Zumba Offers La Feria Residents a “Fun” Workout Alternative

Special to La Feria News

The community of La Feria has within its reach a health jewel, that is reportedly performed by more than 12 million people at 110,000 sites, in 125 countries around the world. People from all walks of life have made Zumba, the Latin-inspired dance, the most popular group exercise classes on the planet their choice of workout activity.

Zumba exercisers enjoy a fun fusion of dance moves from styles like Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton and Flamenco, and the sort of choreography you might see in a nightclub.

What makes Zumba fun and people keep coming back is because the exercise happens in a non-judgmental relax setting. You don’t have to move exactly like the instructor. It’s more like dancing in a club—people can just move the way they want.

Zumba comes with accredidation through study done by the American Council on Exercise, the nation’s Workout Watchdog®. The council commissioned John Porcari, Ph.D. and Mary Luettgen, M.S., from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Department of Exercise and Sport Science. This research after crunching the resulting data, researchers found that participating in a single Zumba fitness class burned an average of 369 calories or about 9.5 kcal per minute. The participants in this commissioned research participants average HR was 154 beats per minute (bpm), which is roughly 80 percent of the average predicted HRmax for the subjects. Accepted fitness industry guidelines suggest exercising in the range of 64 percent to 94 percent of HRmax to improve cardio endurance, so Zumba meets those requirements.

Zumba fitness may feel like a party, but this research suggests that it’s also a highly effective workout.“It’s a total-body exercise—a good, high-energy aerobic workout,” explains Dr. Porcari. “Zumba fitness is also good for core strengthening and flexibility gains because there are lots of hip and midsection movements.”

With subjects burning an average of 369 calories per class, Zumba fitness is also a fine choice for those who are looking to drop a few pounds or maintain their current weight levels. In comparison with other exercises tested in the past by the University’s Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Zumba burns more calories than cardio kickboxing, step aerobics, hooping and power yoga.

“The surprising thing is that it doesn’t matter what fitness level you’re at—our research shows that in Zumba classes everyone is working out at the zone that’s recommended for improving cardio health,” says Luettgen. “Both fit people and less-fit people are going to get an equally good workout.”

Bottom line, Zumba fitness is an effective interval-style, full-body workout with built-in variety because every class and every instructor is slightly different. Equally important is the notion that Zumba classes are entertaining, which means exercisers are busy burning calories and getting fit while enjoying the fun of Latin dancing.

Sounds like our kind of party! In addition, La Feria is getting ready for more fun this summer.

From June 6 – September 21, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 7:00 pm and bright and early at 8:00 am on Saturday, come and enjoy the combination of feeling weightless in water, while also working every muscle in your body, all while smiling ear to ear as you do Aqua Zumba at the La Feria City Pool.

Regular Zumba classes are held at the La Feria Recreation Center. Call instructors for schedule Monday – Friday.

As the Zumba fitness’ famous slogan states, people in La Feria are “ditching the workout and joining the party.” For more information how and when you can join La Feria Zumba Party please get in touch with Katie Johnson, Mikayla Johnson, or Chara A. .Kamins at La Feria Recreation Center on 901 Pancho maples St., La Feria Tx.