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Zumba Dance Workout Health Benefits

On first appearance the Zumba dance workout seems to be like every other celebrity endorsed fitness craze but closer inspection reveals one hugely significant benefit – it’s fun. The number one reason cited for discontinuing an exercise regime is the repetition or boring nature of the workout.

The Zumba workout was brought to the US in the late 90s by pop-star choreographer and celebrity fitness trainer, Alberto Perez. Perez had drawn on the traditional music and dance of his native Colombia to develop a workout which incorporated elements of salsa, samba and merengue.

The result was an exercise programmer which had all the health benefits of a cardio workout plus the element of enjoyment.

The Health Benefits of Zumba Dance Workout

The many benefits of cardiovascular workout are now well documented. Regular exercise of this type will strengthen the heart, which in turn leads to more effective transport of oxygen around the whole body benefiting cells, organs and soft tissue. Cardio workouts will also lower blood pressure and significantly reduce the heart rate at rest as well as strengthening muscles of the respiratory system thus facilitating greater lung efficiency.

It is also known that regular cardio exercise stimulates the secretion of several hormones responsible for mood enhancement and raised energy levels including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Cardio exercise will therefore help to reduce stress which in itself is responsible for many health conditions if present over a prolonged period of time.

The Zumba workout involves movements that will both strengthen and tone muscles and advocates say it is particularly effective for abdominal muscle firming.

Zumba Workout for Weight Loss

The Zumba dance workout has been developed in such a way that fast, punchy songs are followed by slower, rhythmical ones thus alternating the intensity of the workout from high to medium throughout. This system not only gives its participants an interval in which to get their breath back but also introduces a type of training known as high intensity interval training.

It has long been accepted that aerobic exercise is that which burns fat the most effectively. Simplified, aerobic exercise is any exercise which will make you out of breath over a sustained period thus allowing your body to start drawing on fat reserves within the body. Short, sharp bursts of exercise (anaerobic) are commonly used for strength training. There is now some evidence to suggest that high intensity interval training may actually be the most effective training system for fat burning and therefore weight loss.

The Zumba workout it would appear, is an effective exercise programmer for both cardiovascular fitness and its many benefits as well as being a way to lose weight. In these areas it perhaps offers no greater benefits than many other aerobic workouts but there is no doubt that it introduces a greater fun factor than many other alternatives thus encouraging many people to participate.

Zumba dance workout classes are springing up everywhere as many previously exercise shy people take it up. Should you be unable to find any nearby classes then DVDs are available for guided home workouts.

Article by expert author ‘Deneice Arthurton’.