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…

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.

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!

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!

Zumba Fitness has an (expensive) new solution: Zumba Z-Kicks. According to the Zumba Shop:

When you want to break it down (which is probably all the time step it up with Z-Kickz, the ultimate dance-fitness shoe – with a kick!
- Super-breathable mesh
- Ultra lightweight
- No-tread
- Neon accents
- Reflective Zumba logos

At the time when this post was written, Zumba Z-Kicks athletic dance shoes were only available for women and cost $74.95 USD. With 50 reviews written by customers in the Zumba Shop, these shoes have a 4.6/5.0 customer rating… Not bad!

I personally cannot afford to spend $75 USD on athletic shoes that I am only going to wear for Zumba. I used to find my Nike Musique and Nike Huarche on sale in stores or online for around $35 USD. $75 USD is out of my price range so I am going to wait and keep looking for a more affordable alternative.

If you try Zumba Z-Kickz, let us know what you think by leaving a comment! Thanks!

According to the Zumba Fitness Shop:

Hey guys, this one’s for you — the all-new Z1 Sneakers for men! Athletic, sturdy, rugged and funky-cool to boot, these sneakers are built for optimum performance both in and out of Zumba® class. Constructed with a molded footbed and TPU for maximum support, and an ultra-breathable upper and midsole for total comfort, the new Z1 sneakers for him also have extra-tough pivot points to slide and grip on cue. With extra colored shoelaces, pair ‘em up with your favorite Zumbawear™ get-up and you’ll be ready to kick it into high gear!

The Z1 Zumba sneaker for men has mixed reviews, but if you’ve been searching for the right shoe, it might be worth the $75 to give them a try!

Why Nike? Why do you continue to discontinue the best athletic dance shoes for Zumba?

First to disappear was the Nike Musique IV with mesh uppers. The Nike Musique athletic dance shoes that continue to exist consist of stiff, leather uppers that look like silly cheerleader shoes. No thank you.

The last pair of shoes I bought for Zumba were Nike Huarache. I bought them in March and after just 3 months of use, I noticed both shoes already had small holes in the fabric on top of my foot near my little toes. Time to buy another pair, right? Wrong!

It appears Nike Huarache athletic dance shoes are no longer available.

And so again, I am searching for the best shoes for Zumba.

Registration starts at 11:15am and the Zumbathon starts at 12:00pm. The cost is $10 for over 90 minutes of Zumba with 13 Zumba instructors from across the Twin Cities. 75% of the proceeds go to benefit the American Heart Association. Zumba has raised over $655,000 for the American Heart Association’s Go Red Por Tu Corazon Movement so far through Zumba events.

Photographer James Flint from Flint Images in Lakeville, MN will taking professional photos at the event. Zumbawear will be for sale at the event. There will also be door prizes including massages, t-shirts, and Minnesota Twins baseball tickets.

Oak Grove Middle School
1300 W 106th Street
Bloomington, MN 55431

For more information, visit the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179042402148224

Cool Downs
Angel – Jon Secada (Pop)
Body Language – Jesse McCartney (Pop)
Banana Boat (Da-O) – Harry Belafonte (Calypso)
Drive – Ziggy Marley (Reggae)
Every Breath You Take – UB-40 (Reggae)
In Heaven – Da’Ville (Reggae)
La Isla Bonita – Madonna (Pop)
Love Song – 311 (Reggae)
Maria Maria – Santana Ft. The Product G&B (Pop)
Save the Last Dance for Me – Michael Buble (Cha Cha)
Slave to Love – Elan Atias (Reggae)
Stand By Me – Prince Royce (Bachata)
Take Me Home – Toots & the Maytals (Reggae)
The Tide is High – Blondie (Reggae)
Vida Loca – Zumba Fitness/Francisco Cespedes (Latin Pop)

Interval Workout
African Beats – Zumba Fitness (African Rhythms)
Rain Dance – The Very Best Feat. M.I.A. (African Rhythms)
Waka Waka (Por Estos Aftrica) – Shakira (Latin Hip Hop/African Rhythms)
Te Extrano – Xtreme (Bachata)
Boro Boro – Zumba Fitness (Bhangra)
Chaiyya Chaiyaa – A.R. Rahman (Bollywood)
Kiss Kiss – Zumba Fitness (Bhangra)
Mundian Te Bach Ke – Panjabi MC (Bhangra)
Tigy Tigy – Zumba Fitness (Bhangra/Reggaeton)Baila Pa Emociona – Zumba Fitness (Calypso)
Jump in the Line – Harry Belafonte (Calypso)
I Need to Know – Zumba Fitness (Cha Cha)
Baila Esta Cumbia – Selena (Cumbia)
Cumbia Arabe – Zumba Fitness (Belly Dance/Cumbia)
Gordita – Shakira (Cumbia/Reggaeton)
La Negra Tomasa – DJ Kane (Cumbia)
Mil Horas – Zumba Fitness (Cumbia)
Muevelo – Los Super Reyes (Cumbia)
Calabria – Rune – (Latin Hip Hop)
Do It To It – Cherish (Hip Hop ABS)
Evacuate the Dance Floor – Cascada (Pop)
Krazy – Pitbull Feat. Lil Jon (Latin Hip Hop)
Lean Like a Cholo – Down AKA Kilo (Latin Hip Hop ABS)
Na De Na – Angel & Kriz (Latin Hip Hop)
Pam Pam – Wisin & Yandel (Latin Hip Hop)
Que Te Pica – Notch (Latin Hip Hop)
Rompe – Daddy Yankee (Latin Hip Hop)
Shake – Ying Yang Twins Feat. Pitbull (Hip Hop)
A La Nena Le Gusta – Zumba Fitness (Merengue)
Ca Plan Por Moi – Plastic Bertrand (French Merengue)
La Morena – Zumba Fitness (Merengue)
Pegate – Zumba Fitness/Grupo Treo (Merengue)
Suavemente – Elvis Crespo (Merengue)
Vete – Zumba Fitness/Los Primeros (Merengue)
Hava Nagila – Zumba Fitness (Hebrew Folk)
Kalinka – Yamboo (Russian Pop)
Pa Pa Americano – DJ Kiky (Italian Pop)
Stereo Love – Edward Maya Ft. Vika Jigulina (Romania Pop)
Ritmo Caliente – Zumba Fitness (Quebradita)
ZuBailaito – Zumba Fitness (Quebradita)
Baile Del Pescao – Zumba Fitness (Reggaeton)
Hella Decale – Zumba Fitness/DJ Mam’s (French Reggaeton)
Oye – Zumba Fitness/Mara (Reggaeton)
She’s Hotter – Zumba Fitness/Pitbull (Reggaeton)
Ana Mile – Zumba Fitness (Salsa)
Dance the Night Away – The Mavericks (Salsa/Cha Cha)
La Agarro Bajando – Zumba Fitness (Salsa)
La Vida Es Un Carnaval – Zumba Fitness/Celia Cruz (Salsa)
Loca – Shakira (Salsa/Belly Dance)
Salome – Zumba Fitness (Salsa)
Danca Da Maozinha – Zumba Fitness (Samba)
Danza Kuduro – Don Omar (Samba/Latin Hip Hop)
Mueve La Cadera – Zumba Fitness (Samba/Cumbia)