Ditch the Workout...Join the Party!

What is a Zumba fitness class like? It's a very exciting dance party atmosphere full of Latin and international music. You'll forget you're working out with the sexy but simple moves to dance music like Cha Cha, Salsa, reggaeton, rumba and more. Best of all, you don't need any previous dance experience!

It's fun and effective, using interval training combining fast and slow rhythms for an effective aerobic workout while at the same time targetting your legs, abs, glutes and arms.

The workout is basically watch and follow. The moves are repeated often enough for you to catch on and they're not complicated. The routines are repeated week after week with additions every now and then to spice things up even more!

According to the Zumba website, "Zumba combines high energy and motivating music with unique moves and combinations that allow the Zumba participants to dance away their worries. It is based on the principle that a workout should be 'FUN AND EASY TO DO' in order for Zumba participants to stick to the Zumba fitness program to achieve long-term health benefits. Zumba is not only great for the body, but it is also great for the mind. It is a 'feel happy' workout."

Zumba is very infectious and is definitely the latest, most exciting fitness sensation! What a fun way to workout to lose weight or just become a healthier new you - you'll love the results. Be sure to bring your family and friends to be a part of the Zumba Fitness party! Check out the Zumba website here for more info: http://www.zumba.com/. Happy Zumba-ing :-)

Zumba with Heather: http://www.energiezumba.com

What Shoes do I use for ZUMBA?

Thanks to www.dancenyoga.com!

This is a really good question. Wearing proper athletic shoes will make or break your exercise experience.

When I first started teaching zumba I wore my same old athletic shoes that I was wearing for everything, from running the treadmills to walking outside and they were pretty well-broken in. After a couple of weeks my feet and knees started to really hurt! I thought it may be due to the shoes I was wearing so I went out and bought some Nike Air Max 360 shoes. They are classified as running shoes but for me all the air cushioning was exactly what I needed. I tried on different shoes and these shoes
made my feet feel so supported so I gave them a try. As soon as I switched to these shoes my feet and knees didn't hurt at all anymore.

First of all, Zumba is not a dance technique class. If anything, it is an aerobic class so you need to wear aerobic type shoes. It is recommended to have shoes that have both lateral and vertical support as you would find in a cross-trainer. You also want to look for a shoe that does not have too much traction on the bottom of the sole. Too much traction will make your feet stick to the floor during those gliding salsa moves! Usually running shoes have this kind of traction. My first Zumba trainer told me that when you do Zumba you should pick up your feet. That way the traction on the shoes won't get in the way.

That was awhile ago. Now with an increased popularity in fitness dance and Zumba,
the shoe manufacturers have come out with a great assortment of shoes geared to
the "fitness-dance" enthusiast. Some good ones are Nike Shox Electro, Ryka Studio D, Ryka Intensity XT3, and Nike Musique III SL. These shoes have a pivot point on the ball of the foot to aid in easy pivots and gliding for dance moves. The Nike Shox Electro have more cushioning than the others. Some zumba students are wearing the dance sneakers, such as Bloch Boost DRT Mesh Sneaker. These have a split sole for easy pointing of the feet and also have the pivot point. In my opinion these
do not have the support you need for the "fitness" part of Zumba.

Inserts will make your shoes last longer. Take out the inserts that come with the shoe and put in a better quality, well-cushioning insert. Then replace the inserts every few months. This will extend the life of the shoe itself and make your shoes feel brand-new again every few months. I just bought a pair of inserts at Lady Foot Locker. They said they will replace them for free after a few months of wear up to a year!

Whatever shoes you decide to get, get the ones that suit you best. It's best to try on different shoes in the store. Choose between cross-trainers, dance-fitness shoes, dance sneakers or even running shoes. Look for shocks and cushioning, not too much traction on the sole, and a feeling of lightness in the shoe. I would not buy the cheapest pair. Your feet and legs are important! Your feet will thank you for buying the best quality shoe after doing zumba on a regular basis!

To get the best results from a shoe you may want to replace your shoes about every 6 months depending on how often you use them. Some instructors have 2 or 3 different pairs and switch them off between different classes. This somehow makes the feet feel better . It is also a little trick that dancers do, switching between different heel heights and different types of shoes during the course of a night of dancing!

I hope this helps you decide on a good pair of shoes. Have fun with Zumba and be good to your feet!

6 comments:

Unknown said...

It is effective for all levels of fitness and it offers a low impact work out, so it is easy on the joints, knees and ankles as well. The Gazelle Cross trainerPro also provides an excellent cardiovascular work out.

k emery said...

I wear hip hop dance shoes, i love zumba!

Unknown said...

I have so many feet injuries from too much Zumba in the wrong shoes. Podiatrist prescribed me the MBT shoes so I can walk again. I did try Zumba with them, they're taller than normal, so I'm more careful watching my step. Feet still sore, but nothing like before! Love the MBT shoes they allowed me to walk again. If it helps someone.. they're pricey!

k emery said...

I use the MBT sandals in the summer for zumba, love them!

Sue said...

Thanks for posting my article Heather! I teach zumba and keep up-to-date on the most favorite shoes for zumba. Check out my most recent list of the best shoes for zumba.

Heather said...

You're quite welcome, Sue - thank YOU for writing this very informative article - and thanks for adding your new link. Zumba huggs from Heather!