What is that stepping on the toes of traditional fitness routines?
Zumba, the Latin-inspired dance workout that is more like a wild party scene than a strict exercise regimen, has tangoed into the top 10 fitness trends for the coming year, according to a report released today by the American College of Sports Medicine. The group surveyed more than 2,600 fitness professionals to compile the top 20 fitness trends for 2012.
"Zumba has experienced a rapid surge in popularity in the past year, but we'll see if it's a trend or just a fad," says lead author Walter Thompson, a professor of exercise science at Georgia State University.
The survey has been conducted since 2007 and is designed to reveal trends in fitness environments. Thirty-seven potential trends were given as choices. The top 20 are ranked. Zumba has never appeared on the lists before and jumped in at No. 9 along with other dance workouts.
"Zumba is exercise in disguise," says Josie Gardiner, 65, a Zumba-certified instructor in Boston. "It's fun. When people hear the music, they get moving. They lose weight and feel good about themselves."
Zumba was created in the late 1990s in Colombia by Alberto Perez. Classes are now offered in 125 countries in 110,000 locations, Gardiner says. More than 12 million people take classes every week, and some draw 100 or more in dance halls and nightclubs. It's so hip the current New Yorker has a cartoon about it.
"It's not competitive, and you can move in and out of the dancing at any point," Gardiner says. "You don't need a partner. Really, anyone can do it. There are classes for all levels, even for people now with Parkinson's and people in wheelchairs."
Also new on the list this year are outdoor activities, climbing in at No. 14.
"Some commercial clubs are starting to structure outdoor activities for small groups with very specific goals," Thompson says. "Stone Mountain is near me, and I'll hear about clubs offering walks up the mountains."
Pilates, balance training and stability ball dropped out of the top 20 after being included for several years. Thompson says the Pilates fade is a result of the expense of the equipment and specialized instruction in "tough economic times."
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