The Zumba craze is making its way to the pool -- and the Marshall White Community Center in Ogden is one of the few places in the state to give it a try.
"It's just a total body aerobic workout that's not like a workout. It's a party," said instructor Cheryl Kay of Ogden. "There's a fun party atmosphere. Everybody that comes are all age groups, shapes and sizes. They just have fun."
Like the Zumba of land, Aqua Zumba is based on Latin and international music and dance. But the moves are modified for the water.
Kay certified to teach aqua zumba out of state. She thinks more pools will offer the class when instructor training comes to Utah later this summer, but for now the American Fork Fitness Center, the Veteran's Memorial Pool in Pleasant Grove and Ogden's Marshall White Center are the only places Aqua Zumba is taught in Utah.
Kay leads the class from the side of the pool, incorporating salsa, merengue, belly dancing and traditional water aerobics exercises into the routine.
She says the moves are slower and more exaggerated than on land and best done in shoulder-deep water for added resistance.
"Aqua Zumba will increase your aerobic endurance, muscular resistance, flexibility and joint mobility," Kay said.
Jason Barton of North Ogden was impressed.
"It's really fun. I encourage everyone to do it," he said.
Amber Broid of Ogden thinks land-based Zumba is a better workout: "You get a better workout on land. On the ground, I feel my heart pumping"
But Kay says the intensity of the workout can be deceiving -- because you don't feel yourself sweat in the pool.
"You get a great workout, but you don't feel like you are working as hard as you are with the resistance of the water," she said.
Melaine Neeley, who teaches Zumba in Cedar City and took the class while visiting Ogden, agrees that Aqua Zumba seems easier.
"It was fun. On land, you sweat buckets. You don't realize it when you're in the water. It doesn't feel like you're exercising because you're having fun," she said.
Kay said the water-based class is especially good for people who are out of shape, have joint problems or who just don't want anyone to see them dance.
"I think Aqua Zumba is a way to work (out for) people who might not be able to go to a regular Zumba class and provide them with a chance to feel the Zumba workout experience. It allows them to work out without stressing their joints and back because of the decreased force of gravity," she said.
For Kay, Aqua Zumba is a way to combine two of her favorite ways to exercise: water aerobics and Zumba.
"This is modified water aerobics with a Zumba feel. We have a small group here. We're not crowded and the price is right," she said.
Jill Barker, assistant director of the center, said she hopes people will give the center a try.
"People think the community center is just for low-income people. It is so not," Barker said. "People are slowly realizing it. The prices are really low and it's a beautiful pool. It's for everyone."
Aqua Zumba is at 6 p.m. Mondays, at least through August. After filling out a free membership application, each class costs $1.50.
"If people like it, we'll keep doing it," Barker said.
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