Zumba: ‘A Party All the Time’

Zaida Figueroa loves her job.

Figueroa teaches Zumba, a Latin inspired dance fitness class.

“People benefit because you are using your whole body and, when you dance, you are having fun,” Figueroa said. “It’s a different workout.”

Unlike regular aerobic classes that involve complicated moves and counts, Zumba is a more free form of exercise.

“You don’t have to worry if you don’t know how to dance. [Zumba] is just about having fun and burning calories,” Figueroa said. “It’s a party all the time.”

Figueroa first discovered Zumba about a year ago. After just two months, she decided to become an instructor.

“I fell in love with the class,” she said.

Now Figueroa teaches 11 different Zumba classes including Zumbatomic for kids and Zumba Gold for elderly and disabled students.

“You can teach Zumba to people in wheelchairs,” Figueroa explained. “They can move. It’s a special class. It’s all about the music.”

According to Figueroa, students enjoy numerous benefits from Zumba including weight loss, increased energy and even lower blood pressure.

“With Zumba, you don’t have limits,” she said. “It’s for everybody.”

The Zumba Fitness company was created in 2001 by Alberto "Beto" Perez. Less than ten years later, weekly Zumba classes are offered in 90,000 locations in 110 countries to more than 10 million people.

Figueroa teaches Zumba at locations in Dacula, Hoschton and Lawrenceville. For more information, visit Figueroa’s website.