19 · Thursday, July 15, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Health and Wellness Zumba your way to a fitter, healthier you Have you ever heard the phrase "Zumba" before, and wasn't quite sure what it meant or how it related to fitness? The word "Zumba" is actually Spanish slang for `to move fast and have fun.' Over the past couple of years, Zumba has become a popular fun dance fitness program in North American that features routines where fast and slow dance rhythms are combined with resistance training to help tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. At Oakville's Zumba Fitness their goal is simple: "We want people to work out, to love working out and to get hooked," instructor and proprietor Julieta Tabares says. As one of the first Zumba certified instructors in the GTA, Julieta has accumulated a lot of experience of the past four years of running Zumba Fitness. And because she is also a CanFitPro-certified personal and group fitness instructor, she ensures that members not only follow the dance routines but also makes sure that everybody is working out at their best, in a safe way. "We avoid thus any kind of undue stress on joints and muscles, and do the right amount of warm up and cool down, so that the impact of the Zumba class on your fitness level is maximized," she explains. Literally anybody can do Zumba. "Participants in my classes range from the age of 16 up to75 years of age!" First-timers can expect a party-like atmosphere where everybody is having fun. "They will find out that Zumba steps are easy to follow and do not require a great amount of learning," Julieta explains. "Most importantly, people will find that they can do the work out according to their own fitness level and will not feel that they are left behind for lack of prior training." We all know that working out is the right thing to do when you want to stay fit. We also know that working out can be boring and can become monotonous because you go through the same routines over and over again and that is why Zumba is undeniably different. "The best thing about Zumba is that it is easy to follow, effective and totally exhilarating. It's a work out experience that feels more like a party than a workout and because it doesn't require fancy and expensive equipment, each class can be different with new songs and new moves." For more information about Zumba Fitness and the classes they offer call 905257-9893 or visit www.zumbacan.com.