by postie | Dec 26, 2017 | Fitness
If you want to lose weight and stay in shape, the best way to do it is none other than doing intense exercises, such as running, playing tenis, and swimming. Unfortunately, not everyone is built to do boring, repetitive things on a regular basis. For those of you who hate working out with a passion and find the usual exercise for weight loss to be tedious, zumba fitness dance is perfect for you! The playful and upbeat fitness programme is designed for people who’d like to have fun while they sweat it off. These are the six best reasons to join a zumba class:
- (Almost) anyone can do zumba
Don’t be fooled by zumba’s highly energetic routines! Whatever your age, body shape, or weight, zumba is designed to cater to all able-bodied people, even if you have no dance experience at all. You’ll dance to a reasonable pace (often based on a song) suggested by your trainer, and it’s up to you if you’d like to go at a faster or slower pace. It’s all about being in the moment and having fun.
- Zumba is practically a dance party
For fun-loving people, zumba is practically a dance party disguised as a fitness programme for weight loss! If you’d rather have fun while you work hard to shed those kilos, zumba incorporates a choreography that is easy to follow, which is a combination of martial arts, some aerobic exercise and dance elements; including soca, hip-hop, mambo, and salsa. Each class will never be the same with zumba’s different routines.
- Zumba is also a music fest
Love music? A typical zumba class doubles as a music fest too! Most class features a variety of upbeat, cultural music that keeps you going, such as hip-hop, African, Arabic, bhangra, Bollywood, cumbia, reggaeton, merengue, and salsa. You’d be surprised by how international the music selections are! No class will ever be mundane with the many different songs on full blast.
- Zumba is an instant calorie burner
A zumba class will instantly leave you dripping with sweat, your heart rate up, and hundreds or thousands of calories burnt! With continous movement and fast pace lunges and squats, you’ll burn an average 500 to 1000 calories within 60 minutes! As you progress in your programme, your class may be even faster than before, so keep up with the pace by hydrating yourself before class starts!
- Zumba boosts your brain power
Due to the nature of zumba, you’ll have no choice but to be 100% dedicated and focused on your trainer’s choreography. To keep up, you’d have to learn the sequences and pay close attention to your alignment, form and timing. Unlike bicycling, running or jogging in the park where your mind tend to wander as you get lost in your surrounding, zumba requires your full attention and energy to keep up and reach the end goal, making it less likely for you to slack off.
- Zumba gives you the chance to mingle
Single and ready to mingle? Or just prefer to make new friends? Zumba gives you the chance to socialise with like-minded people. It’s definitely more fun if you can shed your kilos away with other people who share similar goals. You can support each other as the class progress. This can also boost your motivation if you’re unable to share your weight loss goals with your loved ones. In a typical zumba class, you can expect some laughter, playfulness and silliness from other participants!
For beginners, the best zumba fitness dance programme can be found at many gyms or health club chains. You can also try the free introductory class to see whether the programme is a good fit for you. The best zumba fitness dance class should be small (at least one trainer per 10 participants) and features a spacious studio to move around, a good combination of dance elements and songs, and facilities that meet your individual needs.
by Caleb | Oct 14, 2017 | Fitness, Sports and Leisure
Want to get fit while having fun? Zumba makes that possible!
This popular fitness program has been used around the world by different age groups, genders, and cultures. People flock to gyms to experience this fitness program which aims to help you get fit while having fun. What could be more fun than dancing to your favourite song and losing calories in the process? If you are interested in starting Zumba, read our guide on Zumba and it’s many health benefits before you register for your first class.
What is Zumba?
Zumba is an aerobic fitness program which features Latin American dance movements. Its routine incorporates resistance training and interval training in an alternation of slow and fast rhythm.
Benefits of Zumba
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Effective calorie and fat-burning method. Zumba is known to be an effective calorie-burner method. During one session you can lose 600 to 1000 calories.
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It is a full body workout. Zumba requires full body movement from the neck and shoulders down to the calves and ankles. It involves every muscle and joint which guarantees balanced toning and sculpting of the body.
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It gets you excited about working out. Since Zumba is fun and just like dancing, it is easy to get excited about getting fit. It entirely changes your idea about working out as you experience enjoyment instead of discomfort or boredom.
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It is open for everyone. Whether you are good at dancing or not, Zumba is suitable for you. The simple and easy movements mean that you do not need to feel intimidated. Everybody is there to have fun, lose some weight, and get fit!
With all the health and recreational benefits of zumba, what else are you waiting for? Sign up to a Fitness First gym of your preference and start Zumba fitness dance to kick start your day!
by Caleb | Feb 22, 2017 | Sports and Leisure
Cycling is a truly refreshing and liberating experience, enjoyed by people of all ages across the world. Malaysia, in particular, is a hotbed of cyclist fans who visit the place every year to experience the magical beauty of the country. On the other hand, it’s important to make sure that you’re a fit cyclist to make your road bike trip super-exciting and more fun. Below are 4 awesome cycling tips beginners should use to make their bike trip around Malaysia a worthy splurge.
- Buy the right bike
When planning a good and reinvigorating cycling trip, it’s important to ensure you pick and purchase the right bike. Different bikes offer different road trip experiences, so it’s important to choose a bike that better fits your needs. Mountain bikes are deemed to provide a smooth cycling experience, every time you want to stay fit and spectacle the country’s sweeping attractions. Its gears are very effective, easy to find and replace, which means nothing can stop you from getting to any destination. Wondering ? The country is dotted with a variety of convenient bicycle shops where you can grab a mountain bike that suits your needs. Make sure to give it a test drive first to ensure it’s in good shape before buying.
- Get Fit
For most people, cycling is an effective form of exercise in their everyday lives .Shorter, harder rides as well as longer but less nerve-wracking tasks are deemed to boost cycling recovery speeds. This is important to keep you riding quicker for longer, which means your body would be able to cover longer trails than before. Similarly, adding a healthy meal to your fitness regime that’s high in protein and starch would really help store your body’s energy. This means your body’s stamina and cycling episodes would last longer over the long haul.
- Take short breaks
For your body to cycle longer and harder, it’s necessary to hold short breaks in between cycling sessions. Resting gives the body time to adjust and recover, hence prepares you for the next ride. As your body slowly adapts to this routine, that’s when you realise your performance and technical abilities improve every day.
- Make cycling a habit
The most effective way to make sure your cycling challenge becomes better every day is by making cycling a habit. Make your bike a first and top priority, among the many different means of transport you use every day. Cycle to work, school, and any other place that gives you much joy. Within a short time, you’d be surprised to find the stamina you’ve garnered to cover long and steep terrains you always dreamt pursuing.
There are many ways in which people can admire and indulge in all the breathtaking attractions in Malaysia—and cycling around is one of them. Some people like to ride about for fun; others like to ride about to stay fit and healthy. Whatever your reasons are, it’s best to ensure you’re fit to cycle around so that your biking tour can become a refreshing and pleasant affair. Follow the amazing beginner cycling tips shared in this guide to ensure you’re safe and your road bike trip becomes something to cherish every day.
by Caleb | Feb 8, 2017 | Sports and Leisure
Is your coworker relationship getting stale as a leftover bread? Do you have lunch with your teammates at the same restaurant day after day? Does the conversation always drift back to the time when you spilled ketchup on your shirt and it’s not even funny anymore?
It’s time to change tactics. Here are 5 fun, quirky ways to take your bond with your coworkers to the next level:
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Book for Zumba classes. What better way to have fun and go crazy than to take Zumba classes together? Physical activities are wicked stress busters, and seeing your often uptight and distressed office mates dance their worries away is a fun experience itself. Several gyms in Malaysia offer Zumba classes for any group size, so it’s not that hard to look for venues for this fun activity.
- Take creative workshops together. In this age of empowered artists and creatives, you can never run out of recreational workshops. You can take classes in calligraphy, cooking, and even coffee making! The list goes on. Learning something fun and useful is a great way to get to know your coworkers.
- Go on field trips. Going to museums, antique shops, historical sites, gardens, and other interesting places is an exciting way to take your minds off work and enjoy life a little more. To add a little more fun, you can have potluck lunch or even dinner. This can save you money and learn a little more about your coworkers’ taste on food. That’s hitting two birds with one stone.
- Carpool. If you live close with one or more of your coworkers, carpooling is a great and pocket-friendly way to bond. You can take turns on who to drive and who will bring coffee. It will also expose you to your coworkers’ music taste. We all know how a playlist reveals a person’s personality, right?
- Organize a charitable event. Lastly, you can find a common advocacy that you all care about and organize a fun run, concert, walkathon, or other fundraising activities. Doing good things together will surely increase the sense of camaraderie with one another, and working on a common goal outside work can even enhance your working dynamics.
Get creative in thinking of ways to develop a deeper bond with your coworkers. After all, it’s not such a bad idea to be BFFs with people with whom you spend more than a third of your day. Do these five activities and get closer with your coworkers in no time.
by Caleb | Feb 1, 2017 | Sports and Leisure
You have enjoyed cycling over the last couple of months in Malaysia. You have not only added more kilometers into your cycling tracks, but also joined a community of urban cyclists in your city. Is it time for you to get a pair of cycling shoes?
If you just want to join a spinning class or ride a bike within a close distance around the inner city, you can stick to your badminton or tennis shoes. However, if you are a long-distance bike commuter or a cycling enthusiast who wants to join more cycling tours, it is important to choose the right shoe which are specifically designed to match your needs. Here are some things you need to consider:
- Understanding the benefits
The difference between regular sports shoes and cycling shoes is in the soles. While the first one is usually designed for flexibility, the latter is designed to convert your foot into a solid platform. The stiff-bottomed cycling shoes clip right into the pedals to make your ride smoother and more efficient.
With the right cycling shoes, you will be able to transfer more power and balance to every pedal stroke. Also, these will help engage a lot of leg muscles more than you did before. The best thing of all, there is no risk of pedal slip hurting your foot or shin.
- Choosing the right model
From road bike, mountain bike, to triathlon shoes, there are many options in the market that could easily overwhelm you. Check for lightness, ventilation, and versatility. Get someone who has more experience in this matter to guide you through the selection process.
It might not be the best option to buy your first cycling shoes through an online store, unless you know it has a really good return policy and after sales service. Another trick is to try on several shoes at a store, and then wait for a discount on the specific model that you are aiming for.
- Installing the clipless pedals
When buying cycling shoes, you also need to buy new pedals for your bike. Clipless pedals come with cleats that are compatible with certain types of shoes – for example, Shimano shoes are made for SPD and SPD-SL cleats. As you progress as an avid cyclist, you will have the urge to buy more shoes and attach new cleats by yourself, but you can always take your bike to the nearest bicycle shop to get more assistance. Having a set of hex wrenches would be the best investment for your bike, as you will use them a lot.
- Maintaining the quality
It is important to follow the care and maintenance instructions for your cycling shoes in order to keep their quality. Although it is comfortable to wear them for a walk, you want to limit the use so that you do not make the cleats dirty or wear them out too soon.
Always make sure that all cleats or pedals are clean before using. If the shoes get wet, leave them to dry in open air, but keep away from direct sunlight or direct heat – do not be tempted to use a hairdryer. As a general rule, you should not keep your shoes in airtight containers.
Now that you know the basic rules, that suit your needs because comfortable shoes would also mean longer rides.
by Caleb | Jan 20, 2017 | Kid Activities
Just like children from anywhere else in the world, Malaysian kids also enjoy having fun in kiddie parties. Whether it’s a birthday party or a mere gathering among friends and classmates, such a party is a great way for kids to bond with their friends as well as their parents. However, organizing a kiddie party is not a walk in the park. There are so many factors that you should consider to ensure that the party will go smoothly without any hang-ups. Here are some of the most important things you should take into account in planning the anticipated event:
- The budget –
The biggest question you need to ask when coming up with the budget is: How many people are expected to attend the party? In most cases, the largest portion of the budget goes to food, especially if you’re hosting the party in your home or backyard. For budget advice, you should ask some of your friends who already held kiddie parties and query them how much they spent.
- The theme of the party –
There are a lot of birthday celebration ideas in Kuala Lumpur that you can choose from. You can use the cultural heritage of the country as a theme. Or if you want something more modern, you can use superhero themes or themes from popular children’s movies. Or better yet, you can ask your kid what he or she wants as a theme for the party.
- The venue –
You can always hold the event in your home but if you think there isn’t enough space, you can take it to an outside location. There are a lot of establishments in Kuala Lumpur that accept birthday and other kiddie parties. It means additional expense on your part but it’s worth it because the kids will enjoy more.
- The guest list –
It’s very important that you make an estimated list of who will be attending the party. This is so that you can prepare the right amount of food and space. It would be a disaster if more people came than you expected and the food runs out.
- The invitations –
Make sure to send out invitations at least a week before the party so that the parents will have enough time to plan and prepare.
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- The food and entertainment –
When it comes to food, you can either cook it yourself or you can get the services of a catering company. And when it comes to entertainment, you have a lot of options but it’s highly recommended that you get a clown. Kids love clowns. If you can’t get hold of a clown, a magician would do.
It would be a lot easier to organize a kiddie party if you are fully aware of all the things mentioned above. The main reason why a lot of parties go wrong is that the parents often fail to plan and prepare in advance. They often end up rushing things the day before the event. That said, you should take your time and plan everything a few weeks before the scheduled date of the party.
