Zumba: Shake, Shimmy and Salsa!

DB-based, certified Zumba instructor (ZIN) Dionina de Guzman shows Kayli Liebenberg how easy it is to dance your way to fitness

ZUMBA FEELS LIKE A DANCE PARTY rather than a workout which is why so many people love it. It was created by a Columbian, an aerobic teacher called Alberto Pérez, so the music is mainly Latin – Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa, Reggaeton – with some modern tunes thrown in.

IF YOU JOIN AN OFFICIAL ZUMBA CLASS in any part of the world, you should be able to follow along. This is because licensed instructors all pay a monthly fee to receive around 13 different songs each with their own choreography. Class lasts from 50 minutes to an hour.

YOU CAN TAKE A CLASS AT ANY AGE: there’s Zumba Gold, a lower-intensity version of the typical Zumba class, for the over 50s and there are Zumba classes designed specifically for kids. The basic class is open to everyone: all ages, fitness levels and genders.

IF YOU’RE DOING ZUMBA TO KEEP FIT, you should be doing it a minimum of two times a week. An aerobic form of exercise, it improves flexibility, coordination and stamina, while also enhancing balance and agility. High- and low-intensity intervals ensure a cardio fat-burning workout.

IF YOU’RE A BEGINNER, you need to listen to your body. Some people can dance for an hour, nonstop, but if you feel tired after one or two songs, take it easy and rest. And always do your warm-up first: a minimum eight-minute stretch, along with warm-up dances to three songs.

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF ZUMBA: there’s Zumba Toning where you’re dancing while holding dumbbells. There’s Zumba Steps, Aqua Zumba and some classes where you’re using a chair.

IT HELPS IF YOU HAVE NATURAL RHYTHM but the steps are designed so that everyone can follow along very easily. Instructors gives cues, like hand signals, to show you which direction to go.

A FULL-BODY DANCE-FITNESS WORKOUT, Zumba tones almost every muscle group. You use your core, arms and legs; there are a lot of squats and lunges, so it’s a good glute workout. You also use your hips a lot. You need to be conscious of the muscles you’re engaging when you’re doing a move to get the most benefit.

ZUMBA MAKES YOU FEEL EMPOWERED and stress-free. The workout is fun and exhilarating, and you get the chance to meet like-minded people. It’s also a major confidence booster because regardless of your shape or size, whether you’re introverted or extroverted, instructors make sure you feel comfortable and empowered.

Dionina de Guzman of Zumba with Dionina provides Zumba classes at the YogaUp space in DB North Plaza (1/F, Unit 7) every day, 11.45am and 1.30pm, for dance enthusiasts aged 12 and up. A fully licensed Zumba instructor (ZIN), Dionina also provides subsidised classes for migrant domestic workers. To find out more, call 9317 6793, email [email protected] or visit Instagram @zumbadionina.