What Are the Benefits of Zumba®?

2. Improve Your Coordination

Dancing requires some level of coordination to follow choreography and piece together the moves. Zumba® will help those looking to improve their coordination and give them a safe space to practice their dancing abilities. Similar to how you can train your lungs to work harder and your muscles to become stronger, you can train your body to become more coordinated through repetition. Zumba® is one of the best classes to work on improving your coordination.

Improving your coordination is an essential part of your health. It's especially beneficial in two ways — preventing injuries during a workout and maintaining coordination and balance as you age. As you repeat the choreography in your Zumba® class and learn the proper form for different moves from your instructor, your brain will begin to remember how to position your body, and over time you'll notice a difference in your coordination. This process is helpful as you age because our muscles begin to weaken as we get older if we don't continue to utilize them.

Including regular exercise into your routine, like Zumba® classes, can help you maintain your physical abilities and coordination as you get older and prevent injuries from falls.

3. Enjoy Aerobic Exercise Benefits

Zumba® is an upbeat and lively dance fitness class that will make you sweat with a smile on your face — you'll be having so much fun that you'll almost forget you're accomplishing an intense cardio-style workout. Implementing aerobic exercise in your workout schedule is an essential part of improving your overall health.

This type of exercise describes any high- or low-intensity cardio workout. It'll increase your heart rate and the amount of oxygen your body is using during your workout, helping you exercise your heart and lungs, which positively impacts your cardiovascular system. Specifically, aerobic exercise can improve your heart health by lowering your blood pressure, lowering your resting heart rate and reducing your chances of heart disease.

Completing an aerobic workout is also beneficial for your lungs. It trains your lungs to work more efficiently as you breathe hard and absorb more oxygen. Even parts of the body like the skin can benefit from Zumba® and other forms of aerobic exercise. When you raise your heart rate and enhance blood circulation, your body can deliver oxygen and other nutrients to your skin, which helps make it healthier.

Additionally, you'll notice a difference in your ability to perform physical activities for a longer amount of time when you continuously accomplish cardiovascular workouts. This benefit and all the others are what you gain when you include aerobic exercises, like Zumba® classes, in your weekly routine.

4. Assist Your Metabolism

Zumba® classes, and any other type of cardio workout, may help give your metabolism a boost. If you're someone looking to lose weight or improve your overall health, you may be curious about finding ways to improve your body's metabolic rate. But first, how does metabolism work?

It's the process your body uses to turn what you eat and drink into energy. It keeps your body functioning by using the calories you take in to complete various functions. Some of these are basic body functions like breathing or circulating blood, while others are any body movement that requires energy. A person's metabolism will vary depending on various factors and may change as they age.

Keep in mind that you can't really "increase" your metabolism — and trying to do so won't help you lose weight. However, you can assist your metabolism by burning more calories than you take in, and Zumba® is a wonderful way to do just that. All levels of Zumba® can impact your metabolism. Whether you're beginning your Zumba® journey and taking traditional Zumba® classes, or you're participating in more intense Zumba® classes that cause you to exert high amounts of energy, you're still burning calories and activating your metabolism.

5. Torch Calories

A top benefit that encourages many people to work out is the number of calories they burn. Zumba® classes are a great workout if you have a weight loss goal and want to burn a lot of calories. Zumba®, like other aerobic workouts, requires plenty of energy to keep up with all the choreography and upbeat rhythms.

Zumba® is all about movement. During a class, you'll shake your hips, move your feet, sway your arms and complete other types of dance moves that will keep your body moving. The tempo changes and intensity variation throughout the class make Zumba® one of the best workout choices to maximize fat burning and torch calories.

The energy your body uses during a Zumba® class comes from the calories in your body and your body's fat reserve. During an hour-long Zumba® class, the number of calories you burn depends on your body, your physical fitness level and the amount of effort you put into the class.

Completing a Zumba® class and torching high amounts of calories is beneficial for maintaining a healthy weight or can help you reach your weight loss goals. This workout combined with a healthy diet is an excellent combo for numerous health goals.

6. Boost Your Mood

Whether it's been a rough day, you're stressed or you just need a morning pick-me-up, Zumba® is the perfect mood booster. Zumba® can benefit many aspects of mental health. The combination of exercise and dance causes your brain to release endorphins like serotonin, making you happier. In general, exercise can also help alleviate any built-up stress, anger or anxiety that needs an outlet to escape.

The Zumba® class culture and structure are all about positivity and inspiring others to have fun and achieve their fitness goals. Zumba® instructors want to brighten your day with fun Latin-inspired music and energizing choreography that will make you smile and leave the class feeling accomplished. If anything, Zumba®'s environment is a fantastic escape from the stressors in your life.

Zumba® can also boost your confidence. When you feel great after a workout and begin noticing changes to your overall health because of weekly Zumba® classes, you may notice you carry yourself a little higher and feel better about yourself. One of the goals of a Zumba® class is to inspire and motivate participants, and part of this goal is to help each person feel better regarding their physical, social and mental health.

7. Meet Other Zumba® Lovers

Zumba® offers plenty of social benefits that can enhance your overall health. Having friends who like the same things you do is a big part of friendship. A fun aspect of participating in local Zumba® classes is socializing with other people and creating new friendships. Zumba® is a social group fitness class, especially if you take classes regularly at your local fitness center, dance studio or other location.

These classes give you a chance to interact with the instructor and other participants who love to dance and are likely part of your community. Zumba® classes are a great way to make new friends if you spend a lot of time at work, are busy with kids or have other obligations in your life that hinder your time to socialize with others.

It's no secret that socialization contributes to a significant portion of your overall health. Tending to relationships has an impact on your mental health, which is just as important as your physical health. It's important to find ways to meet new friends and hang out with people on a regular basis. There's no one like a friend to help you smile and get through tough times.

8. Exercise at Home

While some people love to work out at the gym, others like to exercise from the comfort of their homes. A major perk of Zumba® classes is you can participate almost anywhere — virtual Zumba® classes are a wonderful option for people who want to stay home and work out or don't have time to make it to the gym. Zumba® workouts are possible at home or at any location as long as you have enough space to move around and an internet connection.

Completing a Zumba® workout at home is simple:

• Confirm that you have internet access and a device you can use to stream the Zumba® class.
• Ensure you have an optimal amount of space to dance around.
• Grab your sneakers, workout attire and a water bottle and get ready to sweat!

9. Learn How to Dance

Many people love to dance, even if they don't consider themselves the best dancer. The best part about Zumba® is you can be totally new to the world of dance and still be an amazing Zumba® participant. Working on learning how to dance and improving your skills with every class you take can be a beneficial fitness goal.

These classes will show you some of the basic rhythms that Zumba® presents, including cumbia, salsa, merengue and reggaeton. The instructor will guide you through different dance moves and encourage you to try your best when you attempt the choreography. Whether you're an all-star dancer or just want to have fun and get a great workout in, you'll pick up on some new dance moves and improve your skills over time.

10. Feel Like You're Part of a Community

One of the best parts about Zumba® is its inclusivity to all levels of fitness. Zumba® classes are open and available to those of nearly all abilities. No matter your age or skill level, you can find a class that works perfectly for your health goals. Zumba® classes are a safe space for all fitness levels, and the instructors are ready to welcome you into their motivating and supportive community.

Take a Zumba® Class Today