City gyms are increasingly including dance sessions as an integral part of fitness. TOI explores this new trend.
When anything sets into a routine, it can get boring. So city gyms are trying to add some fun to members’ fitness regimes through dance.

Gym instructors feel dance sessions can add that zing to a workout session. Dance has been acknowledged as an excellent way to stay fit. Fitness enthusiast, Shilpa Joshi, 39, wanted to lose weight and dance sessions have helped her achieve her target. She reveals “I had put on a lot of weight. I wouldn’t go to gym regularly because I used to get bored with the normal workout routines. Later I joined the gym where even dance sessions were introduced. I lost about 26 kgs in the last couple of years. We have normal workout sessions too but I enjoy the dance sessions more.

Dance isn’t something one needs to learn. If you love to move, the rhythm will come naturally. Dance instructor Sachin Khairnar, who conducts sessions at a city gym, shares, “Most people don’t like the regular gym workouts but they want and need some fitness activities. Dancing is a fun activity for all age groups. It is a perfect option for those who wish to blend fun and fitness together.”

Zumba seems to be the most popular dance form these days. Naveen Tolani is glad that fitness enthusiasts are showing a keen interest in dance. “Dance forms like Zumba make for an excellent workout,” he says. Commenting on how quickly the trend has caught on, he adds, “If one gym introduces some activity and if it gets popular, then other gyms follow suit."

However, Pradnya Thorat, a gym owner and fitness trainer, advises people to take utmost precaution before deciding to include the session in their fitness schedule. “Music energises a fitness session. However, it is essential that the dance instructor is certified and well informed and he should have basic knowledge about fitness. He should also be careful about the medical history of those who are looking at dance as a fitness activity.”

So if you do want to take a break from your usual exercise routine, you can dance your way to fitness but make sure you do it right.