Aalya Aadil is a licensed instructor with a bachelor’s degree in Administration and Athletic Training at The Hashemite University 2007. She is an expert on many athletic courses, including Zumba, Zumba Kids, Aqua, aerobics, steps and Typo, in addition to courses in rhythmic dancing, including salsa and hip-hop.

In 2009, she began training Zumba, which made her the first Zumba instructor in Saudi Arabia as well as one of the first instructors in the Middle East.

What is Zumba program?

Zumba is a Colombian fitness program that was discovered in the nineties. It is a mix of various easy athletic steps that helps you to move a large number of muscles in your body.

The Zumba belongs to aerobics, which means it burns a lot of calories, and the diversification between fast and slow athletic movements at the same time.

It also increases muscle mass in the body, which in turn increases the metabolic rate and helps you get a perfect body. Zumba is one of the fastest types of workouts in the world. It burns between 500 to 800 calories per hour.

Anyone can join Zumba classes, especially those who feel bored when they go to the gym or who did not workout for years.

The goal is to involve them in fitness classes, and make them workout/dance under the rhythms of Latin and international music, and help them get rid of excess weight and burn more fat.

The Zumba class is one-hour long during which a Zumba licensed instructor works on processing the preset songs on certain rhythms, such as salsa, merengue, Cumbia, Tango, Chachacha, Soca, belly dancing, samba, flamenco and hip-hop. The steps are simple and fun, and each instructor has a particular style of training.

What does training mean to you?

Training is the happiness vitamin, a change of unhealthy lifestyle.

What age groups do you train?

I train all age groups, starting from the age of three and above, and of course, for each age group there is a special training/workout style.

Are there conditions to attend Zumba sessions?

There are no conditions for attending Zumba sessions, except for special cases that need medical consultation, such as pregnant women, people with diabetes, patients with heart disease, cancer and depression, so that everyone feels better emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally, where training becomes a source of joy that leads to a positive addiction.

How do you find the local turnout for Zumba classes and other workout styles?

There is a big turnout for Zumba classes and other workout classes, from different ages and even non-obese ladies who want to increase their fitness levels, and this shows that Saudi women are aware of everything that is useful and healthy.

What advice would you give concerning weight loss?

The most important thing is the will and the capacity for implementation, eating healthy and balanced food and exercising.

What are the ill effects of lack of exercising?

There are many ill effects, such as, the lack of movement leads to gaining more weight and muscle atrophy, the appearance of back pain and stiffness in the joints, the heart becomes smaller and less efficient, chronic anxiety and stress, high heart rate, as well as rapid breathing when doing any physical exertion, high cholesterol and the appearance of the abdomen. Overall, the body gets weak.

What are your ambitions as an instructor?

My ambition is to build up a healthy, conscious generation that understands the importance of workouts. As for the future, my goal is the establishment of an athletic building for children and women.

You last word?

I advice readers to pay attention to healthy and balanced food, and physical activities to enjoy good health without depending on someone else as you grow older.

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Email: [email protected]