Running Head: THE BENEFITS OF ZUMBA FITNESS IN COLLEGE

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The Benefits of Zumba Fitness in College Following the American Psychological Association Michele Winters University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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Introduction Lets talk about health and fitness. I feel like everyone needs to honest with themselves, when it comes to working out and being healthy, people are not really enthusiastic. You would think with all the resources, such as fitness centers, nutritionists, personal trainers, at home fitness, etc that people would not have an excuse not workout, but people do not take advantage of the resources because they are not fun. Health and fitness become irrelevant, especially in college. In most colleges, there are resources such as the fitness and personal trainers but most college students do not go, health and fitness is the last thing on their mind. Today colleges students are exposed to more fast food restaurants than healthy salad bars, due to the convenience and the cost. For instance it is cheaper to get a burger than to get a salad or grilled chicken. Majority of college students are not living healthy lifestyles. With school, work, and extracurricular activities most college students will argue that they do not have time to exercise. To be completely honest, most college students would prefer not work out and if there was a way that people can keep a nice body without working out they would do it, the only people who really stay fit are the athletes and that is because they are active and have a specialist or someone to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. Other than the athletes you have regular students who do not want to work out. They are not pushed or motivated. The most time that you will see college students working out is when they are getting ready for spring break, other than that it is very rare that most students workout. I feel like the reason why most people do not like to workout because it is a hassle. It takes a lot of time to start seeing process, it is not fun, and it hurts. In todays society, people would rather go out and dance and have a good time, and I do not blame them at all, I rather do it too. With that being said, I suggest that people take a Zumba class. Zumba is a big fitness

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dance party and half the time, one does not even know that they are working out. It has nice upbeat music that makes you feel like you are just in a club and partying with your friends. Not only can you shape your body with Zumba, but you can also learn some new dance moves as well, Zumba is a win-win situation. With Zumba you get all the benefits of exercising with the hassle of feeling like one is exercising. But in order for one to be healthy and fit, they must be committed to the cause, they must be driven and have positive attitude. This paper goes into the benefits of aerobic fitness dance classes not only in health in fitness but also in college. Literature Review Terms Zumba: Thompson, S. & Pollock, J. (2010) was invented by Beto Perez in Cali, Columbia. It is a form of aerobic dancing that uses all types of music to make exercising fun (9). Anyone can do Zumba; it can even be modified for the elderly (11). Intrinsic exerciser: Kimiecik, J. (2005) one who practices four psychological concepts-vision, mastery, flow, and inergy and applies them to fitness (20) ! Vision- one who visualized themselves as an exerciser by portraying images of them workout in their heads ! Mastery- the desire to master something; to not be satisfied with the ordinary and to want to always improve. ! Flow- when one become comfortable with exercising and sees it as fun ! Inergy- when one pushes oneself to work harder and to do the exercise. The Tennessee Self-concept Scale: Plummer, O. L. E. N. A. K., & KOH, Y. O. U. N. G. O. (August 01, 1987) consist of 100 self-descriptive statements, and a person take the statements that describes themselves and then the scale uses the statements to portray that person (273)

Running Head: THE BENEFITS OF ZUMBA FITNESS IN COLLEGE Aerobic Dance Benefits

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Sternlicht, E., Frisch, F. & Sumida, K. D. (2013) article focuses on the benefits of aerobic fitness. For instance, they stated that aerobic fitness can prevent diseases, and can be an alternative to running and cycling (156). In order to prove their hypothesis, they conducted a case study on Zumba fitness. The study proved that Zumba can be a not only be an alternative but it can also help one obtain a healthy body weight (158). I personally felt like this information was very beneficial to my topic because it deals with ways to make exercises fun and Zumba is just that. Instead of one running and getting bored, they can exercise the fun way by attending a dance party and get the same benefits as running or cycling. Zumba does not only benefit one in health, but it also benefits with ones self-concept. ACsCci, F. H. & AKK"OK, F. (2007) article dealt with a case study that focused on how fitness along with group counseling could change a woman self-concept about herself. This was interesting to me because we are also told that working out makes you feel and look better, but I did not know that after taking a couple classes can enhance your self-concept of oneself. I felt like ones persona of themselves got better at the end when they lost or all the weight or when they feel like they have reach their goals, but I appear to be mistaken. The conclusion of the authors case study was that every woman who participated in the aerobic dance class had an increase in their self-concept (1148). With that being said, aerobic fitness can also help oneselfconcept of themselves. Plummer, O. L. E. N. A. K., & KOH, Y. O. U. N. G. O. (August 01, 1987) article also dealt with self-concept. The authors conducted an experiment using the Tennessee Self-Concept. The scale proved that aerobics is good for college women and as well. Silvestri, L., & Oescher, J. (April 01, 1990) article proved that aerobic dance along with weights can increase flexibility in certain parts of the body and it can also improve one's strength (599).

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This information was beneficial because Zumba also uses weights as well and shows that Zumba is an effective workout program and can give one the full benefits of regular exercise. Attitude and Fitness Bartholomew, J. B., & Miller, B. M. (September 01, 2002) conducted a case study with college women to see if aerobic dancing was effective. In conclusion to their case study, the women enjoyed the aerobics class, especially those who gave it their all, but the ones who put in little effort did not give positive ratings (306). This makes sense; you get what you put in. In order for one to successful in not only fitness but anything in life, they have to be motivated. Kimiecik, J. (2005) article he states that one must become an intrinsic exerciser (20). This was interesting to me because I have never heard of an intrinsic exerciser, but I totally agree with Kimiecik. In order for one to be successful, they must visualize and have a desire to get better and learn how to motivate oneself. I feel like all of those components are very important to a person who is trying to stay fit and focused. Gondola, J. O. A. N. C., & Tuckman, B. R. U. C. E. W. (October 01, 1983) article focused on the discomfort of college students and a healthy lifestyle. In order to prove their hypothesis, they conducted a case student that included some local college students both male and female. The conclusion of the case study was that the student who exercised and ate healthy frequently reported less physical discomfort and the students who did not participate in exercises or eat healthy frequently reported more physical discomfort (559). I feel like, if the students were intrinsic exercisers there would be a different outcome. The case study an Kimiecik has showed me that if a person is not motivated or committed to exercising they are not going to want to do it or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Kimiecik also states that in order to make college students want to exercise you have to make it fun (19). I totally agree and that is when Zumba

Running Head: THE BENEFITS OF ZUMBA FITNESS IN COLLEGE comes in. College Men and Women and Fitness

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Waldron, J. J. & Dieser, R. B. (2010) article dealt with the relationship between college men and women when it came down to fitness. The motivation for fitness is different between the two. For instance women work out to change their body because they are so pressured by the media to look a certain way (67). I agree with that because, I do not work out because of my health but I myself workout so that I can look good and have an hourglass figure like Beyonc. But men are the complete opposite; researchers reported that men are mostly content with their body image (67). I agree with this statement because I feel like there is more pressure on women to look a certain way then it is with men.But I also feel like men do care about their figures in some form because they also go to the gym to work on their body image as well. Entering the Conversation: College Students and Health and Fitness Fitness is not an easy thing to get into or be consisted but the benefits are enormous. Being a college student myself, I understand that it is hard to find time to workout especially when students have so much going on. I know that a college student would put work, parties, school work, and study groups over working out. The only reason why I feel like we do this is because when we hear fitness we hear the words, time,work, effort, sweat, boring, and pain but fitness is not just that. Fitness can get your body looking good, not only that but it can make you feel better as well. One does not have to run, do crunches, or all that intense stuff. Instead they can take an aerobics class. The aerobic class only last an hour, and all you do is dance and have fun. College students can find an hour out of their day. Some colleges students do not want to attend a fitness class because they are afraid that they will be judge because they can not keep up, but Zumba is very welcoming and opened to all. I felt like that at first, but one of my friends

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told to go to one class, after one class I fell in love and go better as I went. Another reason why it is hard to get into fitness because some people feel as though they are being pressured to look some type of way. For instance, some females get pressured by the media and some guys are pressure to look some type of way due to athletics or personal reasons. When one is forced to do something, I think that that ruins the experience for the person. One things that I suggest to those who feel pressured into working out is to get rid of the pressure. Figure out why you want to work out and what your reasons are and then find what fitness program fits you the best. I feel like people want to look good but they do not want to put in the work. Zumba is not that much work to me and the class goes by fast. If a person is dedicated they will continue to work out and will start to see results and will very pleased. Fitness and Attitude Fitness will not work if a person has a negative attitude. You get what you put in. Zumba is a fun class to take, if you go in there with a positive attitude and a positive outlook you will be successful and have fun. But if you go into Zumba with a negative attitude, you will be not successful, you will find the class uncomfortable. One must also be dedicated. They must tell themselves that they want to get involved with fitness and that Zumba is a fun way to get them in shape. Once one comes up with that concept and makes times to attend the classes, they will be enjoy it and will receive the great benefits of doing Zumba and getting active. SO WHAT So what if I think fitness is important, others may not. Others may feel like even though Zumba is a fun way to work out, it still is fitness, it still involves work so why should they get involved. Others may feel like fitness is fitness and it is irrelevant to them. My argument to that is simply, that they may feel like that now but after eating all that fast food and not being active,

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they will regret their feelings towards fitness. Yes, for those college students and regular people who are in shape, Zumba and any other fitness class or workout might not matter, but when they start gaining weight they are going to want to get rid of it. They are going to be unhappy and discomfortable with the way they look. College students at most schools can attend the fitness center for free that provide fitness classes such as Zumba. College students need to take advantage of the resources that they have now for free, because once they graduate they will have to really pay for the resources on their own and the cost will discourage them for working out and getting a fit lifestyle. No, a fit life is not wanted by most but most people do want to look and feel good, with that being said, they should take time out of their schedules and attend a Zumba class, they get all the benefits of working out without feeling like they are actually working out. I myself prefer Zumba over any other exercising program. I took the class as a fun thing to do with my friends but it ended up being more than that. I not only did I get a good workout in but I also met some new people and had a great time as well. I work two jobs and I am actively involved on campus, with that being said, you would think that I would not have time for an hour workout but I do. Its only an hour and I go only twice a week. I am not saying that Zumba is for everyone, but if someone is wanting to exercise without the hassle of feeling like they are working out, they should definitely try taking a Zumba class, and go with a friends and a positive attitude too. Conclusion In conclusion fitness is not only important in college but in life in general. There are many benefits to fitness, such as flexibility, strength, and an increase in ones self-concept. When it comes down to fitness there are many differences between male and female. For instance,

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males tend to content with how they look while females are pressured to workout to compete with the girls in the media. To me that sucks because, me being a female, I feel the pressure. I feel like if I do not look like the people on television my body is not attractive. But to me people should want to work out for themselves, not for what people they think. But the only way for one to be successful in fitness is to be motivated and driven, otherwise one will lose focus and will find fitness as a hassle. Although some might feel that it is a hassle, but there are some other alternatives to where exercising can be made fun. Zumba is a great dance program that is an alternative to running, cycling, and other fitness activities. Zumba is like a big dance party and half the time, one does not even know that they are working out.

College Students Participating in Zumba in the Student Activity Center https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uJZWPp5GDQ

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Works Cited ACsCci, F. H. & AKK"OK, F. (2007). Changes in the global self-concept of women through physical fitness training and group counseling 1. Perceptual And Motor Skills, 105 (3f), pp. 1143--1150. Bartholomew, J. B., & Miller, B. M. (September 01, 2002). Affective Responses to an Aerobic Dance Class: The Impact of Perceived Performance. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 73, 3, 301-9. DC, Newsnow [dcnewsnow]. (2011, October 26). Zumba Classes at Durham College [Video file]. Retrieved from http:// https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uJZWPp5GDQ GONDOLA, J. O. A. N. C., & TUCKMAN, B. R. U. C. E. W. (October 01, 1983). DIET, EXERCISE, AND PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT IN COLLEGE STUDENTS. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 57, 2, 559-565. Kimiecik, J. (2005). Phat exercise: how young adults enjoy and sustain physical activity. Journal Of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 76 (8), pp. 19--21. Masley, S., Roetzheim, R., & Gualtieri, T. (January 01, 2009). Aerobic exercise enhances cognitive flexibility. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 16, 2, 186-93. PLUMMER, O. L. E. N. A. K., & KOH, Y. O. U. N. G. O. (August 01, 1987). EFFECT OF "AEROBICS" ON SELF-CONCEPTS OF COLLEGE WOMEN. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 65, 1, 271-275. Silvestri, L., & Oescher, J. (April 01, 1990). Use of Aerobic Dance and Light Weights in Improving Selected Measures of Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 70, 2, 595. Sternlicht, E., Frisch, F. & Sumida, K. D. (2013). Zumba registered fitness workouts: are they an appropriate alternative to running or cycling? Sport Sciences For Health, 9 (3), pp. 155--159.

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Thompson, S. & Pollock, J. (2010). Zumba fitness. CANADIAN NURSING HOME, 21 (4), pp. 9-10. [Accessed: 26 Feb 2014]. Waldron, J. J. & Dieser, R. B. (2010). Perspectives of fitness and health in college men and women. Journal Of College Student Development, 51 (1), pp. 65--78.