Zumba fitness

Finding the motivation to attend any kind of fitness class is no mean feat. Whether it's aerobics, step aerobics, circuits or boxercise, everyone counts in regimented group exercise and a work out can end up feeling a lot like hard work and little else. This is where the new group fitness craze, Zumba, is different.

Last week, the man with the moves, Beto Perez, made a whistle stop to Virgin Active in the Printworks to show Manchester how fitness can be fun. Aerobics instructor, Perez, invented Zumba in the early 90s in his native Columbia. The story is goes something like this: Perez turned up to one of his normal aerobics classes without the traditional music. Instead he decided to improvise to his own Latin compilation CD. He fused salsa, merengue, mambo and reggaeton music and dancing in a more regimental, aerobics style. Attendees to that class and those that followed, said they felt liberated by the rhythmical workout. Fans now include Michelle Obama and Victoria Beckham. Perez has also become somewhat of a celebrity himself, as I was to find out...

Beto looks like a spoof version of Chico from X Factor, only he is in fact the real deal. Latin men are often typified as being sexually charged and Perez certainly lives up to this expectation. Energy exudes from him as he enters the studio full of women, and one brave young man. He was joined by two Virgin Active Zumba instructors for a Manchester ménage à trois.

On goes the music and off comes the jacket, beneath which is a honed 40-year-old body, which is in itself a marketing strategy for practising Zumba. It's a body that dances for a living and it shows.

The class, largely made up of ladies who are already full fledged Zumba-addicts, were pleased to welcome this God-like Latino. Zumba isn't for those afraid to shake til they sweat. It's a very vocal activity with 'Woo!' 'Zumba! and various other vocal outbursts featured as an integral part of the routines. Keen to whip a room full of stick in the mud Brits into shape, Perez taught us how to really love our bodies and more importantly, to use them.

Movement in Zumba consists of a whole lot of hip thrusting, booty shaking, salsa footwork and shimmying. Lots of shimmying. Unlike the static nature of step aerobics, Zumba utilises the whole room. One minute you're comfortably hiding at the back of the class, the next Beto has ordered everyone to rotate 360 degrees and yes you've guessed it, I was front of house with no one to copy. Still, it's all part of the fun and helps you to forget the rest of the room and let your inhibitions go. Once you concentrate on what your doing, the steps become easier to follow and before you know it you no longer recognise the diva in the mirror before you.

It's little wonder the popularity of Zumba has spread to 50,000 locations in 75 countries. The non-traditional aerobics technique is the natural type of movement you find yourself doing at home, hairbrush in hand, to a Shakira song on the radio. Or maybe that's just me?

As well as being so liberating, Zumba also provides long term fitness benefits. As I returned to work after my Zumba session I felt completely relaxed with loose shoulders and a Miami glow to my skin. I didn't once think about how tired I was or how I'd initially felt so embarrassed in class. That was a different me, in a different body. Zumba is a high calorie burning fitness that works the entire body and mind. Six week of this and I predict you can kiss those love handles and inhibitions goodbye. Join the party.

Zumba is available at all 72 Virgin Active Health Clubs nationwide. For more information visit www.virginactive.co.uk