If you are ready to party and dance yourself into shape, then zumba may be your ticket. zumba is all about having fun while working out, and guarantees exhilaration while still being easy and effective. This calorie-burning, Latin-inspired dance-fitness program is becoming increasingly popular all over the world. We sent Angela Beitz to find out why.
How did you discover zumba?
I am Japanese, and zumba was brought to Japan about six or seven years ago. One of the people I worked with at the fitness centre introduced me to it, and then from there I was trained as a zumba instructor.
How does one become an instructor anyway?
I’d been to the zumba basic training course in Japan, and I brought that back to the fitness centre where I’d been offering aerobics, step and Pilates, and some other classes. There are a lot of trained and certified zumba instructors, so I had to go through the auditions to have my own classes in those clubs.
Who should zumba?
zumba is amazing for anyone! The zumba movements are designed to be so simple and easy to follow, so anyone can do zumba – and you certainly don’t have to be an experienced dancer. Of course if you are a dancer you will still enjoy it, because it has the same elements of dancing and is still a really fun work out. We have plenty of songs that we can use, so I try to change the songs for every class. I feel it’s important to do this for regular attendees who like the challenge; otherwise it becomes a bit repetitive.
So you don’t need to be a dancer, but do you need a lot of coordination?
When I started teaching in Abu Dhabi a year ago, all of the people were just beginners, so most of them didn’t know how to dance and weren’t overly coordinated. Some of them really hesitated to be in the dancing lessons, but after a while they loved it and got so into the program. I think the power of music is really important to get people exercising. Once you get used to the music and the dance moves people really start to enjoy it. My best advice is to just relax and have fun.
Do you have any success stories from people who take your classes?
Plenty! One lady lost more than five kilograms in four months, which was fantastic, and I was so happy to see her results. A lot of people report back to me that their size is getting smaller when they go shopping. One lady told me that zumba was the first place in Abu Dhabi where she found friends, a place to communicate, and release herself from work and other things which made me really happy.
Do we need to bring anything along if we want to jump in?
You do not need any equipment; you should just wear comfortable workout clothing and bring a towel and awater bottle. There is the program called Zumba Toning which requires light dumbbells, or Aqua Zumba which is held in the pool, but for regular classes you just need the basics.
What would you say to those who want to purchase zumba DVDs, rather than taking a group session?
The DVD is definitely worth it if you want to practice each step at home, without everyone’s eyes on you. But I think it is better to join a class, as it motivates you a lot more. I keep an eye on each person in my class, try to communicate and motivate each person to be in the rhythm together. The DVD is great though for when you are on holidays, or don’t have access to classes.
Why do you think zumba has become such a craze over the last few years?
I think it caught on for many reasons. The spirit of the founder of zumba, Mr. Beto Perez, is inspirational, and because of him all instructors are trained to offer the class so that the attendees get the most out of it. His motto is ‘put your egos aside in the studio’ and I remind myself of these words every time I start the lesson. And all of the music offered from zumba headquarters is fantastic; the songs have the power to make people feel excited and to make you want to exercise. And one of the main reasons is that you can burn around 500 to 800 calories in a 60-minute lesson, so zumba-addicted members love the results.
Dhs45 per session, Wednesdays 8.30am-9.30, and 6.30pm-7.30pm. Walks-ins are allowed. Bodylines Club, Beach Rotana, Tourist Club Area (02 697 9333).
