Catch Zumba Fever

Zumba Fever is highly contagious, extremely addictive. Symptoms include shaking, sweating, weight loss, an inability to sit still, and spontaneous outbursts of “whooo whoo!”

Just starting to work out or looking for a new way to get in shape? You might want to try Zumba. What is Zumba? It’s a fitness program created by Miami-based dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez. It combines Latin dance: salsa, samba, cumbia, and meringue, with hip hop and belly dancing. It’s one of the fastest-growing fitness crazes in the country. The music is infectious, the moves are easy to follow and the health benefits are just plain good for you.

Two years ago I stumbled into Zumba at my fitness club. Mandy Huetten and Kristyn Dahl, had just gotten certified as Zumba teachers and started ZumbaManiacs in Puyallup. They were the first ones in the area to offer Zumba classes and got the party started. It didn’t take long for the classes fill with enthusiastic fitness dancers having so much fun they didn’t even realize they were burning 600 to 800 calories an hour. In January 2008 ZumbaManiacs moved to their current home, Competitive Edge, where there’s more room to shake it. The party continues nine times a week, morning, afternoon and night.

The cameras rolled in February 2008, when our Zumba class was featured on King 5 News. As we danced, Mandy explained, “When you shimmy, you’re working those shoulders and arms and you don’t even realize that’s happening.” It’s a cardio, total body workout that can be as intense as you want it. Kristyn summed it up, “It takes those old floor aerobics and spices them up to a whole new level.”

ZumbaManiacs keeps it fresh making it easy to keep showing up. Kristyn and Mandy are always sprinkling in new songs and routines, shaking it up. The music is mainly current, including mixes of popular artists like Beyonce, Shakira, Lil Jon, and Britney Spears with some oldies thrown in. One oldie that rises from the grave in October is Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” With over 200 songs and their corresponding routines, Zumba exercises your brain as well as your body.

Zumba appeals to all ages from teenagers to seniors in their 70s, all body types, and all levels of dance ability. At first I was self-conscious, but soon discovered that everyone else was too busy doing their own thing to watch or judge my dancing skills. My fears quickly melted away along with inches around my waistline.

As dancers, Mandy and Kristyn are talented professionals each with their own style. As teachers they are passionate and have a special spark that gets us fired up and excited. As people, they sincerely connect with each of us personally.

If you’re ready to catch Zumba fever, check out their website: www.ZumbaManiacs.com for a schedule and details. Your first class is free so, ditch the old workout, come to the Zumba party at Competitive Edge!

Laura Keolanui Stark, an enthusiastic Zumba dancer, can be reached at lkstark@yahoo.com. (Originally published in The Herald, www.puyallupherald.com on 1/29/09.)