New Year to spark more interest in Zumba

WITH more people aiming to lose weight and taking care of their health as part of their New Year’s resolutions, more individuals are expected to take interest in Zumba, a fitness class introduced to Saipan last year.

Elly Stoilova, a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor at Gold’s Gym, said her class  continues to gain popularity since its introduction in April last year.

She said there are five classes weekly and most of the participants are women of different ages and shapes.

“I expect now, with the New Year Resolution season, to see more participants,” Stoilova said.

Zumba is a calorie-burning dance fitness party that is effective, exhilarating, Latin-inspired, and easy-to-follow.

“Zumba achieves the perfect balance of a progressive core workout, full-body cardio and strength training, and a stress-relieving, energy-producing fitness experience,” Stoilova said.

It is common knowledge that a vast majority of New Year’s resolutions are “forgotten” eventually. They are easier made and said than done, but Stoilova  believes that setting realistic goals and rewarding yourself when you overcome a fitness challenge can help a lot in keeping with your resolutions.

Keeping up with your health resolutions is a real challenge for a lot of people. It is easy to fall prey to the hundred and one alibis why you could not join the Zumba Fitness program today.

“My tips for fitness success —don’t quit if you drop the ball. Admit you did it and carry on the plan you have, do not negotiate with yourself for another hour of sleep. Don’t say ‘not this morning.’Love the person you see in the mirror the way he/she is and do everything in her/his best interest,” Stoilova said.

Living the program

Stoilova’s life is the story of how the Zumba program affects one’s life positively.

Weighing 178 pounds, Stoilova resolved to begin her own journey toward a slimmer self as her New Year’s resolution in January last year.

“My goal was to become fit, lose weight and be healthier, which brought me to the Gold’s Gym Challenge. Since the challenge, I have continuously exercised week after week through the entire 2011,” Stoilova said.

She shed 25 pounds mostly because of her dedication and perseverance.

She credits her success to Zumba Fitness and her personal trainer Brett Nelson.

Stoilova said  each time she puts on her workout clothes, she immediately feels the pulse of Latin rhythms in her veins. She said  even as she is dressing up, her heart starts to beat faster and happiness takes the place of stress and worry as she anticipates another enjoyable and exciting session of Zumba.

Stoilova does Zumba five times a week, dreaming of it and enjoying the fun of sweating the calories off and grooving to the bustling Latin sounds.
She supplements her workouts with stretching and pilates.

“I can see my pounds and size melting each week,” she said.

It takes discipline, however, to wake up in the morning and go to the gym.

About the program

Zumba uses an exhilarating cardiovascular approach to torch fat and calories (400 to 900 cal per hour), whittle your middle, and sculpt your hips, butt and thighs.

The program is a contagious blend of Latin and international rhythms that provide a fun and effective workout to a global community and has helped to melt the pounds and inches off 12 million Zumba-enthusiasts in 125 countries.

The workout provides long-term fitness benefits through exhilarating, high calorie-burning fitness classes and its simple Latin and international dance moves increase the fun factor. The routines feature fast and slow rhythms which, when combined, successfully tone and sculpt the body while burning fat.    Music is Zumba’s special motivational ingredient.

Stoilova said the Zumba class members were part of the Saipan Zumba Fitness Flash Mob at the Garapan Street Market just before Christmas.

“I was happy to hear that people who stopped by to watch our performance recognized the Zumba Fitness style. Many people asked where and when they could join us. Zumba Fitness is getting more and more popular on island,” Stoilova said.

For more information, visit Gold’s Gym in Garapan or call 233-4000.

(first published HERE