You twist, turn, shake and shimmy! Zumba is fast, fun and totally fabulous. It’s no surprise that so many people who are put off by boring aerobic classes are suddenly finding their feet with the Latin-inspired dance craze. However, as the enthusiasm and energy of a class transports you and transforms your fitness, it’s important to know how to let go and be safe with Zumba.
Absolute beginners love it because it just doesn’t feel like a hard slog and is so accessible. Those who’ve been out the fitness game for a while love it because it is a great way to challenge and improve your body without being too intense. You don’t need to be able to dance and the underlying approach is that fitness should be about enjoying yourself. While no pain no gain couldn’t be further from the fitness philosophy of Zumba, and while you can jump into a class with both feet, it’s worthwhile being safety aware too.
Find the right class!
Zumba is attractive because it promotes a welcome-all style – all ages and fitness levels. However, classes do vary and starting out in a class with really experienced Zumba students who really know the steps and routines can leave you not only feeling a little left out but floundering to keep up. Combined, you might end up tripping or slipping to match their skills.
Find the right instructor!
An instructor who has an understanding not just of Zumba but fitness in general can really ensure that you are moving in a way that’s not going to put you at risk of injury. Because there are so many dynamic movements in Zumba, as with any dance-based fitness class, there is a risk of strains, sprains and tears as you put stress on your hips, knees and ankles.
Wear the right gear!
Because of the relaxed and welcoming vibe of Zumba it’s amazing how many people turn up for classes wearing their everyday shoes and clothes. Aside from the comfort level, you don’t want to overheat, so make sure you wear lightweight clothes that are suitable for a real workout where you sweat. Shoe-wise you really need shoes with no-grip, or a small amount of grip, otherwise you will stick to the floor. When you move quickly this lack of gliding mobility can lead to injuries. Training shoes are geared toward moving forward, whereas you want to move to the side and round too.
Give yourself some space!
With merengue, salsa and some hip-hop thrown in for good measure, Zumba involves some real shaking and shimmying. To get the most out of these dynamic classes you need to be able to really move your body. Feeling cramped or that you’re going to bump into someone at every turn or hip gyration interrupts the flow, limits your movements, and potentially puts you at risk of injury. Also, your instructor is not able to see how you are moving and put you right if you’re not moving in the right way. While Zumba is about a fitness party, invites need to match the space available and allow the ‘host’ to give you adequate attention.
Go at your own pace!
The music’s pumping; the atmosphere is electric; and everyone is so friendly. Before you know it, you are totally in the Zumba moment. That’s great! But it’s also worthwhile remembering that if you are a beginner that you can’t expect to necessarily be able to do all the moves straightaway or at the same intensity. Keep to the basic moves rather than trying to move your body in ways it’s not used to from the start.
Exercising safely is essential if you don’t want your class to become counter-productive because of an injury. With an understanding of these basic exercise safety tips you can now really let yourself go and get into the flow of Zumba. What you waiting for? The Zumba fitness party has already started!