Dance workout Zumba

Programs like Dancing With The Stars and Strictly Come Dancing have inspired more and more people to dance their way to fitness. Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff says, "It is really great that people are dancing. It's something that anyone can do of any age or any level of fitness. It is wonderful when you move to the music – you don't feel like you are exercising but you are."

Dance aerobics or dancercise has always been a popular way to improve fitness and reduce stress, and the present craze is on the Zumba dance workout. But surprisingly it's been around a while. Zumba Fitness originated in Cali, Colombia, and was introduced to the United States by celebrity trainer Beto Perez way back in the mid-1990s. Today it is taught in 60,000 locations in over 105 countries worldwide. The different kinds of music used in Zumba keep the body from adapting and makes the workout interesting.



The Zumba workout is a mix of dance movements like salsa, samba, cha cha, and merengue, with some hip hop thrown in. It also involves jumping, squatting and kicks, which give the body an anaerobic strength workout. One hour of Zumba can burn between 500 to 1000 calories. It has varying levels of intensity because Zumba is based on interval training. The faster bits and strength movements get your heart rate up, while the slower bits allow you recovery time to catch your breath. Dancing is all about having fun after all!