Fitness ... with a Latin beat

It sounded like a party, and if this class wasn't taking place inside a fitness center, it might have looked like one, too.

With Latin-flavored sounds pumping through speakers, sporadic clapping and women dancing to the music, a recent Zumba session at Flex Gym in Edgewater Park had participants shaking their shoulders and buttocks, while waving their arms. Everyone's hips were rolling and shaking in a way that would make Shakira proud.

Highly energetic at times and more sensuous at others, the scene attracted a lot of attention from fitness center members. Some paused briefly at the studio windows to see what was going on, while others stayed longer to watch and move to the music little bit themselves.

A growing nationwide trend, Zumba (pronounced “Zoom-bah”) is a relatively new way to exercise. It's partly an aerobics class and partly a jumping Latin nightclub. A certified instructor leads participants through a series of dance moves and stretching exercises that make people sweat — a lot.

According to Angela Buonincontro, the director of group fitness at Flex Gym and resident Zumba instructor, the program is a “fitness cocktail.” Its routines work a number of muscles, including abdominals and glutes, as well as those in the legs and arms. “You really don't ignore anything,” she said.

Buonincontro credits the popularity of television shows that feature dancers, especially “Dancing With The Stars,” with boosting interest in Zumba. She said that viewers get to see all types of dance styles being performed by people of all skill levels, and are encouraged by celebrities' stories about weight loss and increased muscle tone due to their participation in these shows. “As word gets out (about Zumba), it's catching on,” she said. “It's addictive.”

Zumba relies on a variety of Latin styles of dance, including salsa, samba, meringue, flamenco, cumbia and reggaton, Buonincontro said other forms of movement, such as hip-hop and belly dancing, also are incorporated into the Zumba workouts. However, the routines are designed to be easy to follow. She said anyone can participate, from people with two left feet to highly skilled dancers. “It's steps that repeat, but it doesn't get stale,” she said, adding that she changes the sequences to keep the classes fresh.

Above all, however, Zumba is designed to be fun.

“Zumba feels like a party, not a workout,” said Buonincontro, who added that she typically burns at least 400 calories during an hour-long session. “The music drives the class. That's part of the appeal. It's music that's fun to listen to.”

Buonincontro said the classes are open to anyone who wants to drop in, not just gym members. Flex Gym occasionally offers free sessions to generate participation. “People are looking for new ways to work out, and it's not hard to like Zumba,” she said, adding that she also has received a number of inquiries about classes through the Zumba Fitness Web site.

On a recent Tuesday evening at the gym, 15 women got into the music and movements of Zumba. Within a diverse group that ranged in fitness levels, ages and ethnicities, some women were newcomers intrigued by the concept, including group of five women from Delran said they were looking for “something new.” Others had tried Zumba before and came back for more.

In an unintimidating atmosphere which allowed all of the women to do the Latin-inspired moves at their own pace, Buonincontro called out steps through her microphone headset, while gently encouraging participants to keep going.

Blanca Biney of Willingboro, a gym member, said she enjoys a variety of dance types and working out in the Zumba class already had taught her some new moves. “It gives you such a workout, and now I can go to Cuba Libre,” she said with a laugh.

Kristina Scutt of Beverly said she got hooked on Zumba after sampling the program through a free, introductory class. She said she enjoys dancing and likes the movement of the program's routines.

According to Zumba Fitness' Web site (www.zumba.com), the program was started by celebrity fitness trainer Beto Perez in the mid '90s. A native of Colombia, Perez became inspired by Latin sounds when he forgot to bring his usual CDs to a class one day.

The fitness instructor grabbed the Latin CDs that happened to be in his car and improvised some moves. Originally dubbed “Rumbacize,” Perez brought the concept to the United States in 1999, and it began to take off.

As the demand for Zumba Fitness classes increases, the company is certifying instructors around the country and offers for sale specially created music mix CDs.

Buonincontro, who also runs a Silver Sneakers program for senior citizens and teaches a belly dance class, said she earned her certification as a Zumba Fitness instructor after attending training sessions in Arizona last fall. She began leading classes at Flex Gym in January and holds sessions on Tuesday evenings between 6:15 and 7:15. Beginning in April, Buonincontro also will be the instructor for Zumba classes at Active Fitness in Medford.

For more information about Zumba and a list of certified instructors, go to http://www.zumba.com/.

By KRISTEN COPPOCK. Contact: kcoppock@phillyburbs.comSource: www.phillyburbs.com