Zumba, the Latin dance-inspired cardio class, is more popular than ever. Millions of Zumba DVDs have been sold and classes are filled with people having a blast while they work to burn calories.

Zumba is a great and fun way to work your core, arms and legs, and to burn hundreds of calories a session, all while having fun. It’s no wonder that this craze has also gotten popular in celebrity circles.

Jennifer Lopez

This Latin beauty has dancing in her blood, so it’s a perfectly logical fit that Jennifer Lopez would be drawn to the Latin rhythms of Zumba. Recently she was quoted as saying in an interview with Redbook magazine that “As women, we tend to give away a lot. We take care of a lot of people, and we can’t forget to take care of ourselves. If that means once a week you’re going to go off without the kids or without anybody… get a facial even if your sister thinks that’s selfish, or join a Zumba class, or take a painting class, or whatever, you’ve just got to do it.”

Madonna

The ageless Material Girl has been linked to various fitness and spiritual movements. Another entertainer known for her dance moves, Zumba classes are offered at Madonna’s Hard Candy gyms.
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Christina is a mom, registered nurse, and blogger. She fully admits to both a love of too much food and a love of the couch, two vices she struggles to overcome on a daily basis. In the past two years, she’s lost nearly 50 pounds through diet and exercise, some of it chronicled on her blog, Losing My Hind.

Before this year, I was devoted to fitness DVDs. I felt too self-conscious to consider joining a group class or even wear anything tight-fitting in public. Looking ridiculous in the privacy of my own home suited me just fine.

But in January, I was tempted by an incredible Groupon deal for a 6-week boot camp class at a local fitness studio and made the decision to try something new. At the time my progress had stalled using my workout DVDs so I was willing to try nearly anything to jump start my weight loss, even if it meant a group class.

Now, twelve weeks after starting those classes, I’ll confess that I’m addicted! If you’ve never taken a fitness class, consider these benefits of joining a class:

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