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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 Equipment for Zumba Routines



Zumba routines do not require you to wear any special equipment but that will never stop people from trying to have a little fun. The best thing about Zumba routines is that they don’t require much equipment to be effective. That said, you do need to make sure you’re wearing the right clothing to perform the moves comfortably. Here’s a guide to what you should wear, and some other accessories that might come in handy, for your Zumba classes.

What Equipment for Zumba Routines

What Equipment for Zumba Routines

What Equipment for Zumba Routines

Clothing – Zumba routines are best performed in clothing you feel comfortable wearing. You can wear traditional sports clothing, just as you would for yoga or any other fitness class. Depending on how confident they feel, some women choose to show off their midriff in a crop top to keep cool. There’s also a range of colorful clothing available in the Zumbawear range, released by the creator of Zumba, but it certainly isn’t necessary to perform the workout.

Shoes – Traditional sneakers aren’t always the best choice for Zumba, as they could slip on the smooth surface of the dance hall when you’re moving around at high speed. Instead, opt for sneakers that have been designed for dance to ensure you don’t slip as you perform the various moves.

Zumba Toning Sticks – Toning Sticks are much like traditional dumbbells, with a few important differences. Aside from the rounded design, the main difference is that the Toning Sticks are filled with sand. Not only does this create the weight that you need to get fit and tone up, it also turns these fitness items into musical instruments!Toning Sticks really enhance the traditional Zumba vibe by encouraging you to shake in time with the music and have some fun!

Zumba Chain Tassels – These chains are more for decoration than anything else. The fact that they rattle and make noise as you dance will encourage you to stay in time and literally “feel” the music.

Wipe Away Sleeves/ Sweatbands – You’ll find a few different “Wipe Away Sleeves” in the Zumbawear range. These are designed to be worn over the arms. As you work up a sweat, use these sleeves to wipe it off your face and keep yourself feeling as comfortable as possible. Another alternative is to wear a sweatband on your head and wrists.

Zumba Belt For Games – If you prefer to do your Zumba workouts from the comfort of your own home then you’ll want to get hold of a fitness belt to use with your game. Unless you’re using Kinect, you’ll need the fitness belt to house your controller and keep track of how you’re moving.

Remember, Zumba routines really don’t require much equipment or special clothing! You can get them as you advance, but for now you just need to turn up with a bottle of water ready to replenish all that sweat you’ll be losing!