Zoom, zoom, Zumba
by: Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit
It was in Las Vegas that I first caught a Zumba class a few years back. And if there’s one word that screamed at me then, it was energy! That’s why I was very excited to meet and watch Michael Thomas, a Zumba education specialist, in action last week.
Beto Perez, the creator of Zumba, explains, “You’ll find Zumba to be like no other fitness system out there, that’s because I designed Zumba — with its scorching fusion of world music and spicy dance rhythms — to make you feel like you’re at a party or a club. Thanks to my non-stop, easy-to-follow choreography, you’ll tone your body from head to toe — all without feeling like you’re working out at all!”
“I believe that if exercise is fun and easy to do, you’ll stick with it, which is the key to long-term good health. That’s why Zumba utilizes aerobic interval training, combining fast and slow rhythms, to deliver an addictive, high-energy workout you’ll want to return to again and again,” he adds.
The program was developed by Beto, a Colombian celebrity fitness trainer and choreographer for international pop superstars (such as Shakira) in the mid-1990s, and was brought to the US in 1999. It has become one of the fastest-growing, dance-based fitness crazes in the world with 10 million people of all ages taking weekly classes punctuated with infectious music and easy-to-follow dance moves.
Dance A La Michael
Michael “Mike” Thomas, born in South Africa, has a burning passion to train and educate individuals wishing to become Zumba instructors. Trained in jazz, he was a professional dancer and choreographer for 15 years in Perth and Sydney, Australia. He has a solid 23-year experience as a group fitness instructor with five years as aerobic competitor. A Nike-sponsored athlete for seven years, he’s been generously sharing his knowledge as an international convention presenter for 15 years now.
Reggaeton converted to a Zumba fitness knee lift variation. Muscular emphasis: core, glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps.He is currently a ZES (Zumba education specialist) for Asia and Australia. As regional director of group fitness for California Fitness, he rolled out Zumba classes in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and China. He has expanded his training tasks to include Europe, having taught in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
Mike has himself danced professionally alongside talented artists such as Kylie Minogue, Elton John, James Brown, Macy Gray, Duran Duran, Leon Lai, Anita Mui, and Sandy Lam. He has choreographed shows for many corporate events throughout Asia and built a reputable name for himself as a dancer and choreographer across the region.
“The effect of Zumba is the same in every country, no matter how different the cultures are. Zumba is huge,” he enthuses. “It’s about the music and the atmosphere you create in the class; not in complex choreography. It is exercise in disguise. By the 3rd or 4th song, your heart rate is up. Zumba is easy and effective. People lose weight!”
“The 24 Gold’s Gym Zumba instructors in this workshop are the first official Zumba instructors of the Philippines,” Mike announces. “Zumba is a registered trademark. Instructors earn certificates as proof. We should protect the brand and report any false instructor.”
Amazing Craze
How is a Zumba workout different from all other dance classes? Why is it a huge success? I watched intently and noticed basic differences.
Salsa converted to a Zumba fitness upper body workout (with open hands). Muscular emphasis: core (specially the external and internal obliques), spinal erectors and rotators, shoulders (deltoids), biceps, hamstrings, glutes.Michael faces the instructors, instead of the mirror. The workout starts like a party with high energy and loud music. The moves involve large gross motor movements. The class is a non-stop dance fitness party.
He warms up with low-impact, low-intensity movements, using familiar aerobic steps such as step touch, leg curls, grape vine, V step. This is followed by some ballroom, Latin, African, and reggaeton. He finally slows down with isolation exercises — lunges, wide stance squats, torso rotation, and torso lateral flexion for abs, pelvic rotations.
Michael dances with the crowd. He leads with lots of eye contact and hand gesture. No microphone, no words, no need for mirrors. He interacts with the crowd, walks up close, hollers, claps.
To help me cut the guessing, Mike reveals that the Zumba formula is Z = mc2 or the explosive synergy of music, core Zumba steps, and choreography! The secret lies in the repetitive steps.
The energy created by the whole experience pulsates and engulfs everyone. I never thought I would see the day when real men would dance in a Zumba class replete not only with cardio and Latin dance but also hip-hop and belly dance!
Zumba Fitness USA and Gold’s Gym will have a repeat of the successful training and Zumbaton in a few months. Call for details.
*The above post was publish under the author’s column “Well-Being” last March 8, 2011 in the Lifestyle section of the Philippine Star
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