ABHA — Zumba dance is gaining in popularity among girls in Jeddah and is favored by experts as a way to battle depression, Alsharq reported. Aliyah Adel is a Zumba dance trainer and one of the pioneering trainers in the Middle East. She has been teaching girls how to Zumba on more than 200 occasions since 2009. She has taught over 16,000 students and she offers her lessons on Instagram and WhatsApp. She said: “Zumba is a Latin dance and a mix of samba, salsa, cumbia, merengue, belly dance and reggaeton. “It is one of the most popular exercise routines in the world and you can burn up to 800 calories an hour. “In addition to it being a physical exercise, Zumba is advised for patients of depression as it encourages the production of endorphins, known as the happiness hormones.” Adel added that Zumba routines can even be choreographed to strengthen a certain part of the body and can help with arthritis, resistance exercises and flexibility. The dance form also combats cardiovascular diseases but it must be done under professionals' supervision. She said: “I would advise that people do some Zumba at least half an hour every day. “To maintain a healthy lifestyle one must also take care of his nutritional diet. “People should quit smoking and avoid sugar and fat. “Eat as much fish, fruit and vegetables as you can and drink a lot of water.” Nouf Wazna, 24, said she was happy to have her Zumba lessons with Adel as she was a professional trainer. “I neglected my body when I was a student in university. “But now I am happy to pay attention to it and return on the healthy and fit path. “And Zumba is the best way to do it as it mobilizes all of your muscles.” Khadija Bahaij, 28, said Zumba releases all of the negative energy and stress and replaces them with positive energy. “Zumba relaxes me and increases my ability to concentrate and think clearly. “It balances between the neurological energy and the physical organs in your body. It also gives you confidence and joy.”
