Zumba Happy :)

The Zumba Glow Party was this past weekend and let's just say it was

the most fun I've had since... well probably the last Zumba Glow Party! This time was special though, as I was able to introduce my mommy to the world of Zumba! The Glow Party is the perfect forum for any first timer- its dark and no one can see if you don't know what you are doing (not that anyone cares, anyway!) Zumba is high energy fun that will give you a cardio blast and keep you burning calories throughout the day.

Mom said she hadn't done any formal exercise class since well, Jazzercise so we knew we had to take it slow. The most important thing about Zumba is to not get caught up in the steps, especially when you are just starting out. You just have to keep moving! So when Mom's heart rate got too high she just took it down to a two-step and did just fine! She lasted the whole two hours- which is no small feat even for the most experience Zumba nut. I was so proud of the way she stuck with it!

For me, Zumba is definitely one of my happy places :) I've always loved to dance, so Zumba is a great way to trick myself into doing some cardio! Your instructor will also sneak in some ab and booty work in those routines too.

For one, anytime you twist your body along the transverse plane that separates your top and bottom half, you are working your abdominal muscles from the inside out especially the internal and external obliques which run from your ribs to your hips along the side of your torso. You will also work the quadratus lumborum which is a deep muscle that runs from your spine to your hips. All three can be the culprit of that pesky "muffin top" area. By incorporating twisting exercises into your workout routine, you should see improved muscle tone and increased range of motion. So in Zumba every time you are twisting your body to perform that salsa or mambo step, you are strengthening your obliques and increasing your heart rate at the same time, which will lead to burning belly fat once and for all! Also, expect a lot of squats and booty bumps! Some of these moves are really like standing crunches if you are doing them right- think Beyonce abs!

There are so many health benefits of adding Zumba to your workout, but the greatest one for me hasn't been physical. At Powerhouse Family Fitness Gym in Hilton Head there is a fantastic group of instructors and devoted participants that help create a fun atmosphere that is more like a night out dancing than a group ex class! My "Zumba Ladies" as I call them affectionately, are so inspiring to me! There's something super powerful about a group of women dancing their heart out to the beat of a different drum. It's that unbridled energy that keeps me coming back for more! Check out these lovely ladies doing their thing in the clip below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HemNwk5H1h8

For class information where you live, go to www.zumba.com and click 'Find A Class' to "Ditch the workout, and join the party"!