Zumba dancing aerobics is all the rage for getting in shape

A FOOTLOOSE WORKOUT— Dale Schrichten, a Zumba instructor at House of Dance in Ventura and at the Agoura Hills Recreation Center, demonstrates Zumba, an aerobic Latin dance. House of Dance will host a Zumba marathon from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 9. It’s that New Year’s resolution time of year again, and what often tops the lists of life-changing pledges is the promise to start exercising.

While committing to a hearthealthy program at the beginning of each year is a promise many people hope to keep, picking an exercise regimen and sticking with it is another story, especially when the drudgery of it all sets in.

Zumba, a combination of Latin and international dance themes combined with aerobic moves, is changing the way many people view their exercise.

Dale Schrichten, 51, has been helping people shimmy off the pounds by teaching Zumba classes at the Agoura Hills Recreation Center and at the House of Dance in Ventura for more than three years.

“Zumba puts fun back into exercise,” Schrichten said. “You spend an hour and you don’t realize that you are exercising.”

Alberto Beto Perez, a professional dancer and fitness trainer from Colombia in South America, created Zumba when he forgot to bring his aerobics music to class. Rather than cancel his class, he grabbed some Latin music tapes from his car and showed people how to dance Latin style. The class was a hit and, by 1999, Zumba had taken off in the United States.

Schrichten says Zumba is now the No. 1 fitness craze in the world.

Although Zumba incorporates basic Latin dance moves such as salsa, cha cha, rumba and meringue, the form has evolved and now includes moves from country line dancing, disco, hip-hop, swing—even the Charleston.

The word “zumba” is Spanish slang for “move fast and have fun.” The fact that people can have “150 left feet” and still benefit from Zumba is what Schrichten believes makes the classes so popular.

“Each week you focus on losing one left foot,” he said. “You start to learn, let yourself go and dance like nobody’s watching,” which is easy, since all eyes are generally on Schrichten, who shimmies, shakes and swivels to the beat of whatever music he has chosen for the evening.

Bonnie Bayer of Oak Park said she likes Zumba because “if you mess up it doesn’t matter.”

Combining exercise with dance has made Laurie Stein a Zumba convert.

“Dale insists you smile,” Stein said. “It’s the best way to lose weight.”

Mary Gutierrez, 50, teaches Zumba at the Moorpark Recreation Center and at other yoga and martial arts studios in town.

“It was just a joy to go to the class, work out and have fun at the same time,” said Gutierrez regarding her discovery of Zumba.

After taking the classes, Gutierrez began to lose weight. She said the exercise encouraged her to start eating a more healthy diet, and before she knew it, she had lost 33 pounds.

After a year of classes, Gutierrez became certified to teach. She received some of her training from Perez, the Zumba founder.

“Zumba gave me the wake-up call to take care of myself,” Gutierrez said. “I definitely don’t feel 50,” she said. “Now I can go in teenage stores and fit into clothes.”

At 24 Hour Fitness in Thousand Oaks, Zumba classes are wildly popular. Instructors have their own individual style of moves, some more focused on dancing while others use techniques to strengthen the body’s core and help the students with their balance.

Simi Valley resident Arlene Williams, 48, has been teaching Zumba at the fitness club for the past year.

“I like the fact that it appeals to so many different fitness levels, ages and body types,” Williams said. “Anybody can do it. That’s why it is so appealing.”

As for weight loss, a brisk hour walk might burn only 140 calories, which is the equivalent of one cookie, but Williams says Zumba can burn between 500 and 1,000 calories in the same amount of time.

“It’s just fun, that’s all there is to it. The theme of Zumba says it all—‘Ditch the workout, join the party,’” Williams said.