Zumba vs Tae bo?

I've been taking all the different classes offered at my gym, finding the ones I enjoy, and like the others said doing what ever you enjoy will help keep you going. 

I like both zumba and tai bo, as well as yoga, and alternate between them to keep it interesting, but learned I don't like kick boxing (I feel it was hard on some of my joints) and detest spinning. Take em all, and see whats fun.

It really does help to have the right clothes and gear too. I used to think that my old t-shirts were ok for most classes, but when you're bent like a pretzel and you have a view down the neck of your shirt, and then get to breath into and out of your shirt for how ever many minutes, the right yoga clothes sound better and better. The same for the mat. Don't use the class ones - way too many people have rolled their sweaty bodies on those. I found an extra thick mat at Sears that I love, and increasingly bony joints appreciate.

Go with the one you enjoy more. Zumba has totally changed and toned my body, but I hit tae bo and any kind of kickboxing, so I would never go to that class so obviously it wouldn't work for me bc I wouldn't do it!! lol Try them both and see what you like, maybe evne go to both on different days.

I would do both if the option is available.  I LOVE zumba and zumba toning (with weights) I also do kickboxing and step but I would never give up running swimming or hot yoga I love them all ... every once in a while I have to give my old carcass a kick to get going on my morning run but once I am in gear there is no stopping me....

Congrats ... moving is awesome!!! Pick one or pick both and roll with it ... enjoy!!!

Ever hear of Nia?

I'm amazed at how much Nia has done for me.  I'm surprised I never heard of it before as its been around for 20+ years.

It combines martial arts, healing arts, and dance.  Not only is it exercise, it helps create healing pathways in the brain.  It helps me love and accept my body and find joy in movement.   It is suitable for all fitness levels.  Because of some health issues, some days I'm an athlete.  Some days, I can barely move.  I've done Nia sitting from a chair and still got a decent workout.

I sought it out to help my sense of balance.  Its interesting to see the different types of people in my class who do nia.  Some are athletes.  You can see it in their muscular bodies.  Some are plump older women with lots of cushion.  The athletes struggle with the smoth flexibility parts, while the plump older women are very flexible, but not necessarily as strong. 

Its done barefoot.  I wear socks because I just can't stand the thought of all the germs from feet.  Thats my issue, and I bet some day i'll get over that.

At one time, I think nia stood for no impact aerobics.  Now it stands for neuro-muscular integrative action.  But if you look up nia on urban dictionary, some of the definitions make it a word in its own right meaning sexy.  as in "oh, that girl is so nia!" 

I'm not a dancer.  I hate dancing.  I don't always feel especially pretty in my lumpy body with saggy skin.  At the end of a nia class, i feel very pretty.   I feel sexy.  I feel strong.  I feel nia. 

--Becca

p.s.  I am not a nia instructor, nor am I a nia expert.  I just found something that works for me.   If i have something wrong regarding nia, please forgive me.  I am sharing my own experience.  If you want more complete information, I think the website is nianow.com

To keep from getting bored with one or the other, why not do both?  If you think you'd like both of them, why not? 

I love Zumba.  I do one teacher 4 days a week and then on Fri. I do another teacher that does Strength Training Zumba.  Mostly it is yoga with excersize ball and weights, etc.  It is a realy work out in SLOOOOOWWWWW MOTION.    You don't even realize how hard you are working until you realize at about 1/2 hr. you are sweating as hard as if you were doing regular Zumba.

I also walk 5-6 days a week.  Anywhere from 1/2 mile to 4 miles.

Pick the one you have the most fun with. If its fun, it will be easier to make into a habit. If you're into cardio kickboxing and want something a little more authentic in terms of form, I'd recommend Ary Nunez's Gotham Box (if you google it she has a website where she sells the video). I took her Gbox classes many years ago when she was working at Equinox, she is a ball breaker but a heck of a lot of fun. She has since moved up to celebrity trainer status and no longer teaches.