New Zumba Trend – Dedicated Zumba Studios

What’s new with Zumba for 2012? Small businesses dedicated to Zumba Fitness classes are popping up in American cities of all sizes all over the United States!

The Zumba studio in my city is holding its first-ever master class on Friday night to celebrate their grand opening: Zstudio – Duluth, Minnesota, USA

Other studios dedicated to Zumba Fitness classes have opened in Stillwater, Minnesota and Mason City, Iowa.

Do you own or go to a dedicated Zumba studio in your area? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and share a link to your Zumba studio!

Give the Gift of Zumba

Are you still Christmas shopping? (Don’t feel bad – I haven’t even started.) Why not give the gift of Zumba?!?

For the athlete… You already know she (or he) likes to exercise. Why not help them mix up their workout with Zumba?

For the dancer… You already know she (or he) loves to dance. Why not give them the gift of a workout they’re going to love?

For the couch potato… OK, she (or he) says she doesn’t like to exercise. She says she doesn’t dance. Zumba is the perfect gift for that couch potato of any age you’d like to start exercising. All she has to do is follow along. There are no rules. There is no right or wrong. Just keep moving and pretty soon, she’s dancing and exercising!

How can you give the gift of Zumba?

DVD’s: Two sets of Zumba DVD’s are available through the Zumba shop or Amazon.com. Zumba DVD’s let you start doing Zumba right in the comfort (and privacy) of your own home.

Video Game: Two Zumba video games are available for Wii, Playstation, and XBox Kinect. These are video games that will make you sweat, again, in the comfort (and privacy) of your own home,

Live Class: Pick up a punch card or gift certificate to a gym or group fitness studio near your loved one that offers Zumba classes. Some Curves locations now offer Zumba in the Circuit. There are Zumbatomic classes for kids and Zumba Gold classes for beginners, deconditioned exercisers, or older adults. Ask your favorite Zumba instructor for recommendations!

Happy holidays!

Zumba Gift Packs

Just in time for Christmas, Zumba now has gift packs available in the Zumba Shop!

The gift packs contain a variety of Zumba items. The gift packs currently available are:

• “Show Your Charm” Zumba charm bracelet variety gift pack,
• “Funky Flavor” Zumba gift pack of 49 popular Zumba rubber bracelets,
• “Gear Up” Zumba gift pack with Zumba-branded bags and towels,
• “On-The-Go” Zumba gift pack with Zumba-branded bags and towels,
• “All-In-One” Zumba gift pack with a little of everything: Zumba hats, balloons, key chains, and socks,
• Finally, the “Hair Today, Party Tomorrow” Zumba gift pack of Zumba-branded hats (like Beto’s fedora) and hair accessories.

Prices rang from $12 to $35 USD. These Zumba gift packs are amazingly affordable and will not last long in the Zumba Shop. If you’re looking for a gift for a special Zumba lover in your life, buy now. These gift packs would work great as giveaways at Zumba classes and events, so Zumba instructors: Buy now!

Christmas Gifts for Zumba Lovers

Do you have a Zumba lover in your life? Want to give them a Christmas gift they’re going to love? Here are some Christmas gift ideas from a Zumba lover for Zumba lovers:

Zumba Wear
Some people wear their everyday gym clothes to Zumba, but Zumba wear is different than gym clothes. It’s a cross between street wear and dance wear. Zumba wear is available from the Zumba online shop and will cost you anywhere from $14.95 for a pair of Zumba flip flops to $94.95 for a pair of Zumba athletic dance shoes. A safe bet for any Zumba lover is a top to wear to class. A Zumba wear top will cost you anywhere form $14.95 to $39.95 + shipping. Shop now if you want it to arrive by Christmas!

Zumba DVDs
The gift that keeps on giving – a Zumba class right in your very own home! There are two authetic Zumba DVD sets available: the Total Body Transformation System (as seen on TV) or the Zumba Exhilarate DVD Experience. There is even a set of Zumba DVD’s for children called Zumbatomic. The DVD sets are expensive ($89.95 for Exhilarate on Zumba.com, $49.95 for TBTS on Amazon.com), but contain five DVDs including a live workout and choreography to tone the arms, abs, buns, and thighs. Shop for DVDs on Zumba.com or Amazon.com.

Zumba Video Game
I was lucky enough to participate in the Best Buy release of the original Zumba Fitness video game for Kinect on the XBox 360 at the Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minnesota last year and let me tell you, it is amazing! The Zumba Fitness video game is available for Wii and Playstation and WILL give you a workout. This year, the Zumba Fitness 2 video game is also available for Wii. Shop for DVDs on Zumba.com or Amazon.com.

Here are some other ideas for Zumba lovers:

• Dance lessons – Maybe they’re ready to start salsa dancing???
• Exercise clothes – Bright, neon colors are popular in Zumba classes. Popular exercise clothing brands in my classes: lululemon athletica, lucy, C9 from Champion available at Target, Victoria’s Secret PINK (yes, Victoria’s Secret), Old Navy
• Hip Scarf – Belly dance and Bollywood songs in Zumba have inspired some Zumba lovers to wear colorful hip scarves during class.

Zumba lovers, do you have any other suggestions?

Zumba at Prince’s Paisley Park Studios – January 2012

Minnesota has the BEST Zumba parties!

Join the 90-minute Zumba Master Class with Columbia-native Wally Diaz at Minnesota-native Prince’s Paisley Park Studios!

DRESS CODE: PURPLE

Master Class: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Cost: $30 + $1.50 (transaction fee) + canned good item
(This master class is for everyone. You don’t have to be an instructor to attend!)

Master Class Address:
7801 Audubon Road
Chanhassen, MN 55317

More information at www.zumbainminnesota.com

Why is it so hard to find Zumba shoes?!?

Why is it so hard to find shoes for Zumba?!?

My search for good Zumba shoes started over two years ago after I experienced knee pain after Zumba. During Zumba class, I was having so much fun that I didn’t even notice that my usual gym shoes stuck to the studio floor. My knees were taking all kinds of the abuse while my foot was planted on the studio floor and my body twisted and turned and made lateral movements. After Zumba class, my knees ached.

In the beginning, I looked at everything from cross country “waffle” running shoes to wrestling shoes to indoor turf soccer shoes. I even got out my old Capezio athletic dance shoes from dance team performances in college.

Finally, I found Nike Musique IV. They were perfect – from the mesh upper to the sole to the price. Now, Nike Musique are cheerleading shoes with all leather uppers – not to mention, they are too ugly to wear to Zumba class.

I moved on to Nike Huarache. Cool, hip-hop style dance sneakers with a sock like upper and great soles and again, great price. Now, Nike discontinued them. A search for Nike Huarache will bring up hits for men’s soccer shoes.

I am currently using Reebok Zigs for Zumba. They are working… for now. My feet often go numb during class, but at least the ridiculous looking soles can turn on the studio floor, which saves me from knee and hip pain. They are expensive, but I found mine on a clearance rack at TJ Maxx.

I’ve seen everything from Sketchers to Puma to Ryka to Vibram FiveFinger barefoot running shoes to bare feet in my Zumba classes and no one seems really pleased with their Zumba footware. Men seem to have an even bigger struggle than women in finding good Zumba shoes.

Zumba currently sells Z-Kickz and Z Tops are coming out in November 2011. Buying shoes for Zumba from Zumba will cost you $75 to $95 USD.

Finding the right shoes for Zumba has been a struggle for me since I started teaching Zumba classes to years ago. What shoes are you wearing for Zumba right now? Would you (do you) recommend them to others?

New Zumba Shoes – Introducing Z Tops!

New Zumba Shoes from Zumba Fitness are coming the first week of November! The new Zumba Z Tops are available for pre-order now for ZIN (Zumba Instructor Network) instructors!

The Zumba Fitness Home Office announced this week:

The hottest innovation in Zumba^® footwear is coming the first week of November. Be the first to get the shoe that works as hard as you do! Z-Top is the NEW ultimate dance-fitness shoe featuring customizable comfort, optimal support and maximum freedom of movement.

You (or your favorite ZIN Zumba instructor) can buy these Zumba shoes from the Zumba Fitness inline shop. The new Z Tops are on pre sale now for ZIN members on the online Zumba Shop for $74.95 for ZIN members or $94.95 regular price!

The Z Tops are described on the Zumba online shop:

Step it up with Z-Top, the revolutionary dance-fitness shoe featuring enhanced support and a non-marking rubber outsole for maximum sliding power and control. Two separate upper finishes allow you to choose your look!

• Interior “hidden wedge” and exterior Velcro strap cradle the foot
• Shoelace loop above the heel exterior offers additional ankle support
• Additional sock-lining included for those in need of extra support
• Ultra-breathable grey mesh finish provides a lightweight feel
• Raised mid & heel side walls for foot stability
• Ultra smooth central outsole with circular ridges to allow fluid movement while still providing grip
• Alternative sleek patent leather finish — perfect for on and off the dance floor!

“No Shoes Please” Zumba Class

A newly-certified Zumba instructor I know recently posted a new Zumba class on her schedule. It’s at a popular yoga studio and in the description, it is asked, “No shoes please!”

No shoes allowed? For a Zumba class? Really?

Kicking your shoes off at a wedding dance – we’ve all done that. But no shoes allowed for a Zumba class… All I can say is, “OUCH!”

Every Zumba instructor is different, but my classes involves high-impact dance moves like jumping and stomping. According to the article, “The Effects of Weight on Feet When Running” on Livestrong.com, when you run, each foot hits the ground with 3- to 4- times the force of your actual body weight with each step you take. In Zumba, your feet could take 2- to 4-times the force of your actual body weight with high-impact moves.

There are 26 bones in the foot. 26. Think about how small each bone has to be to fit 26 bones into your foot. Now, think about how much you weigh. Multiply that by 2- or even 4-times and imagine those 26 tiny little bones in your feet distributing 2- to 4-times your body weight for an hour long Zumba class. For me, that’s 115 pounds – 115 x 2=230 pounds to 115 x 4=460 pounds. Ouch.

Of course, one might argue barefoot running is gaining in popularity, why not barefoot Zumba? Well, to be fair barefoot running-related injuries are also becoming increasingly popular. So much so, that one article on Competitor.com calls it “The Barefoot Running Injury Epidemic.” If you do Zumba barefoot, chances are you are putting yourself at risk for foot and leg injury.

One might also think, Shakira dances barefoot, why can’t I? Well, Shakira’s dances moves are not high-impact – she usually has both feet on the floor. Shakira is obviously not a weekend Zumba warrior, she is a highly-trained dancer. Trainers and coaches most likely monitor her fitness to be sure her body, muscles, joints, and bones are able to support her dancing. She most likely has access to the best athletic trainers, physical therapists, and doctors at any given moment if any part of her body gives her pain.

If you see a Zumba class offered that requests, “No shoes please!”, I recommend looking for another Zumba class where you are allowed to wear a supportive pair of Zumba shoes.

Pumas for Zumba

Finding the right shoes for Zumba is very difficult. You need the support of an athletic shoe with the sole of a dance shoe.

Puma athletic shoes look like a dance shoe, right? They are narrow, light-weight, and have the tell-tale circle on the sole that indicates a sole that will allow turning and sliding. Unfortunately, Pumas are not a good choice for Zumba. They lack the necessary shock absorption needed for the high-impact moves of a Zumba class. Look at the sole of a Puma sneaker – it’s very thin. There is almost no rubber or cushion to help distribute the shock from impact with the floor.

One of my Zumba participants bought a pair of suede Pumas for Zumba class. She was excited about finding Pumas for Zumba because they were inexpensive and seemed to move on the studio floor like she had hoped they would. She was coming to my class at least twice a week. She was always in the front row and was nearly 6 feet tall – you couldn’t miss her.

Suddenly she disappeared from class. She had developed shin splints from the impact of Zumba while wearing her new non-supportive Puma sneakers to several Zumba classes per week. Mayo Clinic defines shin splints as follows:

Medically known as medial tibial stress syndrome, shin splints occur during physical activity and result from too much force being placed on your shinbone and connective tissues that attach your muscles to the bone.

My participant’s shins splints were so bad there was visible bruising near her swollen ankles. She had to go to the doctor and could not participate in Zumba for six weeks. the doctor told her if she continued to do Zumba, the impact could give her stress fractures in her tibia bones. At the end of six weeks, she had to start with one Zumba class per week and she could not do any jumping – doctor’s orders.

The moral of the story, don’t wear unsupportive sneakers, like Pumas, for Zumba.

Reebok Zigs for Zumba

Awhile back I read that Alena (of Zumba with Alena) recommended Reebok ZIGS for Zumba. When I found a grey and pink pair in my size on sale at TJ Maxx, I decided to give them a try. Here is what I think about Reebok ZIGS for Zumba:

Pros:
Reebok ZIGS do not stick to studio floors. This is important because when your shoe sticks to the floor, your foot stays in one place while your ankle, knee, and hip twist and turn. I believe finding an athletic dance shoe that does not stick to the floor is the most important thing to look for in order to avoid joint pain after Zumba classes. Reebok ZIGS allow plenty of movement in all directions for Zumba classes, including turning, sliding, and gliding.

Reebok ZIGS provide adequate support. These are sturdy, robust athletic shoes that will absorb shock from high-impact moves during Zumba.

Reebok ZIGS are available in mens’ sizes for the handful of *wonderful* men who participate and instruct Zumba classes.

Reebok ZIGS are available online or in stores worldwide.

Cons:
Reebok ZIGS are ugly and attract a lot of attention. I picked up a pair of grey and pink Reebok ZIGS because they were my only option at TJ Maxx. They are so dark and clunky, I feel like I look like I’m wearing army boots to Zumba. I’m embarrassed to wear them outside of the studio, so I change my shoes immediately before and after Zumba class.

Reebok ZIGS are expensive. I found a pair at TJ Maxx for $35 USD. These shoes cost about $100 full price. That is too much for Zumba shoes in my opinion. I would not have bought a pair if I hadn’t find them on sale at discount store.

In summary, if you can afford to buy a pair of Reebok ZIGS for Zumba and don’t mind the way they look, go for it. The sole is what is needed for Zumba on studio floors. For now, Reebok ZIGS are my Zumba shoe of choice. As always, if you use Reebok ZIGS for Zumba, let me know what you think!