You may hear laughter, singing or whoops coming out of the fitness room when it’s time for Cardio Salsa class, but first and foremost, it’s a class designed to provide a good cardiovascular workout. It’s just happens to be done along with choreography and Latin music. “The “salsa” aspect provides a new repertoire of movements for the usual participant. The moves and the music make it fun and make the time go by quickly,” says Meredith Stephens, who is usually the class instructor.
Cardio Salsa is a drop-in class, offered once a week, and has been on the class list for over three years now. The typical participant is female, with an age range from the 20s on up, and it’s usually a mixture of beginners as well as seasoned fitness enthusiasts. “Many people have done aerobics before, but not salsa, so in a sense everyone is a beginner when they first take the class,” Meredith says. Class size varies depending upon the time of year. Right now—early spring—any where from 10 to 17 people show up.
Class participants will find that learning the steps associated with Latin dance will be the biggest challenge in this class, but Meredith says everyone catches on at their own pace. Once someone knows the basic steps, however, the combinations become much easier to do, so each person can focus more intensely on the parts they have trouble with. She likes to talk with newcomers who have questions about it and see if it’s a good fit for them.
The cardio workout one gets from Cardio Salsa is great and will result in enhanced balance, better coordination and greater stamina, Meredith says. “It’s also a workout for the brain, and it’s fun!”
Since the class is a drop-in one, anybody can come and try it. Meredith says usually members who have taken the class and loved it are the ones that convince other members to join in. “They’re my biggest recruiters.”
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