Noida’s new fitness mantra - aqua zumba!

While the harsh summer heat refuses to subside, Noidawallahs have found a new way to cool off. Splashing in water while dancing to peppy tunes, aqua zumba has become the latest fitness fad for Noida. As the name suggests, aqua zumba is a mix of low-impact, high-energy aquatic exercises, which make for one cool fitness routine. The workout is an effective way to burn calories when it is swimsuit season, but too hot to exercise outdoors. Trainers in Noida say that there is a jump in the number of requests and enrolments in aqua zumba sessions. Looks like Noidawallahs have taken to aqua zumba, literally like fish to water!
‘Aqua zumba is fun as well as effective’
Mehzabeen Naz, an aqua zumba trainer in Noida, says, “I’ve been organising aqua zumba sessions for the past one year and my clients have surged from 15 to 200. This workout trend is picking up mainly because it is fun as well as effective.”
While this fun summer workout has been around for quite some time, Noida is quickly catching up with it. Sucheta Pal, a zumba education specialist, says, “Aqua zumba has been popular with Delhiites for a while now and it has become a summer weekend activity in Noida, too. A lot of working professionals are taking part in these sessions with their families.”
Shweta Pratap Singh, an aqua zumba trainer, says that aqua zumba helps beat the heat while saving on travelling time and money. “Aqua zumba is fast catching up in Noida, thanks to its developed infrastructure. Most societies in Noida have their own swimming pool and this allows people to easily organise and take part in such sessions. This saves their money and travel time, too,” Shweta says.

Most societies in Noida have their own swimming pool and this allows people to easily organise and take part in such sessions

‘While splashing and dancing, you burn a lot of calories’
Mehzabeen says that aqua zumba works even for those who suffer from joint ailments. “While doing routine exercises, we sweat a lot, but one can avoid that in this workout. Also, it suits those who suffer from joint pain as there is less impact on joints and one doesn’t feel the weight of their body. So you can really let loose.”
Sucheta says that one can burn a lot of calories while doing aqua zumba but won’t necessarily feel the impact, “In aqua zumba, water creates natural resistance, which means every step is challenging for the body and that helps in toning the muscles. The beauty of this workout is that one doesn’t even feel that they are working out. While splashing and dancing, you burn a lot of calories in a short span of time.” She adds a word of caution, “Aqua zumba cannot be taught by any zumba instructor. One needs to take a specialised course in this particular form of exercise in order to teach.”

WATER BABIES: Noida residents let their hair down during an aqua zumba session in Vivek Vihar, Sector 82

‘A weekend fun activity for me’
Ashima, a resident of Sector 63, shares with us, “I have been doing aqua zumba for the past three years. I participate in the session mainly due to the fun factor. It is a weekend activity for me where I can enjoy with my friends in the pool while keeping myself fit.”
Manisha Jha, who lives in Sector 80, says that aqua zumba restores her energy. “I have been doing aqua zumba for the past four years and I find it very refreshing. Unlike other forms of workout, I don’t get tired after an aqua zumba session. In fact, I feel energised and charged up the entire day. My 11-year-old daughter has also been doing aqua zumba for the past two years and I have seen a considerable change in her energy levels,” she says.



‘It breaks the monotony of my usual gym workouts’
Priyanka Guin, a resident of Sector 82, says, “I have been doing aqua zumba for the past one-and-a-half year. When I started with the sessions, I weighed 137kg and now I am down to 64kg. The best part about aqua zumba is that it is fun and it never feels like you are exercising. In my opinion, it is an effortless exercise.”
Surbhi, a resident of Sector 72, shares the sentiment, “I have lost more than 20kg while doing aqua zumba. I have been doing aqua zumba for the past four years. Weight loss is a gradual process in this form of workout and is highly effective. Also, this breaks the monotony of the usual gym workouts. In this scorching heat, what’s better than taking a dip in the pool and dancing to peppy tunes while burning some calories without breaking a sweat?”