Fitness Classes for Better Health

Have you gained weight due to the constant feasting that the party and the wedding season bring with it? But don’t fret, and don’t get down and start doing push-ups just yet. There are some quick, rigorous yet fun and effective ways to keep stubborn flab and stress at bay. Take your pick from these three. 

ZUMBA FITNESS 

Zumba, the current craze all over the world, is a Latin-inspired fitness dance. It was created by dancer and choreographer Alberto Perez in Colombia, during the 1990s. It combines beats of international music with party steps to create a great experience. The music genres include salsa, merengue, reggaeton, belly dancing, bhangra and hip hop. “Zumba is a fun option that not only burns calories, but also tones the lower body and mid-section,” explains Wanitha Ashok, a Bangalore-based fitness expert and body sculptor. 

“You can also use instructional videos but Zumba fitness is best done in groups, as it can also be very entertaining,” says Santosh Kumar, grandmaster of the Australian Council of Fitness and founder of the Figurine Fitness group of gyms in Bangalore. “It is a clever workout and takes fun to a new level by blending so many styles of dancing into one routine. Also, it is a lot slower than normal dance aerobics and so is low impact as well.” 

WHERE: 

Body in Motion, Bangalore, 080 66492980; 

Zumba at Vanilla, Chennai, 044 42066660; 

Anuj Academy, Delhi, 9268766629; 

Kriya Café, Kolkata, 9830379166;

Riaz Fitness, Mumbai, +91 9820782813 

AQUA AEROBICS 
This is arguably the best fitness alternative in the summer, and is great for burning fat, improving your endurance levels and flexibility, and is good for your heart muscles and respiratory system. 

“Working out in the water is much less stressful,” says Santosh. “But you need to enjoy being in the water for long periods— any exercise has to be done relentlessly to obtain the desired results.” 

Experts believe that a 30-minute aqua aerobics workout will help you burn 300 calories. A class is usually about 45 minutes long and will include warm-up, cool-down and stretching exercises followed by activities like jogging, kicking, jumping, squats, and dance movements. 

WHERE: 
Tamanna Health & Fitness Centre, Ahmedabad, +91 9898596277; 

Super Curves, Bangalore, +91 9845539297; 

Fast Track Gym, Chennai, +91 9841108096; 
Amatrra Spa, Delhi, 011 24122921/5; 

Active Aerobics, Kolkata, 033 66038803; 

Body Art Fitness Centre, Mumbai, 022 67338119 

BOLLYWOOD DANCE 

Does listening to any Bollywood item number make you want to shake a leg? Then Bollywood dancing could be just the thing for you. Your routine will involve emulating the theatrical movements of the stars, complete with the jhatkas, the fast hand movements, and the lunges. “Most fitness studios now offer a Bollywood dance workout,” says Santosh. “You never realise how hard you are working out if you are having fun. It keeps you on your feet and moving continuously and burning calories all the while.” It targets all the muscle groups in your body. 

“With Bollywood dancing, practise 5 to 10 minutes of yoga or deep breathing exercises, to release stress. Combine this with working out at the gym with weights. It is also important to do stretches to reduce stress or injury to the body,” adds Wanitha. 






WHERE: 

Max Dance Academy, Ahmedabad, +91 9924596007; 

Rhythms Institute of Fine Arts, Bangalore, +91 9902789600; 

Let’s Do Something, Chennai, 044 45014350; 

Delhi Dance Academy, Delhi, +91 9910222770; 

Padatik International, Kolkata, +91 9830062072, 033 22896028; 

Expressions Modern Dance Academy, Mumbai, 022 24366777

Full credit to FEMINA INDIA .

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