It looks intimidating, doesn’t it? That room in the gym where they have classes with

names like Cardio Kickboxing, Step Funk and Pump ‘n’ Jump. As you passed

you’ve seen jocks out of the corner of your eye – it looks like a lot of

funny. But you know you could never do that: you bump into yourself walking from the

Stairmaster to the treadmill, which are getting Really bored. Well,

guess what? If for a few minutes you can stop telling yourself that hypocrisy

do cardio dance, maybe, just maybe, you’ll find out that you really can do it.

Of course, if you have serious trouble moving around and counting to four at the same

time, one count per step, then cardio dance is probably not for you. Yes you can

count to eight as you move, then there’s a chance you’ll really get good at

that. Can you step-touch? I mean, can you step aside and bring your

another foot to find it? Can you walk on site? Can you step forward with one foot?

and then raise the other knee? Can you step forward with one foot and while

standing on that foot, raise the other knee three times? If you can do that then

you’ve already performed a cardio dance move – it’s called a “repeater” (a

obvious name for repeating the same knee lift more than once). it only gets better

from now on.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your cardio dance.

experience:

1. Please dress appropriately, including and especially your footwear! The right shoes can make your cardio class a joy; wrong ones can cause injury. With cardio dance, you move slightly sideways, rather than forward, like you do when you walk or run. So you will need shoes made especially for cardio dance. If you don’t want to invest in cardio dance-specific shoes right away, at least make sure you have elliptical trainers; that way, if the classes don’t work for you, you can use them for other activities. . If you’re a woman, make sure you wear a supportive sports bra, even if you’re doing a low-impact class, at the very least a jogging bra. You really don’t want to hang around, it’s uncomfortable, and if you’re more than a B cup, it’s downright painful.
2. When you first come to class, arrive early and tell the instructor that you are a beginner. That way he or she can take some extra time with you or at least make sure you’re in a place where you can see what’s going on.
3. Start with a simple class, something with a name like “Aerobics for Beginners” or “Hi-Lo I.” Don’t even think about “Tae-Yo-Fusion-Funk-Pump III” class yet! Go as basic as possible. When you start to get bored of the basics, try something more advanced or adventurous, like a funk class or step class.
4. Follow the instructor as if you were looking into a mirror. Don’t think too much about left and right, that can get confusing. Simply mimic/mirror what the instructor is doing to the best of their ability. Don’t think about it too much. Thinking gets in the way of doing. The less you think, the better off you will be.
5. Once the class has a basic step down, the instructor will usually try to change it up a bit, add something fancy like a special kick or a different way of walking or, ouch! – one turn. If you’re an absolute beginner to aerobics, this may baffle you at first. Don’t worry, just keep doing the basic step the way you were originally taught. Or if you try the new form and get lost, go back to the basic move. Always, if you get confused, go back to the original step until you get your bearings.
6. Instructors will often add arm movements to your foot movements. Consider those optional for now. Arm movements are good because they add intensity and help get your heart rate up, especially if your arms stay at or above heart level. But if you’re just starting out, they can be really confusing. Only try them when you feel really confident with what your feet are doing.
7. Your cardio class will often end with a bit of strength training. Make the movements carefully. With many of these classes, you only use light weights or body resistance, so you have to focus on the muscles being worked, or you won’t get much of a workout. And if you can’t do those last few crunches, don’t worry. It is not a competition.
8. If you have one of those cheerleading instructors who wants you to yell and yell and you’re not the yelling and yelling type, then don’t do it! Seriously, vocal participation isn’t necessary. Make everyone else look foolish.
9. If you’re too shy to do cardio dance with a crowd, try some videos at home first. There are loads of cardio dance DVDs for all fitness levels. Just be sure to read the reviews first to make sure they are appropriate for your beginner level.
10. Here’s the real beauty of working out with cardio dance videos: you can pause the routine and go back as many times as you like until you drop a step. The first few times, accept the fact that you may not train too hard because you’re learning the moves (actually, part of the enjoyment should come from learning). But after that, you should be fine. A word of warning: Be careful when making any moves on the mat, especially anything where you’re jumping, spinning, or sliding your feet across the floor. And make sure you’ve cleared some space – it’s no fun kicking your coffee table.

If you keep going back to your cardio dance classes, the time will come when

everything falls into place and you feel as if you are lighter than air. enjoy it – that

the feeling of euphoria is the dancer’s high, and there is nothing like it.