Zumba is one of the most popular workouts in the world, with over 15 million people in 180 countries taking classes. Many people like the music and enjoy the dance-inspired movements. After all, their slogan is “ditch the workout, join the party.” But, does Zumba provide a decent workout?
The Zumba Study:
One study recruited participants who already had experience with Zumba. Participants were tested on a number of fitness measures then were fitted with a heart rate monitor when taking a Zumba class. The researchers found that Zumba classes burned an average of 369 calories over an average of 38 minutes. That came out to 9.5 kcal per minute. Average heart rate was 154 beats per minute, or roughly 80% of participants’ max heart rate. Here’s what average heart rates looked like over the course of classes:
Conclusion:
If you enjoy Zumba, then my all means keep doing it. It provides a great cardio workout and can help you shed unnecessary pounds. You might even learn a few new dance moves in the process!
If you’re ready to get started, here‘s a great Zumba DVD set for just $29.95!
Citation:
https://www.acefitness.org/certifiednews/images/article/pdfs/ACEZumbaStudy.pdf
