The Healthy Village Blog

One of the advantages of Zumba is that you do not need an attire or costume to start. Beginners can immediately join their first class just by wearing comfortable clothing. If you want to improve in your performance without compromising appearance, you may also want to invest in the right type of clothes for the workout. Here are some helpful tips.

Built for Comfort

The main rule when looking for the right attire for Zumba is to stay comfortable. You should be able to move easily without any constraints and problem. Look for the right material that is soft and light on your skin. Breathable materials are the best since these absorb sweat quickly and keep you dry. As for the males, you may want to wear a sleeveless shirt or a t-shirt for the top. If you want to sweat more, wear a sweater over your t-shirt. Always search for breathable fabrics that effectively wick moisture off your body.

There are different kinds of cropped shirts and tanks for both men and women. Have a couple of layers on your upper body to warm up easily. You can take off the outer layer in the middle of your workout. Brazilian workout clothing lines are typically good for the kind of movements you are going to do in Zumba. Stretchable fabric is also very good so you can move comfortably.

Choosing the Right Source

Always check the brand or manufacturer so you can have an idea about make, quality and design. You can research some of the brands online. This way, you also get to see other similar types with slight variations in terms of color, design and material. You can find a variety of Zumba clothing in fitness shops, department stores and the internet. Ordering via the internet can be very convenient, as long as you make sure that you have a very reliable source. You only need to pay via PayPal or credit card online and the items will be sent right to your very doorstep in a few days.

The Women

Women should wear a good sports bra. Some women prefer the ones with the zipper in front with quality fabric that wicks moisture away from the body. Make sure you get the right size that offers great support. Some women prefer tops that improve their figure or shape more, with beautiful and unique designs like camouflage, etc.

There are now a number of products for women particularly made for Zumba. You will most likely find these on the internet and gyms. Check that you get the right fit by assess how the material feels in the armpits, back, collar, waist and knees. Clothes that are too tight are not very good and can easily rip.

The Bottom

Wear comfortable pants that you can move easily in. The fabric should still be breathable. There are dry-fit products available nowadays that specifically target the fitness market. You may also wear cargo pants and other baggy types of leg wear so you can easily stretch and move during the dances. Wear aerobic shoes that provide good friction. Boots and running shoes are not ideal.

Try to assess how well the footwear works with you by doing movements like turning, skipping and pivoting. Dance and court shoes are also good. Search for the right style and color that suit your taste.

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The benefits of an exercise program and a healthy diet are like a hand in a glove…the two go well together.

Now let me be clear, if I had to choose between physical health and nutritional health, I would choose nutritional health every time.

There have been world-class athletes that have drop dead because of diet related diseases, so to me nutritional health far exceeds physical health. Nevertheless as I stated before, the two go well together. So I highly recommend that you get into a good exercise program.

Exercise and a Clearer Complexion

During my early teen years I began having problems with acne on my face. I hated it.

When I turned 16 I joined the track team in high school and started running several days a week. To my surprise the acne on my face began clearing up. I later learned that exercising at an appropriate intensity causes the pores on your skin to open and release sweat, which contains impurities. Resulting in clearer complexion.

Exercise and Weight Loss

The concept of losing weight is simple…burn more calories than you take in.

The human body is like a motor vehicle. The faster or longer a car goes the more fuel it burns. The faster or longer our bodies move during exercise, the more calories that otherwise would be stored as fat is burnt. That is why getting into a good exercise program is such a great idea for someone wanting to lose weight.

Exercise and Mental Health

According to the 1996 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Public Health, physically active people tend to have better mental health.

To me this report helps confirm a research done at a major university on people that suffered from depression. 60% of those who took part in the research that exercised for 30 minutes three times a week overcame their depression without taking any antidepressant medication.

I was at a park sometime ago and met a gentleman who told me that he loved coming to the park to walk because he found that it was a great way to relieve stress.

I can tell you from my own personal experience that when you are in good shape physically you feel a lot better mentally.

Here are some other health benefits of exercise:

1. Helps in the reducing of High blood pressure.
2. Helps prevent and control type 2 diabetes.
3. Helps prevent Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density over time.
4. Helps prevent heart disease and stroke.
5. Helps improve mood.
6. Helps keep muscles strong.
7. Helps reduce risk of colon, prostate and breast cancer.

Tips on Beginning a Exercise Program

1.Before beginning any exercise program, be sure to talk with your doctor.
2. Make a commitment to yourself that you are going to make exercise part of your lifestyle.
3. It’s important to start an exercise program slowly if you have not exercised for a long period of time.
4. Choose an exercise program that you enjoy doing. (I like running). You may like walking, swimming, gardening, skiing, or riding a bike. Remember it is up to you.
5. If you find yourself getting bored of one exercise simply change it. For example you may want to walk for six months and then for the other half of the year jog.
6. Find a routine that works for you. I run 18 miles per week. I do nine miles on Wednesdays and nine miles on Friday or Saturday. That is what works for me. However there are people who run three miles per day six days a week. That is what works for them. Get the picture?
7. Have Fun! If you do you will stick to your exercise program.
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© Nehemiah Maxwell (2007) Nehemiah Maxwell is the Writing Host at Healthy-Eating-Habit.com.
He believes that a healthy diet and exercise are keys to good health and has written some interesting articles on those subjects.
Free health tips are available online at his web site, http://www.healthy-eating-habit.com/exerciseprogram.html

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