Dancing up a sweat Published Oct. 30, 2012 By Senior Airman Jessica McConnell Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Exercise: Airmen know it's necessary to be fit to fight, but for some reason or another, it normally isn't at the top of everyone's list of fun things to do... until Zumba came onto the scene. Zumba is for everyone, not just the rhythmically-inclined. Now Zumba can be enjoyed on almost every day of the week at the McAdoo Sports and Fitness Center. "Zumba is a Colombian/Latin dance fitness program," said Marliana Hwa, exercise instructor at the McAdoo Sports and Fitness Center. "Zumba combines dance and aerobic elements choreographed to all different forms of music, from Latin to Reggae to Hip-Hop. Zumba choreography includes but is not limited to: hip-hop, samba, mambo, soca, salsa, merengue, martial arts, belly dancing, Bollywood, and squats or lunges." Zumba originated from Colombia through a man named Alberto "Beto" Perez in the early 1990's. Beto later moved to the United States in 2001, where he began to spread his newfound fitness idea. Hwa has been teaching Zumba here in the Minot area for about two years and said her favorite part about teaching is being able to help people reach their personal goals for lifestyle changes and getting to dance as part of a great workout. "Zumba is designed to be easy to follow," said Hwa. "People should not feel overwhelmed when joining a class. The hardest thing I believe for individuals taking a Zumba class is to not get frustrated when they do not know every move for the first few classes. Participants cannot expect to come to class and know exactly what routines will be done. At one point or another, everybody will miss a move, even the instructors." Hwa said the most important thing to do after attending your first Zumba class is to return for another class. "The more classes you attend, the more familiar you will become with the moves and soon you will realize you know the routine all the way through," she said. "Each Zumba instructor has their own style and routines with some being very similar, so try all the different classes to see where you feel most comfortable." The main benefit of Zumba fitness is that one can enjoy a workout while burning a lot of calories. "The average number of calories burned for participants attending a one hour session is 817 calories," said Hwa. "Zumba is designed to give you an all around body workout, from toning muscles to cardiovascular. Zumba can help individuals get 'back in shape' after being out of the gym for a while and prepare them for more strenuous exercises, like running. I personally have witnessed participants using Zumba Fitness to lose weight, especially after having a baby." Hwa believes that Zumba is so popular because participants do not feel like they are working out; instead they are just enjoying dancing. "For most people attending a Zumba class is a more enjoyable form of exercise then lifting weights or running," said Hwa. "Zumba Fitness' slogan is 'Join the Party' because that is what you are doing when attending a class. Zumba is also popular because it incorporates many different cultures and allows individuals to learn different dance forms from around the world." Hwa said she tells individuals who are afraid of attending their first Zumba class that they should at least try it one time and more than likely they will be hooked at the end of class. "Participants should also realize they can stand towards the back of the class to feel more comfortable and to be able to take breaks when necessary," she continued. "Participants get nervous that everyone else in the class will watch them and be embarrassed when they miss a move, however this is not the case. All the participants in the class are looking towards the front of the class to see what the instructor will do next. If they have time to stare then that means they will miss moves also. All the attention is always directed at the instructor. There's no need to be afraid or embarrassed." The aerobics class instructors also have a Facebook page that updates participants daily on classes offered or changes to the schedule. This page is a great way to meet all the instructors and get any questions answered. Go like their page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/McAdoo-Fitness-Center-Aerobics-Classes/304377019574579 or search for: McAdoo Fitness Center Aerobics Classes. For more information about Zumba, contact Marliana Hwa at marliana.hwa@hotmail.com.