What to Wear to a Zumba Fitness Class

Zumba fitness classes are a fun, high-energy workout alternative to the treadmill or even a kickboxing session at your local gym, but you can’t perform the moves properly without the right clothing. If you want to get through your Zumba workout sessions successfully, you will need to wear the right type of shoes, shirts and socks. Here are the key pieces of clothing to wear to a Zumba fitness class:

Soft Dance Sneakers
While you are allowed to wear regular workout shoes on the gym floor for your Zumba fitness class, you can execute the moves, turns and jumps more easily when you’re wearing soft leather dance sneakers. These shoes don’t stick to the floor as much as regular running or walking shoes will, and will help you move through the Zumba choreography with ease.

Bandanna
You’re going to sweat – a lot – during your Zumba fitness class, so keep hair far from your face by tying it back in a neat ponytail, and then holding it back with a bandanna or sweat band. This will help you stay focused on the routine at hand and not on worrying about grabbing a towel to wick away sweat.

Cropped Pants
If you’re not comfortable wearing shorts, don’t wear long workout pants to a Zumba fitness class. These make it very difficult for you to perform the Samba-inspired moves easily, and you will probably work up a sweat faster than you want to. Stick with cropped pants that stick to your skin, or looser yoga pants that allow you to move easily.

Moisture-Wicking Shirt or Tank
A lightweight tank top or tee shirt made with moisture-wicking material is your best choice for the Zumba fitness class. These will absorb sweat and allow you to perform all of the upper body movements with ease. Avoid wearing shirts or tanks that are a few sizes too large, because the extra material will get in the way of your turns, twists and other upper body moves.

Sports Socks
Zumba fitness classes are performed on a hardwood gym floor, so you will be wearing shoes throughout your routine. Since you’re going to sweat, you’ll need to wear a pair of high-quality sports socks that will keep your feet cool and dry throughout the routine. Keep in mind that Zumba fitness classes can run up to 90 minutes in length, so you’ll need to wear socks that will keep you comfortable for the long-run.

Zumba fitness classes are an intensive cardio workout that can get you in shape in no time. Make the most of your workout by wearing the right clothing and stay well-hydrated with a bottle of water within easy reach.