Best Self Help

Zumba Dancing – Fitness for the Heart

There is a new dance craze sweeping the nation. It is called Zumba and is reshaping bodies and health for people of all ages.

This mix of Latin, salsa, samba, meringue, cumbia and hip hop dancing burst on the scene in the nineties. It began to gain popularity in the last several years as fitness clubs, dance clubs and videos are showing people how to get fit and have fun at the same time.

One benefit of exercise is an improved mood and focus. What if you could get that without feeling that you actually did some work? For those who have never danced before, the steps will come to you in time. Actually you burn more calories learning them.

In a typical Zumba workout, you can burn as many as 600 or more calories in an hour. And, that hour goes by fast when you are really into the session.

So how do you burn so much fat and get in shape? For one, combining different dance moves requires core control. That means squeezing your abs so you stand up straight and are able to move in so many different directions without injury.

There are elements of plyometric exercises like the ones athletes do in training. These short bursts increase your heart rate and also strengthen the muscles in the legs.

Zumba is a full body workout. To increase heart rate, you not only keep your legs moving but your arms raised above your head. The arms are an integral part of the moves so you are always working your cardiovascular system.

There is more than one level of dance with Zumba so it works to increase the heart health of all ages. If you can’t do the jumps at first, then move on the floor but keep your arms going and the energy high so you still burn fat and calories. To keep you motivated, many of today’s hottest tunes are set to routines. Instructors are taught how to break down the moves for you and demonstrate them slowly at first before moving up to tempo.

Zumba is not all fast, though. You may get a mix of belly dancing music and all that hip action to strengthen hip flexors and improve abdominal strength. By alternating between fast and slower sequences, you get to regulate your breathing so you can keep up without being overtired.

And, the more you participate, the better your heart rate and lung function. Now, you can show off your dance moves, get your groove on and burn calories at the same time. If Zumba is too high impact for you, there are also aquatic Zumba options, Zumba toning and Zumba for kids.

Here are the latest savings on Zumba Fitness products from a few of our favorite retailers:

Five Exercises that are Actually Fun!

Exercising is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself. But one of the reasons people end up not following their fitness routines is out of sheer boredom.

It is easy to get bored when you try to follow the same workout routine all the time. It is important to change up your workout routine frequently with exercise you find truly fun.

Here are five of the top exercises to keep the boredom blues away.

Belly Dancing

Belly dancing is a type of dance that focuses on isolating and using your stomach muscles to move your body. On top of the great cardio workout that you get from dancing, belly dancing works stomach muscles that may not get used often.

Here are some Belly Dancing DVDs to try:
Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation
Bellydance Fitness for Beginners – Arms, Abs, Hips, Buns & Thighs
Luscious – The Bellydance Workout for Beginners

Spinning Classes

When you poke your head into a spinning class, you will see rows and rows of stationary bikes. You may begin to think that this will just be your usual bike ride. Think again. A spinning class is like a bike ride turned on its head. A spinning class will leave you exhausted and wanting more.

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Ice Skating

This exercise may seem more like something that you see children do. It is the same exercise. Gliding on the ice on a pair of skates is an exercise in control as well as a great calorie burn. It takes many muscles to keep you upright on the thin blade of a pair of ice skates. So lace up and get going.

Boxing

Have you ever watched a boxing match and wondered how those guys stay in such great shape? Boxing is a great workout for your upper body and your legs. The movements of your legs as you lean to punch the bag will get you toned in no time. You can begin by using a punching bag to help you get into shape. As you learn more about boxing, you can even move on to sparring with partners.

Or try a little kickboxing. I’m a Tae Bo addict!

Try these:
Tae Bo: Advanced Live 3 [VHS]
Tae Bo: Basic Live 2 [VHS]

Swimming

There is a reason why swimmers have such toned bodies. Swimming is a sport that works every muscle group as you go through your paces. This exercise is one that can be done by people at any level of fitness. Jump in the water and swim your way to a healthy body.