Streaming Zumba as part of your at-home exercise routine could be a smart move for you and your wallet.
Are you seeking new and creative ways to focus on fitness and physical exercise from your home? Many people are looking for ways to save money. This research includes opting to work out at home instead of spending money on gym memberships. This shift leaves many of us with gym memberships searching for a way to workout while also saving cash.
The benefits of exercise and regular physical activity are evident. Indeed, just about everyone benefits from physical activity. Whether it’s an increased heart rate or improved circulation, getting your body moving will help your mental, physical, and even emotional health as all systems work harmoniously toward a common goal of optimal wellness.
So many types of workouts, so little time!
You’ll find so much to consider when adding physical exercise to your list of daily accomplishments. However, it can be quite daunting to choose an activity that meets your individual needs. From weight training to Pilates to yoga to spinning and swimming, the list of options seems overwhelming and endless.
So how do you know which activity is right for you? Consider the following questions as you ponder starting your new fitness regime:
- What are my fitness goals?
- What sounds enjoyable to me?
- How can I incorporate this into my life and enjoy it for the long haul?
- What is my age?
- Do I need to lose weight?
- Do I need to gain muscle?
- What are my physical restrictions?
Finding a style of exercise or a program that works for you is essential to building a lasting healthy habit of physical activity. Talk to your doctor about suggestions for activities and exercises that you can incorporate daily for better health.
Have you considered Zumba?
Wouldn’t it be great if you could find an aerobic activity that not only improves and strengthens the heart but also helps to burn fat and build lean muscle as well? Consider Zumba!
What is Zumba?
Zumba is a Latin-dance inspired, heart-pumping group fitness activity that is gaining popularity around the world. In a typical class, you’ll find high-energy dance music and moves that seem more like choreographed dances than fitness moves, but you don’t have to be a dancing queen to enjoy yourself and the benefits of this aerobic activity. A famous tagline used by Zumba instructors is “ditch the workout, join the party,” and this philosophy is both seen and felt as thousands of joyful participants move and groove in joyful ways to get in better shape—no rhythm required.
Several subgroups of classes exist–from water versions to classes with weights, resistance bands, and classes for kids, there is likely to be a version that suits your tastes and needs ideally. An average 60-minute session will net a modest 370 calorie burn, with more vigorous versions of classes burning anywhere from 600-1000 calories per hour. It is genuinely one fitness sensation that gives you the most caloric bang for your buck.
It doesn’t take long even for a fitness skeptic to see the benefits that this sizzling exercise can afford. From boosting your mood to improving circulation to improving overall health and vitality, here is what you can expect from embarking on your Latin dance-inspired fitness journey.
Ten Fantastic Ways Zumba Will Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals
1. You’ll feel happier
Several studies link regular exercise to a feeling of happiness and improved mood. It will also help to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety by boosting the production of serotonin in the brain. Other feel-good chemicals that will be produced in abundance are called endorphins, known to enhance positive feelings and reduce the perception of physical and emotional pain.
Interestingly enough, the level of intensity has nothing to do with the production of these “happy chemicals” in the brain. The research cites shows that even the most modest levels of physical activity are known to ramp up production. Dancing people are happy people!
2. You’ll lose weight
There are clear links to increased activity and weight loss, and there is also conclusive research to suggest that inactivity leads to an increased risk of obesity and other health conditions that can adversely affect your health.
Regular exercise (including Zumba) increases your metabolic rate, allowing you to burn fat and build lean muscle more effectively than through dieting alone. Following the simple equation that calories expended must supersede calories ingested, you’ll find that your weight loss is rewarding and enjoyable all at the same time.
3. Your muscles and bones will benefit
Zumba plays a critical part in toning muscle and building bone density. This is especially important to offset the effects of aging, where bone density decreases and muscles tend to atrophy. A few 30-45 minute sessions each week is sufficient to turn back the aging clock a bit and help to tone and tighten your whole body.
4. You’ll be more energized before and after workouts
Nothing energizes the body more than a good sweaty session of dancing! You are likely to experience increased energy levels as a result of your new fitness pursuit.
Regular exercise proves effective in treating symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, two conditions that can rob you of the energy needed for daily living. The more you move, the more energy you’ll naturally be able to produce and use more efficiently, allowing you to experience greater vitality and endurance once more.
Check with your doctor before you give it a go.
5. You’ll experience better health
Lack of regular physical activity leads to the development of chronic health issues that can reduce your quality of life. With regular exercise, you are improving your insulin sensitivity, improving circulation and respiration, strengthening your cardiovascular system, and making detoxification processes of the body more efficient.
With exercise, your immune system will function optimally. Thus, you can retain vibrant health and stave off chronic illness and infection. If you do find yourself under the weather from time to time, you will find that recovery time is much faster, and symptoms are less severe than if you were to abstain from physical activity.
6. You’ll have healthier skin!
Believe it or not, the effects of regular exercise show themselves both outside and inside the body. Exercise like Zumba reduces the impact of oxidative stress on the body and improves circulation, giving your skin a natural, youthful glow.
Regular exercise sessions help to regulate the body’s production of natural antioxidants, which help to remove toxins in the blood and clear up the skin so that you look and feel great.
7. You’ll think more clearly
Who would have thought that a few dance moves and some hip shaking could help your brain function more efficiently?
Exercise increases your heart rate, which allows for better circulation of both blood and oxygen to the brain. Physical activity stimulates the production of hormones that are critical components in the growth and development of new neurological connections. The more you move, the more you boost your brain health!
8. You’ll sleep better
Regular Zumba sessions can help you to relax and sleep better. The energy depletion processes in place during vigorous exercise help to release powerful triggers that help facilitate the therapeutic processes of muscles, tendons, and tissues during sleep.
Those with sleep disorders and insomnia would do well to incorporate more physical activity during daylight hours in hopes of restoring proper circadian rhythms within the body. You’ll feel better. Plus, you’ll feel more relaxed and well-rested after a full night’s sleep. Bring on more exercise!
9. You’ll feel less arthritis pain
The effects of chronic pain on the body are both physically and mentally debilitating. While most people who suffer from pain initially think that physical exercise can worsen their condition, many are surprised to find that regular activity lessens the experience of chronic pain.
Daily physical activities, such as dancing, can help to reduce the exposure of low back pain, chronic pain associated with arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. A more flexible, fluid body can simply move better, and this type of exercise helps to facilitate just that.
Visit your doctor before you sign up for class. And, look for a beginner’s session, so you may start off slowly.
10. Your libido might improve!
Shhhh…..don’t tell anyone! Your libido may increase as a result of some sweaty sessions on the dance floor. Exercise proves to boost sex drive by promoting the release of hormones that govern your cycle. Not only will it get you in the mood, but it may just improve your endurance and your performance as a result of toning the body, improving circulation, and increasing your flexibility. The mood-boosting benefits of enhancing your libido is an added benefit.
Final thoughts on trying Zumba for better fitness
Zumba is a style of exercise that is fit for almost anyone. It boosts your mood, improves your physical endurance, and provides you a fun pathway to better health. Check with your doctor, of course, before beginning this or any other exercise program. And then, get ready to reap the benefits of some serious moving and grooving!
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