Published: June 03, 2009 10:20 pm         

Zumba exercise classes sweeping the Wabash Valley, nation

TERRE HAUTE — “It’s crazy. It’s absolutely crazy!” Kelly Renteria said as people from ages 7 to 84 swayed and danced to the heart pounding, hypnotic Latin rhythm. They’re exercising with the new dance craze called Zumba that is sweeping not only the Wabash Valley, but the country.

Renteria is one of many Zumba instructors in Terre Haute and one of three at the Fifth and Poplar Wabash Valley Senior Activity Center — which is seeing more action than it has for a long time as it hosts a number of Zumba classes weekly. Kelly has lost more than 80 pounds the past year exercising and instructing Zumba. She is enthusiastic to explain about it and quickly tells about a young girl who has been introduced to Zumba.

Shannon Berry, age 11, has being exercising with Zumba since last August. She’s excited that she has gone from an 181/2 to size 11 in clothing. But that’s not all. She no longer uses an inhaler for asthma when she runs and can now play basketball with the best.

“People aren’t intimidated to come here,” Renteria said, noting the ages and different sizes of people. “They’re not worried about keeping up with some 20-year-old in Spandex.”

There are three instructors at the Senior Activity Center with several classes being so large they are divided between floors and instructors. The cost to attend Zumba at the Senior Activity Center is $4 for members per session and $5 for non-members, or $30 a month for attending unlimited number of classes for non-members and $20 per month for members for unlimited attendance. Membership to the Center costs $30 for those under 50 years of age and $25 per year for those age 50-plus.

Zumba was created by a Miami-based dancer name Beto Perez. It combines numerous moves from many Latin dances including Cumbai, Merengue, Salsa, Hip-Hop, Mambo, Rumba and Caypso, to name just a few.

Zumba has been called “nothing short of a revolution” and the single most influential movement in the fitness industry today. The Latin movements are easy to follow and vary from fast to slow while they work muscles to sculpt and tone as well as burn body fat like crazy.

It is a highly expressive, dynamic dance but it is more than exercise and good for you, many point out. It is definitely an aerobic workout but the one word that is most used to describe it is “fun.” Perhaps that’s the reason why friends and family get together to Zumba and socialize.

“It’s fun,” Dee Reed explains. “I don’t like to run and I don’t like other aerobics, but Zumba is fun — you’re dancing and you don’t realize you’re getting a lot of health benefits while you’re dancing.” Reed attends Zumba classes at the Union Hospital Professional Building at 1606 N. Seventh St. She also likes the idea that Union Hospital offers a health assessment and use of all exercise equipment for Union Hospital Fitness Center members. You don’t have to be a Union Hospital Fitness Center member to attend Zumba classes but the benefits are well worth it, Reed said.

Stephanie Strole has exercised for 20 years but claims there’s nothing like Zumba. She has lost 25 pounds over the past year, even as a “professional exerciser.” She attended several classes, fell in love with Zumba, became an instructor and now teaches at the Coaches Corner at 750 Oak St. Zumba has grown so fast there that they offer 18 classes per week with between 450-500 participants.

Studies show that you burn 500-700 calories during one hour of Zumba but Strole says at the Coaches Corner they have increased the aerobics part of the dance in portions of their workout and says participants burn between 800-900 calories per hour. The instructors teach about how to properly fuel your body, too, she said. “They (Zumba participants) love the results,” she said, “And they’re going to get results!”

Katie Cope is enthralled with Zumba. She attends class twice a day, six days a week at the Coaches Corner and has lost 50 pounds since October. With results like these and love of the dance, word is getting around at how well Zumba works. Strole has been requested to start offering classes at the Wigwam skating rink at 4600 N. Smith St. in Terre Haute and also at a fitness center in Clinton.

The cost for each Zumba session at the Coaches Corner is $5. Child care is also available at $1 per child per session. You can check out Zumba with Stephanie at zumbawithstephanie.com.

The most recent statistics show as of July 2008, there were 30,000 trained Zumba instructors in 35 different countries. To get on the bandwagon, tone and sculpt your body, burn fat and lose weight, and have FUN, you won’t have a hard time finding a Zumba class nearby.



Want to Zumba?

For more information on the ones mentioned in this story, Zumba class times and costs to attend, you can contact them at the following:

Wabash Valley Senior Activity Center: (812) 232-3245 or (812) 870-7479

Union Hospital Fitness Center: (812) 238-7311

Coaches Corner: (812) 232-2290

Wigwam Skating Rink: (812) 466-4987.