've fallen in love with Zumba Fitness and it's been quite difficult getting through a week without attending a class.

A lot of people have been asking me what Zumba is, and to satisfy a lot of curious minds, I asked a licensed and certified Zumba Fitness instructor, Dan Cabiling, to shed some light on frequently asked questions, and I dig some digging around myself :)

What is Zumba Fitness?  How long has it been around?

Zumba Fitness--- a brand name that is copyrighted and patented--- consists of Latin and world beat rhythm.  The original  fitness party was originally created by Beto Perez in the mid 90's when he forgot to bring his traditional aerobics music to a class he was teaching and so he made use of music from tapes in his backpack (salsa and merengue).  Instead of counting reps over the music, he moved to the rhythm of the music, and his class LOVED it.  The fitness party was born!

Beto Perez

According to the website, www.zumba.com, Zumba Fitness officially became a company in 2001, when Beto  brought his new dance-fitness style to Florida.

More than a workout, it's definitely a party-- I could attest to this.  We usually dance salsa, samba, cha cha, belly dancing, tahitian, hip hop, reggae, and a whole lot more!  There's nothing like an hour of Zumba class at the gym---specially when the instructor lets us freestyle! Yes, I've done the Dougie in Zumba class and I've shuffled to Party Rock Anthem a couple of times, too :)

What music can you use for the class? (Trust me, it's hard to call it a "class" because it sure doesn't feel like one.)

As a licensed and certified Zumba Fitness instructor, Dan gets music from Zumba Fitness every month, and he can use any Latin and world beat music of his choice---30% of the music is chosen by the instructor depending on the personality of the class, and 70% would be original Zumba Fitness music.  Personally, Dan likes to use catchy music from Latin Pop Artists like J-Lo, Pitbull, Shakira, Daddy Yankee, Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin.  He uses music from different decades, as well as Caribbean, African, Bollywood, hip hop, and country music. He even uses music from musical theater productions.  

Zumba Fitness Caipirinha Music Video

An hour of Zumba Fitness could burn more calories than an hour of jogging, how much does it actually burn?  How come it burns more than jogging?

Doing Zumba Fitness for 30-60 minutes could burn 400-800 calories depending on how one would move and depending on the intensity of the choreography.  It is actually an uneven intermittent workout or uneven interval workout wherein anaerobic music  is alternated with aerobic music (songs that play around 145 beats per minute).  Aerobic music is used for endurance which strengthens ones heart , and anaerobic music is used to speed up metabolism through muscle toning.

How does one become a Zumba Fitness Instructor?  

There are 2 types of Zumba Fitness Instructors---one is a  licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor who took the Zumba Basic Training Course (I'm thinking about taking this course...), and the other is a licensed instructor who took the basic training course and is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).  Dan is a licensed and certified Zumba Fitness Instructor, and a good one at that! :)

Where can people attend Zumba Fitness classes?

Dan holds classes at Gold's Gym Libis and Galleria.  I wasn't able to ask him if he teaches at other Gold's Gym branches, but there are other awesome instructors at other branches like Liway and John Cuay (who teaches at Galleria also).  They are my personal favorites :)

Zumba Apparel, where can we buy them?

Purchases could be made through www.zumba.com or thru a local retailer in Pampanga (a personal friend of Dan), her name is Nikki Mae Ocampo (message me for contact info).

Whew!  It kind of feels like I said all of that in one breath!  Until my next post! :)

Sources: Dan Cabiling, licensed and certified Zumba Fitness Instructor

                 www.zumba.com; zumbawitme.com.p2.hostingprod.com (Beto Perez' photo)