You might have heard your friends talking about it. Perhaps you've even seen a sign for it at your local gym on the class schedule list. And you probably thought, what the heck is Zumba? And why is everyone going on and on about it?

Zumba is that class you can hear while running on the treadmill. The music is loud and boisterous and there's lots of yelling and laughing. What kind of fitness class is this? It's a new wave program that combines Latin rhythms and dance moves that even someone who has, as they say, “two left feet” could follow.

Zumba was started in the mid- '90s by celebrity fitness trainer “Beto” Perez. On one particular day, Perez was supposed to teach an aerobics class but forgot the music. Luckily, he happened to have music tapes in his backpack, which included salsa and merengue music. Thus Zumba was born.

A typical class lasts about an hour. It incorporates interval and resistance training to fast and slow music, which help tone and sculpt your body while it burns away the fat. Zumba targets your butt, legs, arms and abs. It's also a heart-healthy workout that gets your blood flowing.

In a Zumba class several Latin dance styles are used, including cumbia, merengue, salsa, mambo, rumba, flamenco and calypso. Occasionally, Zumba also includes a taste of belly dancing or hip-hop, as well.

Now, you're probably thinking, this sounds like a lot of dancing and you have no coordination. No worries. No one is judging you on mastering the steps. Zumba isn't Juilliard. The instructor wants you to have fun with it. If you screw up along the way, so what? As long as you're attempting the steps, you're moving your body and enjoying the experience.

The goal of this workout is to generate a calorie-burning, aerobic exercise that's fun, energizing and different from the norm. So, if you're bored with the same routine, you might want to check it out. Zumba is perfect for all ages. And it most definitely beats running on the treadmill. Once you get over the fear of embarrassing yourself, you'll keep coming back for more.

Zumba classes can be found at numerous gyms and health clubs throughout the country. If your gym or health club offers classes, chances are there's Zumba. However, if your gym or health club doesn't offer Zumba, you can always buy or rent a Zumba exercise DVD and work out in the comfort of your own home.