August Zumba Playlist

September 2nd, 2010

I’m so proud: Next month (September 2010), I will have been posting my Zumba playlists for one year.

I try to add one or two new songs per week, but that doesn’t always happen. There are two songs that I am still using one whole year later and they are warm ups. I’ve tried to retire them, but as soon as they disappear, someone asks for them back. I guess they’re here to stay…

Asejeré (Latin Pop / Warm Up)
Las Ketchup
Choreography by Rencsi

Disturbia (Pop / Warm Up)
Rihanna
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Zumba with Renee

La Bamba (Latin Hip Hop / Warm Up)
Wyclef Jean
Choreography by Rencsi

Mil Horas (Cumbia)
Zumba ZIN 27
Choreography by Zumba Fitness

Waka Waka (Latin Pop)
Shakira
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Shakira

Danca Da Maozinha (Axe)
Zumba ZIN 27
Choreography by Zumba Fitness

I Need to Know (Cha Cha)
Zumba ZIN 25
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Zumba Fitness

El Baile Del Pescao (Reggaeton)
Zumba ZIN 27
Choreography by Zumba Fitness

A La Nena Le Gusta (Merengue)
Zumba ZIN 24
Choreography by Zumba Fitness

Boro Boro (Belly Dance)
Zumba ZIN 22
Choreography by Rencsi

Kalinka (Russian Folk / Pop)
Yamboo
Choreography by Rencsi

Lean Like a Cholo (Zumba Toning / Latin Hip Hop)
Down AKA Kilo
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by this YouTube video

Te Extrano (Bachata)
X-Treme
Choreography by Rencsi

Take Me Home Country Roads (Reggaeton / Cool Down)
Toots & the Maytals
Choreography by Rencsi

May Zumba Music Playlist

May 24th, 2010

Time flies! Some of my May Zumba songs. Enjoy!

Telephone (Pop / Warm Up)
Lady Gaga

Obsesion (Bachata)
Aventura

Chaiyya Chaiyya (Zumba Toning / Bollywood)
Bombay Dreams

Salome (Salsa / Pop)
Zumba Fitness ZIN 24

Que Te Pica (Reggaeton)
Notch

A La Nena Le Gusta (Merengue)
Zumba Fitness ZIN 24

Zu Bailaito MIX (Quebradita)
ZIN Bonus Download

Boro Boro (Belly Dance)
Zumba ZIN 22

I Need to Know (Cha Cha)
Zumba Fitness ZIN Volume 25

Rain Dance (African)
The Very Best Featuring M.I.A.

Evacuate the Dance Floor (Pop)
Cascada

La Agarro Bajando (Salsa)
Zumba Megamix 4

Lean Like a Cholo (Zumba Toning / Latin Hip Hop)
Down AKA Kilo

La Negra Tomasa (Cumbia)
DJ Kane

Waiting in Vain (Reggae / Cool Down)
Bob Marley

Zumba: Great Workout, Silly Name

April 16th, 2009

I recently canceled my Snap Fitness 24-7 gym membership to join an independent gym called Fitness Crossroads. For $10/month more, the independent gym provides showers, lockers, towel service, and best of all – group fitness classes!

Being a dancer, I have always loved group fitness classes. I’ve often thought I was born too late and missed my true calling of being a aerobics instructor in the 1980’s. In fact, when asked my dream job, I often respond “aerobics instructor slash dog walker.” (Watch Eric Prydz’s Call On Me Video here. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s racy and nsfw.)

I had been away from the group fitness scene for a few years while I lived in Europe and while I held mini-gym memberships here in the States. After I joined my new gym in March, I soon saw an announcement that they were adding two “Zumba” classes to the group fitness schedule. Zumba? It sounded silly, but I decided to Google it.

The Zumba workout is based on latin rhythms and dance moves. It is like going out to a nightclub dancing, but with the freedom of not caring how you look and getting sweaty in the comfort of your own gym!

I loved Zumba from the very first minute. I was a member of the pom pon squad in high school and the dance team in college. Each song in Zumba is a mini dance routine, much like danceline. The instructor breaks down the moves first and then brings the moves up to speed. The moves are intuitive and easy-to-follow. The main goal is to keep moving.

One thing I especially love about Zumba is that each class participant can increase or decrease intensity according to their comfort level, which makes it suitable for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, many of the participants in my daytime class are 65 and over! I love to see the older men and women smiling, laughing, and dancing up a storm! Zumba Gold was designed specifically for older adults. I hope I am still dancing at age 70!

I highly recommend looking for Zumba classes at your local gym or community center, regardless of the silly name. It is so much fun, it’s like working out without working out! I love Zumba so much, and Zumba is so much fun to me, I am becoming a certified group fitness instructor through ACE (American Council on Exercise) in order to become a certified Zumba instructor.

Ditch the workout, join the party!