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Weight Loss Exercise

Why Group Fitness Works

Whether it is Zumba, bootcamp, yoga or kickboxing, whatever your workout pleasure is, there’s nothing like a great fitness class to get you to the gym and keep you coming back for more.

That’s why major fitness chains keep eyes peeled and ears pricked for the next big thing.

Benefits of Group Fitness

Why Group Fitness Works

Why Group Fitness Works

“The single biggest benefit is community,” said Tim Keightley, who oversees group fitness at Gold’s Gym, which has more than 600 locations around the world. “You meet a community of people so it’s a lot harder not to come back next week.”

Not only do group exercisers visit the gym more often, they are more likely to renew their memberships, according to Keightley, who said industry figures show that group exercisers use the gym about three times a week to the average gym member who goes 1.7 times.

“You throw on the music, you let someone decide the exercise for you,” he said. “It really allows people to escape, which you can’t do when you’re on a treadmill.”

Keightley said his teams put out a new schedule every month. “And two weeks into it they’re already evaluating to see what stays and what goes,” he said.

Thirty-minute workouts, military-style bootcamps, circuit training, and Zumba, the Latin-inspired dance fitness class, are currently what stays, according to Keightley, because they appeal to the 28-to-44-year-old professionals who are Gold’s core clientele.

Read more at Reuters

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Weight Loss Exercise

What is a Zumba Class?




Zumba is the dance fitness craze that is slowly taking the world by storm. The best thing about the Zumba basic workout is the fact that it’s fun! Unlike traditional aerobics, this workout is disguised in the form of a fun dance. Don’t let that fool you though: you will be getting a full body workout in your Zumba class. But what exactly can you expect?

A Zumba class is fun, but don’t expect them to easy. They will require you to work hard! That said, you don’t need to have any experience in dance to join in.

What is a Zumba Class?

What is a Zumba Class

Your Zumba class will usually take place in a traditional dance/ exercise studio with the instructor demonstrating the moves at the front of the class. There are often mirrors to make it easier to see what’s going on. Classes typically last for one hour, with a warm-up at the beginning and cool-down with stretching at the end.

The good news is that it’s nearly impossible for a Zumba class to get boring. The music is a mix of samba, merengue, cumbia and reggaeton. Each track is different from the last one, and a new dance routine comes into effect as the music changes.

Depending on your current fitness levels, you’ll probably start to sweat early on in the class. It helps to wear sweatbands to wipe this away from your face as you dance.

What Are The Zumba Workout Moves Like?

Any Zumba workout will depend on what the instructor is like. Some of the common moves include cha-cha-chas, mambas, side touches and V-steps. It can be difficult to keep up at first, when you have no experience with this kind of dance. However, the more you repeat it then more you’ll find that it sinks in.

What If You Can’t Dance?

Let’s face it, we aren’t all born with the gift of coordination. If you’ve not got the best rhythm, or feel you have “two left feet” when it comes to dancing, can you still benefit from a Zumba basic workout?

Yes, you may find it difficult at first, but this is true with anything new. Just with anything else, however, you’ll find that it gets easier as you go along. The best thing about the Zumba basic workout is that you can start at beginner level. Nobody is scrutinizing your dancing skills here; it’s all about having fun along with the music! As long as you’re moving, even if you don’t get the moves just right, you’re doing it right!

What If I Don’t Enjoy a Zumba Class?

Although few of us associate exercise with fun, Zumba is meant to be just that. The only way you can decide whether or not it’s for you is to try it out! Most people find it a great way to burn calories – a lot more fun than working out at the gym. That said, most instructors will let you test out the Zumba class once before you make a decision to stay or not.