The following is a copy of my research essay from my class. It's about Zumba. I was intrigued about its origins and decided to explore more of this new workout trend. I have grown to love Zumba and would like to share with you pertinent information.
I feel great every time I do ZUMBA!!! I love the music beats and movements!!! FUN, FUN, FUN!!! ♥ ♥
Dance To Zumba
by
Nanette Romera Lyman
In today’s lifestyle, people are always on the go. Shuffling family life, work, school, clubs, meetings, and errands, to name a few, are signs of our times that people have broadened out from the traditional sphere of a simple life. With life in the fast lane and barely enough time to feed oneself, consumers are opting for fast and ready to eat meals. To meet this demand, companies answer by establishing fast food businesses and invent easy and quick fix meals. These new food trends have brought about unhealthy consequences. The downturn is that everywhere we look around, it seems that more and more people have become obese. Over the years and demands of the changing times, people have been occupied with family life, work, school, and other extra curricular activities thus resulting in the population to become sedentary and obese. The Department of Health and Human Services has published facts about obesity that include the following information: 300,000 deaths yearly are associated with obesity; chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis and even some cancers and depression are associated with overweight and obesity (Turner, et al 339). It has led to more illnesses and morbidity of the society. People have come up with numerous means to combat obesity. Among those created are state-of-the-art equipments, countless machines, body building exercises, aerobics, sports activities, yoga, and pilates workouts. The most recent trend to surface is a dance called Zumba. Zumba is a series of dance steps infused with different Latin music and dance moves which operates on the principle of interval training that targets major and minor muscles of the body; thus, it results with better improved physiologic and psychological conditioning.
With today’s innovations in technology, and transportation, people are more reliant upon cars, machineries, and tools. These entail better accessibility, easiness, and convenience to people’s needs and wants. Mankind develops dependencies on such luxuries that they have become sedentary and obese. Their has been a decline in their physical activities. People hop into cars from one destination to the other that may be less than a mile perhaps. Instead of shopping at grocery stores, they shop right at home via computer online ordering. With minimal exertion on their bodies, people have become heavy and chunky. It has led to more illnesses and morbidity of the society. For years, fitness experts created ways to staying fit and battle obesity with the likes of Jack LaLane, Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons, Denise Austin, or Billy Blanks. Zumba has become the latest household name that people of all ages are joining, a craze. Zumba was created by Beto Perez from Colombia accidentally when he forgot to bring his aerobic tapes to his class session. He grabbed any tapes that were from Latin music and performed impromptu demonstration on different kinds of Latin dances to his students. Zumba became a hit-- it was born. Clift explains Zumba’s characteristic feature “The foundation of Zumba, which is Colombian slang for "fast," is that of a dance-aerobics fueled by pulsating Latin and other international music. The workout mixes traditional Latin dances like salsa and merengue with cardiovascular moves to create a complete workout”. What makes Zumba interesting is the assortment of dance steps added with variety of Latin tempo. Zumba is a cardio workout spiced up with Latin beats and dance moves. Music is the major component in the workout. Good music makes the person dance rhythmically to the beat. Zumba is easy to follow, one moves accordingly to the beat. Fast beats and moves target large muscle groups in the cardio-intensity regimen while slow tempo gives the body breaks and brief rests that targets smaller muscle groups for body sculpting and toning exercises both of which results in calorie burning. Perez, and Greenwood-Robinson emphasizes the uniqueness of Zumba:
Dynamic, exciting, and full of Latin and exotic music flavors, Zumba routines feature aerobic interval training (combining fast and slow rhythms) with a combination of moves that tone and sculpt the body. Zumba targets areas such as glutes, legs, arms, abdominals, and, the most important muscle in the body, the heart! This mixture of dance and sculpting movements delivers an addictive, high energy workout. (49-50)
Zumba is the newest dance exercise obsession. It has emerged to become the hottest household name. People are flocking gyms, attending in-demand classes. Zumba has spanned all over the six continents. One can attend Zumba classes, or purchase DVD’s, books, and even Wii games. People are enjoying it and having a party workout. Furthermore, Zumba involves moving major limbs of the body: arms, hands, thighs, legs, feet and abdominal core. Depending on how intensive one executes his or her exercise sessions, Zumba can burn from hundreds of calories in an hour “The beauty of Zumba is its high calorie burn. You can burn up to 600 to 1,000 calories an hour, depending on whether you dance delicately or work it until you are dipping like you just came out of the pool” (Perez, Greenwood-Robinson 17).
Zumba is not monotonous nor repetitive in its program. Some Zumba enthusiasts may get the impression that they are just merely dancing to sweat it out; but they are actually performing another major component of Zumba-- the interval training principle. According to the author’s Nitti and Nitti, interval training (I.T). discovered in the early 1930’s boosted great physiologic benefits to people who were not athletically inclined nor genetically gifted “Interval training, a workout use brief bursts of higher-intensity activity to generate powerful physiologic processes, which result in degreased body fat and increased fitness and strength…I.T. delivers remarkable results by using the body’s natural ability to adapt to physical stress. (3) Athletes and regular people were able to achieve optimal workout results utilizing I.T. This kind of physical activity performing bursts of fast workout with slow movements; consequently, brings out physiologic benefits to regain strength thus burning more calories, better flexibility, and improved muscle tone. I.T. also reaps psychological benefits; it conditions the brain with the body, improves self-esteem, reduces stress, and motivates one to pursue better health when they witness firsthand their own buffed and toned bodies. Some one who may have little exposure to workouts, may not be aware that what makes Zumba work are the characteristics of interval training (I.T.) This principle is very much used in general to any Zumba regimen. There are several ways to get in shape with Zumba. As stated online via web based article
How to Zumba, it uses various Latin dance steps: Salsa, Merengue, and Cumbia among others. It uses many hand, arm, leg, and footwork moves. The variability of dance moves is what makes Zumba work because it employs the principle of interval training:
One of the principles behind the Zumba workout is that you incorporate interval training. This means that you move from one dance to the next in increments, such as dancing the salsa for 5 minutes, hiphop for 5 minutes, merengue for 5 minutes, and so on. Your heart rate and breathing differs, depending on the movements and demands of the dances. This allows your metabolism to enhance, thereby burning calories while doing the exercise and continuously while at rest. (“How to Zumba”).
Zumba is a great tool for people to learn dance roots from other countries. It is to be noted that the dances can be traced back to their historical events from their country of origin. Most common steps utilized in this program are the combination of dance moves such as Cumbia, Merengue, and Salsa among others. For instance, Cumbia originated in the 1800s slave trades between Spain and Colombia as a courtship ritual between the African men and Indian women. Slaves were chained and dragged their legs while working in the fields. Later, Cumbia steps evolved to include dragging of the feet as part of the dance. In addition, Candelaria states how dancing Cumbia has attributed to keep the culture amongst the Latin community intact. “This Colombian-derived style of Mexican cumbia music is the primary reason people go to dances, which are important focus of Mexican immigrant culture and community life in the United States” (Candelaria 1: 215). In other words, this demonstrates that despite the foreign people assimilating into the American society, dances such as Cumbia are still very much alive and maintain the bonding of their culture through the Latin community’s dance halls in the US. Another dance move utilized in Zumba is Salsa:
Salsa is referring to a variety of Latin American couple dances and their music from Cuba and Colombia. The dance and music achieved international popularity during 1980’s and 1990’s. Cuban salsa is characterized by fluid turns; Colombian is more static but specializes in more intricate footwork. (Craine, Debra, and Judith Mackrell 416)Each country a dance represents has variations in performing such steps. Merengue, hailed from Dominican Republic at the time of Haitian occupation where the lower class people “Men carried guns or rifle at all times on dance floor and did not move their backs”. (Perez, and Greenwood-Robinson 68) The merengue uses mostly the lower end of the body and keeps the upper body rigid. Another theory of this dance is that the crisscrossing actions of the dancer’s legs are likened similarly to a merengue pie’s resemblance to whipped egg whites. The exaggerated hip movements and close proximity to partners was regarded as a low-class dance “Early written accounts described the dance as indecent and in poor taste because of the close partner hold and pronounced hip movements” (Candelaria 2: 539).
In other words, Zumba is distinctive for it not only focuses on one kind of dance, but saturates it with multiple Latin moves-- a variety flavor of dances thus its not dull and dreary dancing to the same routines. “Mix the movements using the Latin dance moves. You will realize that the fusion of different dances and rhythms make Zumba truly unique” (“How to Zumba”). Millions of followers joined and Zumba became a hit and expanded internationally. It has become an international phenomenon for its membership continues to grow exponentially by the millions worldwide:
As of May 2010, the Zumba® program is being taught at over 60,000 locations in 105 countries, has sold millions of DVDs, and has changed the lives of Zumba® Fanatics worldwide with an astonishing 7.5 million participants taking Zumba classes every week. (“Ditch the workout“) People embraced this new fad without regards to cultural barriers as a means to stay fit and healthy. Zumba invasion crosses no boundaries. Dancing keeps the community together, and individuals want to pursue healthy lifestyles. Zumba has become a worldwide sensation exercise regimen for its easy to learn and people embrace other culture’s work of art in dancing. Some may feel sensual and sexy when they move their hips in different directions, or such a new dance form spices up their learning experience.
Diverse variations of Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, and other multiple dance moves make Zumba fun to learn. It is fun to learn and neither tedious nor tiresome; in addition, it has variety of flavor in its music and dance steps. It is more enjoyable and entertaining to incorporate diverse and comprehensive Latin dances to a workout regimen. One does not have to be a professional dancer to learn the steps. The moves as shown on DVD’s or online such as Youtube, break the steps down to simpler movements. Zumba dances have somewhat been modified to meet the needs of the workout program. It uses quick step movement flavored with Latin fast tempo beats-- the music is an integral part to the program. For instance, when a viewer watches the
Zumba!!! - Remix de Merengue - Reynosa - Monterrey video posted on Youtube,
this nine minute dance video workout, and shows four women in a dance studio. The music played is from five different Latin songs: Una nalgadita, Pa los que me tiran, Arranca en Fa, Dejalo ahi, and Que te pica. The music starts off with a slow paced tune that gradually raises its tempo from a moderate to a quick-fast paced beat. This video choreography encompasses Zumba dance steps of mixed merengue and reggaeton movements. The dance combo includes extending and flexing the arms, shimmying the shoulders, isolating the abdomen muscle core area, moving the lower part of body while the upper torso is stiff, shaking the hips, bumping, and grinding it side to side, raising their legs, and feet tapping and stomping on the floor moving forward and backward. There are fast and slow movements in between the various dance steps, with five to ten seconds of resting intervals then back to a fast pace again-- all indicative of interval training principle.
Group classes are led by certified dance instructors. When people join in the class sessions, it promotes camaraderie and companionship. One dances side by side with strangers which may eventually form friendships. The sessions are jammed with various Latin beats and tempo spiced with sizzling dance moves creating an atmosphere of fun and excitement. Though these sessions can cost money, an individual can opt for privacy right at their own homes. Zumba is not only exclusive to its own membership organization. People can still join Zumba. They can purchase DVD’s or via Wii games. Like any new product on the market, Zumba can cost money. Sessions may cost thirty five dollars a month or five dollars per class. Combo DVD’s can cost up to sixty dollars and Wii games up to forty dollars. Individuals can get discouraged on these hefty prices. However, it needs to be noted that if someone spent hundreds to thousands of dollars on food that they have become chunky and overweight; that to combat obesity one may have to spend money. Better yet, if unable to purchase these goods, they can utilize the internet
with vast arrays of Zumba video samples posted online. Another option would be to just crank up the boom box and tune in to local Latin radio stations and start dancing to melt those pounds away.
Nevertheless, even with new trends that may develop in the future with much better and upgraded workout exercises; on the whole it would be futile if the components of good attitude, willpower, and determination were lacking on that person. These are vital and essential in the commitment to stick to the program and maintain goal, to increase physical activities, and to continue exercise for lifetime “Consistency or adherence is often determined by how much fun the activity is, levels of confidence, and support from friends, family, educators and significant others” (Cherubini 208). In maintaining weight loss regimen, one may grow older over a longer lifetime, and thus, be able to enjoy life more and attend to major events like family gatherings, birthdays, graduation, or marriages of their children. When people are in good health, they have a better outlook in life. They have less episodes of depression, improve their self-esteem and better quality social life. They become role models to children and the young at heart that look up to them as their inspiration. Weight loss is truly a matter of choice. A person may opt to exercise and reap the benefits with short and long term effects, or they may elect to not do any workout regimen and suffer the consequences in the long run.
Unlike aerobics or running on a treadmill repetitively, Zumba is neither monotonous nor boring. It spices the exercise workout by incorporating dance moves and music. Its uniqueness from other workouts is maximizing the principle of interval training which sets it apart. One can mix diverse Latin steps topped with assortment of beats. Zumba’s main power boost is applying the theory of interval training that result in beneficial physiologic and psychological conditioning of human body. There are multiple ways of losing one’s weight. For whatever reason, the desire and willpower to continue the exercise regimen is a commitment pledge on which someone may set endeavors for a lifetime. What counts the most is to pursue being active and fit. It’s a doable goal to achieve as people set their focus and energy to it. Staying on top of their exercise regimen and committing to their willpower and self-discipline to keep off the weight for a better life is an important decision. Which path they choose to take is a big challenge that a person has to hurdle. In conclusion, the effects of a healthy lifestyle combining diet, exercise, and willpower can lead to prevention of diseases and injury, to a better looking toned body, and to a better outlook in life with longer life span which can be achieved and result to less morbidity and less illnesses. In the end, they will reap the good benefits of a healthier lifestyle. However people may choose options, the bottom line is to achieve a workout that best fits their needs to attain their fitness and healthy lifestyles that not only benefits them individually, but also creates a hale and hearty nation.
-Nanette
2009 vs. 2011
Zumba works!!!
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ZUMBATHON FUNDRAISER MAY 2012
Works Cited
Candelaria, Cordelia Chavez, et al. Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture. 2 vols. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2004. Print.
Cherubini, Jeffrey M. "Intentional Development: A Model to Guide Lifelong Physical Activity."
Physical Educator 66.4 (2009): 197-208.
Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 25 Oct. 2010.
Clift, Zoie. "ARE YOU READY FOR ZUMBA?."
American Fitness 27.1 (2009): 37-39.
Health Source - Consumer Edition. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2010.
Craine, Debra, and Judith Mackrell. The Oxford Dictionary of Dance. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.
“Ditch the workout, Join the party!” Zumba. N.p. n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2010.
“How to Zumba”. Zumba Workout. N.p. July 2009. Web. 21 Oct. 2010.
Nitti, Joseph T., and Kimberlie Nitti. The interval training workout. Salt Lake City, UT: Publishers Press, 2001. Print.
Perez, Beto, and Maggie Greenwood-Robinson. Zumba: Ditch the workout, join the party! The Zumba weight loss program. New York, NY: Wellness Central, 2009. Print.
Turner, SL, et al. "A collaborative approach to wellness: diet, exercise, and education to impact behavior change."
Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 20.6 (2008): 339-344.
CINAHL Plus with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2010.
“Zumba!!! - Remix de Merengue - Reynosa - Monterrey.” Youtube. Blilia. June 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2010.
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** Photos taken from: -- Zumba Fitness with Alexandra & Marcela --
PARTY IN PINK ZUMBATHON 10/15/11 at North Highlands, CA
ZUMBATHON FUNDRAISER 5/20/12 at North Highlands, CA
