Exercising to Zumba

Spice up your exercise routine on Friday, Mar. 12 with the Zumba experience! Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that is probably much more fun and exciting than your regular routine. The event is taking place in the Underground from 7-9 p.m. Prizes will be given away, like gel wrist bands, and two Zumba t-shirts.

There will be two sets of exercises, followed by snacks. The snacks will include chips and salsa, trail mix, and other healthy snacks. The drinks that will be provided are Gatorade and water. The best part about this fitness routine is that dance experience is not necessary. All there is to bring is you, with the advice to wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

A student from BVU came across this fitness routine while in Albuquerque, New Mexico over J-term. The student thought Zumba was fun and something the BVU campus would enjoy. She emailed Student Activities Board (SAB) and asked the leaders of SAB to bring this experience to BVU. Luckily, Amy Hodge, an instructor close to the Storm Lake area in Sioux City is certified in many different fitness areas, including Zumba.

“Hodge likes to fashion this program like an exercise to music in a fun party atmosphere. Amy is from Sioux City and has worked with Morningside and WIT [Western Iowa Tech]” the Director of Health Services and Wellness Tami Laursen said.

Just as the BVU student came upon the Zumba program by accident, so did the actual creator of this exercise. The creator, “Beto” Perez, stumbled upon Zumba when he forgot his aerobic exercise music. Rather than cancel the class, he happened to have a Latin, salsa, and reggae CD in his backpack. Though it was difficult, he managed to improvise all the way through the class.

Turns out, the participants really enjoyed the class, and from there, Zumba caught on and its popularity grew fast. Just to prove how popular Zumba dance fitness has become, their website, www.zumba.com/us/, “the Zumba program is being taught at over 50,000 locations in 75 countries, has sold millions of DVDs, and has changed the lives of Zumba Fanatics worldwide with an astonishing six million participants taking Zumba classes every week.”

If people enjoy the activity, BVU is planning on hiring Hodge for another round of Zumba activities later in the year.