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…

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!

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?