How Do You Pronounce Zumba?

How do you pronounce Zumba?

Like this: Zoom-ba

Not like this: Zum-ba

Zumba’s Beto Perez on the Cover of May 2012 Men’s Fitness Magazine

Zumba creator Beto Perez is on the May 2012 cover of Men’s Fitness magazine. The magazine describes him as “a true ladies’ man” and encourages guys to take note: Beto is super fit and women love him.

So what will it take to get more men to try Zumba???

Love Zumba? Try SALSArobics!

I had the pleasure of trying SALSArobics at the Chicago International Salsa Congress in Chicago, Illinois February 16-19, 2012. Each day of the Salsa Congress started with a 9am, 1-hour session of SALSArobics.

SALSArobics was founded in 1988 by Columbian-born Esther Gutierrez Sloan. It’s a fun way to learn Latin dance moves while exercising. If you like Zumba, you will love SALSArobics. Esther chooses popular Latin music and breaks down the basic steps and slowly builds them up and modifies the moves until voila, you’re dancing around the room!

SALSArobics is like Zumba in the way that it is exercise based on Latin dance. We danced everything from salsa, merengue, cha cha, belly dance, bachata,… even lambada, the forbidden dance!

SALSArobics is different from Zumba in many ways. There is little or no choreography in SALSArobics. The dance steps are authentic Latin dance moves that travel around the room. I found more opportunity in SALSArobics for individuals to modify the workout to add intensity or more complicated dance moves if they chose to do so.

I will hopefully be adding a SALSArobics class to my schedule  soon. If you’re ever in the greater Chicago area, be sure to check out a SALSArobics class from Esther or one of her SALSArobics instructors!

Z-KICKZ II Zumba Shoes Now Available from Zumba Fitness

First, Zumba Fitness introduced the Z1 Sneaker, Z-Top Shoes, and Z-Kickz Zumba shoes. Now, Z-Kickz II are available in 3 colors: Lollipop (black, pink, purple, & gray), Zumba Green (gray, neon green, & silver), and Aspen (gray & neon blue). The Zumba Green Z-Kickz II are also available in men’s sizes. Z-Kickz II are a little more affordable too: $60 USD for ZIN members!

Z-Kickz LOVE Limited-Edition Zumba Shoes

New limited-edition Z-Kickz athletic dance shoes are now available from Zumba! Introducing the Love Edition, just in time for Valentine’s Day:

rykä Fit Club Offers Discount to Fitness Professionals

Attention Zumba lovers: If you are considering buying the Kelly Ripa Collection Ryka Transition Shoes for Zumba, you might want to register for the rykä Fit Club.

I just discovered the rykä Fit Club. According to the website, the rykä fit club offers a 20% discount on everything at rykafit.com to fitness professionals, group fitness instructors, personal trainers, and athletic trainers. You can’t visit the rykafit Store unless you are a member of the club. I just filled out the application myself using my ZIN membership number. I’ll let you know what happens…

Chinese Pop Music for Zumba – Happy Chinese New Year!

The Chinese New Year is upon us! The Year of the Water Dragon starts Monday, January 23, 2012. How about some Chinese pop music for your Zumba classes to celebrate this new beginning?!?

One of the benefits of teaching Zumba at a large American state university is the large number of international students. Here are some Chinese artists that were recommended to me by Chinese grad students studying abroad who take my Zumba classes. My personal favorite is Jolin Tsai. Enjoy!

Aaron Kwok – Just Move, Para Para Sakura

Coco Lee – Hip Hop Tonight, No Doubt, Real Lover

Jay Chou – My Zone

Jolin Tsai – Oh! Oh!, Honey Trap, Dancing Diva, 36 Ideas of Love

Penny Tai – Cinderella

Sammi Cheng – Enrapture, One and Only

Stefanie Sun – Green Light, Be Straightforward, Running

Wilber Pan – Happy Worship

DC Skate Shoes for Zumba

I started doing Zumba at a new studio, and I saw something I have never seen before: Skateboarding shoes in Zumba class.

What are skateboarding shoes, like DC Skate shoes designed for? Grip. Keeping the skater’s feet on his or her skateboard without slipping, sliding, or rocking off the board.

Is grip what you need for Zumba? Absolutely not!

Of course you don’t want to go sliding across the studio floor, but Zumba requires turns and twists. Your feet must be able to pivot or your ankle, knee, and hip joints will suffer. Skate shoes also do not allow the lateral movement required in the most basic of salsa moves in a Zumba class.

While skate shoes might look cool, they are not the right footware for Zumba.

Bloch Dance Sneakers for Zumba

I see a lot of Bloch dance sneakers like the Bloch Trinity, Bloch Twist, and Bloch Wave in my Zumba classes.

The nice thing about Bloch dance sneakers is that they are available for women AND men. Bloch sneakers are affordable and easy to find and buy online.

If you’re considering buying Bloch dance sneakers for Zumba, please keep in mind that Bloch sneakers are designed primarily for dancing – not high-impact group fitness classes like Zumba. Bloch sneakers might work for Zumba for light people with strong, healthy feet or low-impact Zumba like Zumba Gold or Curves Zumba in the Circuit. Some people might think their feet are strong and healthy until they experience arch pain due to the lack of support.

Split sole dance sneakers are designed for flexibility and precision, such as pointing ones toes during a dance performance. Bloch sneakers with a split sole do not offer the arch support necessary for the jumping, pounding, and stomping choreography in many Zumba classes, especially for those people with more body weight to absorb.

Kelly Ripa Collection Ryka Transition Shoes for Zumba

Who doesn’t love Kelly Ripa?

You probably also know that Kelly Ripa does Zumba. Earlier this week, Zumba Fitness creator, Beto Perez did Zumba with Kelly Ripa, Rob Lowe, and Vanessa Lachey on  LIVE! with Kelly. Watch it here: http://bcove.me/d2g03fc0

The RipaRyka Kelly Ripa Collection by Ryka features a shoe called the Transition that is perfect for Zumba. I have heard a lot of good things about the Ryka Transition for Zumba, Zumba Gold, and Curves Zumba in the Circuit classes from my fellow Zumba instructors and participants. The mesh upper reminds me of my old favorite Zumba shoes, the Nike Musique IV, which is no longer available. The Transition studio shoe is light, flexible, and breathable. The Transition studio design provides support and stability, but also allows lateral movement and just the right amount of grip need for Zumba. These shoes are readily available – at least online.

Just another reason to love Kelly Ripa!

If you use Ryka Transition for Zumba, leave a comment and let me know what you think!