The basics

Zumba was created by Colombian dancer and trainer Alberto Perez as an antagonist to the ‘‘no pain, no gain’’ philosophy. It hones in on the idea that working out shouldn’t actually feel like working out; the name itself is a play on the word ‘‘rumba’’, slang for ‘let’s party’ in Colombia. Like aerobics, it mashes dancing with exercise using Latin American rhythms for a highenergy cardiovascular workout and light strength training. Since its launch in the 90s, Zumba has exploded into a fitness empire, giving rise to classes in more than 180 countries, its own music production house, video games, and an apparel line.

Giving it a bash

The first piece of advice in my Zumba debut was to ‘‘just have fun’’. I was ready to dance and ready to sweat; I wasn’t prepared for the advanced level of choreography and the fact that everyone else in the class appeared to have just graduated from some sort of acclaimed dance school. We started with the basic side-to-side salsa step to a pepped-up version of party classic (Feeling) Hot Hot Hot.

Before I knew it, the class was its own travelling salsa mob, breaking out into the occasional chest shimmy and collective ‘‘ole!’’. A round of applause broke out between songs. There was sunshine arm-waving, jumping kicks, air punching and some unanticipated twerking; never have my hips gyrated more like a washing machine full of bricks. It was more dance-centric than I had hoped and, at times, it felt more like a Ricky Martin music video than a fitness class.

The upside is that, as advertised, it never really felt like working out – aside from the consistent pace, reminders to engage the core and regularly dipping down into sideways squats. The song selection chopped between pop classics like The Jacksons’ Blame It On The Boogie and Latin-inspired dance tracks that somehow rammed the word ‘‘Zumba’’ into every single syllable. The class came to an end with everyone exchanging obligatory high-fives with the instructor.

Why you should try it

Zumba is recognised as a full-body aerobic workout though it pays particular attention to core strength by engaging the abdomen across a series of movements. Through the combination of low and high-intensity intervals it has the ability to burn between 500-1000 calories a session, depending on the length of the class and how much energy you actually put in. Further benefits include improved co-ordination, a supportive and social environment, and the loss of inhibitions via countless body rolls and pumps. The endorphins are raging with this one.

Before I knew it, the class was its own travelling salsa mob...

Risk rating

Because it feels more like a highenergy dance party than a fitness regime, those with heart problems should visit a medical professional for a full health fitness assessment before signing up. The same goes if you’ve had any previous back problems. Listen to your body and take each class at your own pace.

Find out more

zumba.com