Effects of Music on Exercise- #2

If you don’t like working out but you love dancing, here’s hoping you’ll love both by the time you finish reading this. Not everyone is a Shakira or a J Lo, but who doesn’t nod their head to the beat, or tap their feet in sync with the tempo of the music they’re listening to? Since times immemorial, man has adopted dance as a means of communication and more essentially, as a way of expressing one’s thoughts and feelings. It is not unknown that music lifts your spirits up and helps you work harder and with more efficiency, especially when you listen to the right track at the right time. It is one of the most popular means of ‘letting yourself go’.

Besides benefiting a person on an emotional level, dancing also enhances physical fitness and wellness. Incorporating music into fitness programs is not a new concept but few people realize how effective it is in improving their fitness workout. Aerobics instructors around the world will all agree that music is one of the most important components of an aerobic workout. It serves as an ergogenic aid to enhance to performance of the individual. Aerobic performance is assessed by measuring specific parameters such as maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), heart rate, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate (mmol/ L) and power output. Studies show that music improves aerobic performance by influencing certain parameters such as rate of perceived exertion and time to exhaustion. Besides, it beats the monotonous and agonizing routines of traditional workouts.

Why Zumba?

Almost every fitness- cum- dancing freak knows what Zumba is; or at the very least, heard about it. It is a type of aerobic exercise involving dance performed mostly to Latin music (so you can picture the sassiness that goes into it!). It engages a lot of muscle groups and is great for toning up your abs. Its fun technique is what makes it unique from the usual weight loss programs.

What is Zumba Without Music?

Music was what bore Zumba into the fitness world so it is inconceivable to think of one without the other; the two are inseparable. Essentially, Zumba owes its incessant popularity to the high energy music. People connect with the joy that springs from the music and helps them keep up with the pace, up the tempo and increase their time to exhaustion, thereby improving their endurance level. The speed of the beat tends to make you want to work out faster than you would normally do. This helps the heart get to its targeted rate more efficiently. Because Zumba’s music plays at a fast pace, moving to the beat also helps build up your anaerobic endurance rather quickly.

Tune Yourself Up!

Workout soundtracks include Reggaeton, a sexy Panama- born style which blends Latin music with Hip Hop and Electronica; and Cumbia, a Colombian dance music. Belly dance, Bhangra and West Coast Swing are also making their way into Zumba- oriented numbers. Even top music artistes are becoming involved in making music specially designed for Zumba training. The roaring popularity of Zumba is evident from the fact that Zumba soundtracks are selling like hot cakes! Day by day, more and more people, particularly the female populace, are registering themselves into Zumba classes. Let’s face it; what isn’t appealing about achieving a flat tummy the fun, energetic way rather than through a boring, strenuous exercise?

Convinced much? Well, if you’re looking to climb aboard the Zumba wagon and shake off those extra pounds, Gympik.com brings to you a list of numerous fitness centres, who offer Zumba classes, to choose from.