Zumba has been called exercise in disguise — and for good reason. The hour-long class involves dancing to the beat of Latin-inspired tunes while sneaking in both low- and high-intensity moves.

In fact, a recent study by the American Council on Exercise analyzed the benefits of Zumba Gold, a lower-intensity class, and found that a single session meets the exercise-intensity guidelines for improving and maintaining cardio fitness in middle-aged and older adults.

Heart benefits aside, there are plenty of other reasons to love Zumba.

1) It’s easy on the joints.

As you get older, bone density and joint support naturally start to wane, which means high-impact exercises like running may not be doable. Zumba is an excellent low-impact workout,’ It protects your joints and muscles while raising your heart rate and improving your balance, posture, and coordination.

Zumba Gold in particular allows you to go at your own speed and provides low-impact routines that are easy to follow.

2) It’s a moving meditation

Meditation is popular among health-conscious individuals for many reasons, but one of the biggest benefits is that it gives your mind a chance to rest. It clears the chatter and teaches you to be present in the here and now. Zumba is similar to meditation in that way.

Focusing on your body as it moves through rhythmic exercises helps keep you grounded in the present. It teaches you mindfulness without having to meditate.

Zumba truly gives you a chance to “dance like no one’s watching.” You don’t have to know how to dance to take a Zumba class. You just have to be willing to try.

Laughter is a key ingredient of a Zumba class.

Need more convincing? A recent study published in The Gerontologist found that when laughter was incorporated into a workout, it boosted older adults’ mental health, aerobic endurance, and confidence regarding exercise.

Jean Sutton offers Zumba Gold and Zumba Toning classes that are combined into a one hour session that provides a low impact workout and a beginners class that is great for senior citizens. The first class is free so there is nothing to lose. Classes are offered at Collage Performing Arts at 10 a.m. on Monday and Thursday along with Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Chautauqua Fitness at the plaza in Dunkirk. For more information contact Jean Sutton at 366-8579 or jeasutton@yahoo.com.