FITNESS
Go ahead, dance a little! Let this
Zumba Gold-inspired workout
energize you to get moving.
WRITING MICAELA YOUNG, M.S.
The Workout
PREPARE: Clear your workout area and wear
well-fi tting shoes with wicking socks. When dancing
on carpet, opt for shoes with smooth soles that allow
you to pivot and move freely.
with your arms relaxed at your sides. Start with
bine them into 20 minutes of dancing. Aim to do this
at least 3 days a week.
D
dance because it feels good—it can
boost your energy levels and improve
your mood. But it’s also exercise in disguise. “Enjoy
the movement for fun, and fi tness will be your
reward,” says Mary E. Sanders, Ph.D., CDE,
this dance series.
ness, support weight loss, and lower blood pressure
and fasting triglyceride levels. Learning new move-
ments can also teach your body to respond more
quickly to “surprises,” like tripping hazards, by creat-
balance and posture, adds Sanders.
But what if you think you can’t dance? “Danc-
ing isn’t about perfection, it’s about being true to
yourself and enjoying the music,” says Joy Prouty,
co-creator of Zumba Gold, a fun and high-energy
dance-fi tness program with modifi ed, low-impact
Her advice: “Begin slowly and learn the moves as
you’re comfortable learning them.” Trust that the
more you dance, the stronger you will become.
JOHN ALEXANDER
