As upbeat Latin-style beats pulsate through gyms and fitness centers across the country, people of all ages are turning to Zumba studios to try to keep up with the music. In its native Colombian slang; meaning “move fast and have fun,” Zumba has continually been on the rise since being trademarked in 2001 by Colombian fitness gurus and entrepreneurs Beto Perez, Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion.
“It seems to be advertised everywhere,” English teacher amd Zumba instructor Kim Palca said. “I’ve definitely noticed that on my drive home all of the gym billboards now say ‘We offer Zumba,’ and more and more people I know since I’ve started doing it have tried it.”
After trying other workout programs such as Pilates and kickboxing and continually losing interest, Palca said she was instantly hooked on Zumba. Only a year after trying the program, her instructors suggested she become certified to teach at her studio in Milford.
Through an eight-hour program, where she learned the 12 basic dance moves and how to construct playlists to help heart rate, Palca earned her certification to teach the exercise class.
“I have continued to enjoy Zumba and want to teach others because it is always changing; no two classes are alike,” Palca said. “Each instructor has their own style, and since I started I’ve definitely seen my health shift in a positive direction.”
According to the official Zumba website, 12 million people have joined the Zumba bandwagon, participating in weekly Zumba classes in 110,000 locations across more than 125 countries.
The international fitness program incorporates salsa, merengue, cumbia, africaan, hip-hop, and belly dancing into its routines with a goal to burn 500-1,000 calories in an hour.
Palca attributes much of the program’s success to its appeal to all ages. Terena Koteka-Wiki ’14 is not only an avid Zumba enthusiast but is also certified to teach.
Although Kotea-Wikki cannot lead her own classes until she is 18-years-old, she frequently guest teaches at her mother’s Zumba studio in Norwalk, Studio M Fitness
“Zumba just gets you moving, and it doesn’t matter what age you are because it’s so fun you hardly realize you are working out,” Koteka-Wiki said.
Maddie Melnick ’12 was initially attracted to Zumba as a former dancer. However, after participating in classes at NY Sports Club in Westport, she, like Koteka-Wiki found it was a fitness program that people at any age, and any skill set can enjoy.
“The class I go to usually has a mix of older women, probably my grandma’s age, younger mothers, and high school students, but you don’t need to be a certain age or have a background in dance to be able to participate,” Melnick said.
The weekend Zumba classes she participates in are widely attended by Staples students, Melnick said.
Part of Zumba’s universal appeal also comes from the variety of classes within the program.
The Zumba enterprise encompasses: Zumba Toning which incorporates weights, Zumba Gold geared toward the elderly and overweight, Aqua Zumba, and Zumbatomic for kids.
“Overall Zumba is a huge party atmosphere,” owner of Studio M Fitness Emm Koteka-Wiki said. “It’s about bringing people together to dance and just having a lot of fun.”
After being in the fitness industry for over 20 years, Emm made the switch to focus on Zumba after witnessing the growing trend. She teaches over 20 classes a week to satisfy the increasing demand.
“It’s one of the most popular exercises to date in all the years I have been training, and it’s the best program I’ve known in the last 20 years,” Emm said.
To visit the Studio M website visit: http://www.studiomfitness.com/
