Warnings About Zumba

Zumba is an aerobics program that has, at the time of publication, become something of a craze among fitness fanatics as well as individuals put off by more traditional aerobics classes. Invented by the Colombian Alberto Perez, Zumba combines dance with aerobics into an intense form of workout. Zumba can improve your fitness level, but if you're considering taking part, you should be aware of a few things.

  1. Clothing

    • You'll need to consider what you're wearing if you'll be taking part in a Zumba class. Be aware that Zumba is energetic and you'll be moving around a lot, building up a sweat, so don't wear any clothes that will restrict your movement in any way. Also, don't wear anything that'll make you hot, since you'll be warm enough after a few minutes anyway. Go for lightweight clothing.

    Footwear

    • Zumba dance moves tend to involve plenty of twisting and turning, and this fact combined with the generally vigorous nature of Zumba workouts means that you'll run into difficulty if you don't have appropriate footwear on. Consider a worn-in pair of sneakers, or, if you've taken aerobics classes before and have them, dance or cross-training shoes. These tend to be lightweight and enable you to move fairly effortlessly across the floor. Avoid footwear with too much grip, such as specialist running shoes.

    Know Your Limits

    • Before you attend any Zumba classes, ensure that you're aware of your own limits. This is the case for any exercise, and since the kind of class you'll be attempting is full of energy and quick movements, it's especially important to be sure that you can complete the class without running into trouble. If you feel you're unfit or are pregnant, for example, you'll need to contact a doctor beforehand to get professional advice on whether Zumba is suitable for you.

    Inexperienced Instructors

    • While most Zumba instructors will be fine, you should be aware that it's not especially difficult to become qualified to teach this form of aerobics class. This means that some Zumba instructors may be legally able to lead a Zumba class but won't have the background in exercise that other instructors do, as noted by the About My Area website. Crucially, an inexperienced instructor may be unaware or incompetent in areas such as health and safety, potentially leading to accidents or other problems.

    Legitimacy

    • When investigating a Zumba class in your area, remember that an individual must herself be authorized to teach the class by Zumba LLC. A company itself can't be authorized to teach; instead, each individual instructor within that company must be separately licensed, as noted by Zumba instructor Debbie Lim's website. Avoid illegitimate instructors.