Free Zumba Gold classes

Dietitian Carin Clegg will hold free Zumba Gold classes in September at various venues on the Central Coast.

“Despite the insane popularity of weight loss diets, pills, shakes and programs out there, the research says that it is not energy intake that impacts body size, rather physical activity,” Clegg said.

“As a dietitian, I see first-hand that when people increase their physical activity levels, not only does their metabolism increase, but their ability to make better food choices improves.

“It is a win-win.

“This is why I have also become a fitness professional because I know how important body movement is to both my health and well-being and that of my clients.”

Clegg belongs to AUS Active, the Australian Fitness Association, which has created the Million Moves Campaign.

“In September, we are all encouraged to do 75 moves a day for 21 days to represent the 75% of Aussies who do not move their body enough,” she said.

“It will take millions of us to make the movement to change this statistic and I think we can do it.

“When it comes to exercise, the best kind is the one that you enjoy.

“If you want to increase your physical activity levels, just like eating a buffet dinner, you need to increase your choices.

“I recommend having at least three different types of physical activities a week including both cardio and weight bearing exercise.

“I love running, but you could walk.

“I also love yoga, hula hoop (weight bearing) and dance.

“I have danced my whole life, starting with ballet and Irish dancing then moving on to Latin, ballroom, tap and hoop dance. 

“I love moving my body to music and it makes me feel so good, especially if I have had a bad day or week.

“And this is why I became a Zumba Gold instructor.”

Clegg said Zumba Gold is the lower impact, easier and more accessible form of the Zumba dance class. 

It is specifically designed for: people getting back into to fitness or dance, including post-pregnancy; the older active adult; people with an injury; people with disability or neurodiversity; and anyone who finds the regular Zumba class too fast and intense and may not be overly keen on too much Latino or electronic music.

“I actually prefer Zumba Gold to the regular Zumba as there is more time to enjoy the music when you dance,” Clegg said.

“There is a bit of salsa, rock ‘n’ roll, disco, swing, cha cha, belly dancing, tango, flamenco and more.

“Zumba Gold can be just the thing you need to improve your strength, endurance, cardio capacity, bone density, flexibility, posture, co-ordination, range of motion, balance, brain function and mood.

“It reduces aches and pains and falls risk and helps you age gracefully, or at least feel more like it.

“If diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer or any kind of chronic disease, exercise, including dance, can be an important way of managing and preventing progression of the condition, in conjunction with or sometimes as a replacement to medicine.

“For mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, dance has been proven to be a better therapy than taking medicine.” 

The free Zumba Gold classes will be held: at 11am on Friday, September 5, at Narara Eco-Village; at 3pm on Sunday, September 14, at the Sensory Park, Showground Rd, Gosford; and from 2.30pm on Tuesday, September 30, at Gosford 50 + Leisure Centre.

For more details go to www.zumba.com/p/Carin-Clegg/2756837