How to Do Zumba at Home

Zumba is a high energy, cardio-blasting workout. You can participate in a Zumba dance party no matter your fitness level, age, or dance ability. If you don’t feel comfortable doing Zumba at a gym, or you can’t afford it, you can easily do Zumba in your own living room! Just find the right video, commit to working out regularly, and have fun.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Getting Started with Zumba at Home

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Talk to your doctor before beginning. If you aren’t very physically active, take medications, or have medical conditions, you may want to discuss starting a Zumba fitness routine with your doctor. Your doctor may suggest modifications or give you things to think about before you begin.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Zumba is great for beginners, but talking to your doctor first can make sure that you stay safe and healthy.
2
Try a class at a gym. If you want to get a sense of what Zumba is like, you can try a class at the gym before you start your own fitness routine at home. Some Zumba classes allow you to pay a small fee, like $5 or $10, to join a class.^{[2]XResearch source}
- You may also choose to get a free trial membership at a gym that offers Zumba classes. You can go to one or two classes during the trial period to see what it’s like before working out at home.
Zumba dancing is fun by yourself, but it may be even more fun with a friend. You can make the hour feel like a dance party, plus have someone with you that can motivate you and make you accountable.^{[3]XResearch source}
4
Wear loose, comfortable clothes. While you can do Zumba at home in just about anything, you should wear comfy clothes loose enough where you can move. Leggings, yoga pants, or sweatpants paired with t-shirts, tanks, or sports bras can be very comfortable and moveable.^{[4]XResearch source}
- You also should wear comfortable sneakers, which can make some of the moves easier.
5
Know when to stop or seek medical attention. Zumba can be done by anyone at any fitness level. However, as with any physical activity, there are risks involved.
- If you keep experiencing intense pain, or you have trouble breathing or feel dizzy when you workout, you should go see a doctor.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Choosing the Right Workout for You

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Choose a workout geared towards your fitness level. There are a large number of workout videos you can purchase, watch with a streaming service, or watch for free online. The first video that you watch may not be the right one for you. Watch a few different ones to find one with moves you can do and an instructor who explains things clearly.^{[5]XResearch source}
- If you are a beginner, look for a video geared towards beginners. If you have been doing Zumba for a while, find one with more advanced moves. Most videos are labeled by fitness level. Beginner workouts don't have difficult footwork, while advanced Zumba routines are faster paced and have intricate steps for you to follow.
2
Modify the moves to fit your fitness level. Zumba is a great workout for any fitness level. Some moves may look high impact or intense, but you can adjust the moves to fit your mobility and fitness level. The important thing with Zumba is to move, perform the moves as best as you can, and have fun.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Most workout videos provide modifications for beginners, intermediate, and advanced participants. If they don’t, find a way to move similarly that doesn’t cause you pain.
3
Find a workout with moves and music you are comfortable with. Though Zumba is traditionally danced to salsa and Latin music, people dance to just about everything. If you want to shake your hips to top 40 pop, hip hop, or dance remixes instead, find videos that use that kind of music.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Some videos focus on mostly hip moves, while others are more full body movements. Experiment with different styles of dance to figure out what you enjoy. Better yet, mix them together for a fun, diverse workout!
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Developing Your Routine

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Work out for 30 to 90 minutes. Most Zumba classes are around 60 minutes long. When doing Zumba at home, you should shoot for a workout between 30 to 90 minutes. You should base the duration of your workout on your overall fitness and experience with physical activity.^{[8]XResearch source}
- You can link together routines from different videos, or complete one full workout video.
To get the best benefits from your at-home Zumba routines, you need to make sure you develop a good fitness plan. You should shoot for five to six days per week. If you are a beginner, you may want to try three to four days at first and work up to five or six days.^{[9]XResearch source}
3
Include small hand weights. Zumba toning is a variation of the traditional Zumba dancing. This type of Zumba uses small hand weights to add upper body exercises to the predominantly lower body routines.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Most Zumba toning workouts suggest using one to three pound hand weights.
4
Dance in front of a mirror. If you were doing Zumba at a gym, you’d be facing a gigantic mirror. Plus, you’d have an instructor who can help give tips on your form. At home, you are on your own, so working out in front of a mirror can help you see what you are doing so you can improve your steps.^{[11]XResearch source}
- After you get comfortable with a routine and don’t have to stare at the instructor every second, you can put on the video and watch yourself.
5
Find a Zumba workout to follow. You can find great Zumba workouts online. Search YouTube and streaming sites to find a wide variety of workouts. You can also rent or buy Zumba DVDs.
- Play some music and make up your own routine. You can put on a Latin, salsa, or hip hop song and go through some familiar moves.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Incorporating Zumba Moves

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Do Latin-based moves. A lot of Zumba routines are based around Latin-style dances. This means you will be doing salsa moves, cha-cha steps, and the merengue. By incorporating and becoming familiar with these types of dance, you will be doing some common Zumba moves.^{[12]XResearch source}
- For example, a basic salsa move is easy to master. Start with your feet together. Step to the right, bending your knees slight. Step back to the middle. Then step to the left, bending your knees slightly. Then step back to the middle. Keep doing this over and over, adding some hips and hand movements to keep it fun.
2
Add some traditional workout moves. Zumba sometimes includes moves that you wouldn't consider dancing, like squats and lunges. You may finish a salsa step and be asked to slowly go down to a squat and then shimmy back up, or do a merengue step into a lunge.
- You can also add core work, like side crunches to the beat or the music or torso twists at the end of a salsa walk.
Part of Zumba is inspired by belly dancing. There are a lot of hip shakes, booty shakes, and hip circles. Add a few of these moves into your routine for some extra core work.
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