Burn Away the Calories with Aqua Zumba
If you want to shake up the routine of the gym, and burn a tone of calories, you have to take a stab at Aqua Zumba (now offered at our Mississauga club). It’s an exciting, fun, friendly and very effective way to get in better shape.
What is Aqua Zumba?
Zumba is a popular workout that uses Latin dance moves (salsa, bachata, tango, merengue, etc.) to help you work out. You attend the classes, learn the basic Zumba routines, and then combine the movements for a fun, rhythmic workout.
As you learn more and more, the moves get harder and harder, and the tempo of the music is increased. By the time you’ve been attending Zumba classes for a few months, you’ve learned a lot of dance moves and you start to feel like a real Latin dancer!
Aqua Zumba is basically doing Zumba in the pool. You do all the same dance moves at the same tempo, but you have the water to slow you down and make it harder. By the time you finish your workout, you’re sweating and breathing hard, but feeling great.
Health Benefits of Aqua Zumba
1. More fun
Dancing is one of the best ways to get in a cardio workout that you can actually enjoy, and who doesn’t love splashing around in the pool?
By combining the two–dance moves and pool fun–you get a killer workout that will have you laughing and enjoying yourself. The hour will fly by!
2. Reduced strain on your joints
If you have joint problems (injuries, arthritis, recovering from a surgery, etc.), regular cardio workouts can be a bit hard on your ankles, knees, back, shoulders, and neck. You may not be able to run or jog like you once used to, so you have to find a new way to exercise.
In the pool, the water is holding up your weight, so there is far less strain on your joints. Aqua Zumba is a low impact exercise that will be easy on your joints, and you can give yourself a great workout without increasing your risk of injury.
3. Increased resistance
What is the best way to burn more calories? Turn up the intensity of the exercise or force your muscles to work harder! While you won’t pick up the pace in your Zumba class, the fact that there is water all around you causes your muscles to work harder to move in time with the music.
Even a simple “side to side” step will be a lot harder thanks to the fact that you have to push through the water, and the increased resistance will give you a much better workout.
You’ll find that every muscle in your body gets a great workout if you do Zumba in the pool.
4. Learn the dance moves easily
If you’re struggling with your rhythm and timing on land, you’ll find that doing Zumba in the pool will help you to learn the steps more easily. After all, you are forced to focus on each step and movement when doing it in the pool, and you feel the way your body moves.
It will help you identify the problem that is stopping you from dancing like a pro, and you’ll tighten up your movements and learn the dance moves more easily thanks to the fact that there is water all around you.
5. Treat joint pain
Did you know that doing exercise in the water is actually one of the best ways to treat joint pain?
Studies have found that doing exercise in the water can help to reduce inflammation in the joints, as the hydrostatic pressure from the water acts like a massage.
It can help to prevent your joints from aching after a workout, and will even help you to deal with current joint pains
Is doing Aqua Zumba harder than doing Zumba on land? Initially, it definitely is! You have to work harder to get through the workout, and it’s definitely much more difficult to learn new steps when you can’t see the instructor’s feet. You have to follow directions, and your muscles will be much more tired after doing the workout.
That being said, after a few classes, you’ll be as hooked as I am. I’ve been doing water aerobics like Aqua Zumba for some time now, and I feel great! Not only do I get to spend a lot of time splashing around in the water, but I leave my workout feeling like a million bucks.
You’ll find that working out in the water with exercises like water aerobics and Aqua Zumba may be your latest FUN way to get in shape!
With the number of Aqua Zumba calories burned, you’ll find that it’s far more effective a workout than doing Zumba on land! Your muscles will be tired out much more effectively than with a regular Zumba workout, your joints will get a nice massage from the water, the pressure will be taken off your knees, hips, and ankles, and your body will feel great after the workout.
Check out our website for when our Aqua Zumba classes are available! Click here