There are many reasons why Zumba works for men. Having fun while staying in shape are just two of them. Though some men may be uncomfortable or feel underrepresented in a class full of women, others may enjoy the extra attention. Read on for tips on what kind of clothing and shoes to wear for Zumba and how to dance.
Zumba Clothes for Men
Zumba is a casual workout that allows the wearer much freedom in terms of clothes. Men whose wardrobe consists of cargo pants and t-shirts already own the perfect Zumba outfit. In the summer or in well-heated studios, these can be substituted for shorts and muscle shirts. Rather than follow trends, Zumba dancers should consider what “second skin” they feel most comfortable in. After all, those who feel well will dance well.
In terms of colors, blues and grays are the dominant ones for men’s Zumba fashion. Black and white pieces of clothing are good because they can be mixed and matched with anything, clothes in stronger, solid colors for example. Those who like it a bit more colorful can go all out with accessories and even go for sweatbands, bracelets and socks in neon colors. Here’s more about what to wear for Zumba classes.
Zumba Shoes for Men
What shoes should men wear for Zumba? A good pair of sports shoes will work in most cases if the sole is quite thin so that the foot has a good grip and the dancer can balance properly. Note that normal jogging shoes, which tend to have thick soles, are not geared for Zumba.
For dancers just starting out with Zumba and those who are not sure if they will continue, simple canvas shoes may be a reasonable alternative before buying more expensive professional dance shoes like jazz sneakers for example that have a split sole. Asking your instructor for recommendations might also be a good idea if you are not sure about the right kind of Zumba shoes and to avoid injuries.
Why Men Should Join Zumba Classes
Zumba’s great advantage is that it is not a partner dance, so anyone can join on their own. In addition, no prior dance knowledge is required, and dancers do not need to remember a series of complicated steps. Instead, Zumba instructors show simple steps that are repeated throughout class. And those who get stuck simply improvise with their own moves. Just like at a dance party.
Journalist Tanja Capuana wanted to know what attracts men to Zumba and did her own informal research that she presented in the February 8th, 2010 issue of the German fitness journal “Fit & Schön”. While visiting a few Zumba classes, she observed: “Much to my surprise, I discovered that unlike in aerobic classes, the number of men is quite high. No wonder as the movements to Latin American rhythms are quite hot and many people flirt while dancing. That attracts singles – men and women.”
How Should Men Dance?
As many studies have shown over the years, dancing makes attractive. One study conducted jointly by the British Northumbria University and the German University of Göttingen in the summer of 2010 even dissected what moves and dance steps are seen as particularly attractive by the other sex.
Women, for example, find those men attractive who move their upper body along with the neck, left shoulder and wrist. Coupled with a spin in the right knee, male dancers simply become irresistible. Interested men should keep this in mind for their next Zumba class!
What is Zumba?
Zumba is a relatively new dance form from Columbia that combines Latin American rhythms with fitness routines. According to the tagline “ditch the workout, join the party”, Zumba dancers focus on the fun aspects of dance rather than the exercise. The vigorous workout makes the dancers sweat and shed pounds while they are having fun.
Fitness instructor Alberto “Beto” Perez invented Zumba more or less by accident and brought it to America in the early ‘90s. Many speak of a fitness revolution because Zumba fever seems to have gripped the world. Men who are interested in Zumba should not hesitate and stop thinking about what to wear or if they can even dance. Just join in, like millions of other Zumba dancers.
Simone Preuss - Simone is a freelance writer, editor and translator who decided to go solo after a successful career in publishing. That was more than ...
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