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Ready, Set, Zumba

  • Published
  • By Sachel Seabrook
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Hips shake energetically to Latin beats, swivel seductively to hip-hop lyrics and sway softly to mainstream pop ballads. Sweat hits the floor and water bottles are emptied at rapid speeds. Welcome to Zumba.

Zumba is the newest exercise program gaining popularity and proves to be very successful. According to Zumba's national website, Zumba Fitness has grown to become the world's largest - and most successful - dance-fitness program with more than 10 million taking weekly classes in over 90,000 locations across more than 110 countries. At Eglin, this dance-fitness class attracts an average of 20 participants a week from different exercise levels who are looking for a fun way to stay fit.

"I started doing Zumba in 2009 because I was tired of just going to the gym and walking on the treadmill or elliptical or doing weights. I was getting bored, but I knew I needed a cardio workout," said Iliana Tusseyskaggs, who has been teaching the class since 2010.

And a cardio workout is just what a Zumba student will get. There is no part of the body that will be left out of the workout. In a typical one hour class, one can expect to burn anywhere between 800-1000 calories.

"You can be a couch potato with no coordination and come into a Zumba class for the first time, participate and have fun," says Ms. Tusseyskaggs.

Zumba blends international music to various dance moves, creating a fitness program that can become very addictive.

"I love this class. It's fun and I forget I'm exercising," says Jane Matanane, who's attended the class since November. "The hour goes by so quick."

The class concludes with a cool-down mamba line, slow breathing and a round of applause for the instructor. But for her, the students are the ones who deserve the praise.

"I think the greatest thing about being an instructor is being able to watch the progress of the students," says the Zumba instructor. "To see them in the beginning not moving a lot and not very confident to within a few classes having more flexibility and coming every class with big smiles on their faces is very fulfilling."

Zumba is offered at the women's field house Mondays and Fridays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. For more information, call the fitness annex at 883-2129.