Step up the tempo

It’s time to update your playlist with the peppiest workout music and dancercise the kilos away! By Vivani Khurana

Dance like nobody is watching,” said Mark Twain. Today, you could make this your fitness mantra. Dancercise, the technique of dancing in order to exercise, has helped many women stay in shape. Zumba, its most popular offshoot, focuses on “a fitness dance that is combined with cardio work”, says Sachin Shaniya, Zumba instructor. “A blend of salsa (Latin American) and bhangra (Punjabi folk) gives you a complete workout as the moves involve every part of the body – arms, shoulders, waist, hipsand legs...” he adds. Hip-hop fans can take dancercise classes that incorporate the “dance styles of breaking, locking, popping and krumping, taught to famous rap numbers,” says Bhavana Harchandrai, manager, group ex, Gold’s Gym.

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Combination exercises work for most women with weight issues. In a season when partying is the top item on the agenda, extra weight could get in the way of your dancing, but then dance itself can help you drop that weight. “Freestyle, a dance form that involves core workouts like Pilates and energetic choreography, would be the best dancerise for losing weight and having the most fun, considering the wide range of styles in its repertoire,” says Ruchi Pushkarna, choreographer and teacher.

Prepare yourself with a basic playlist and pep up your workouts. Based on the regimen, you could categorise list.

Yoga“It improves core strength, flexibility, endurance and alleviates stress. Doing cardio-based exercises improves heart health and also burns weight and increases stamina,” says Komal Sodhi, group exercise manager, Fitness First. Yoga is usually done for concentration and hence without music to help one attain peace and wellbeing. However, you can enjoy a soft background tune. Gayatri Mantra Dev Pemal Sunrise Norah Jones Wonderful Sunsets Kevin Kendle RaMaDaSa Snatam Kaur Bonjour Lemongrass Dream On Café del Mar

AerobicsThe fun of aerobics is based on dance-like exercises with music in the background. Even your party playlist would do the trick. Aerobics integrates rhythmic movements with stretching and strength-training routines to improve flexibilty, muscular strength and cardiovascular fitness. One could burn 350-500 calories in an hour.Take It Off Kesha Club Can’t Handle Me Flo Rida Give Me Everything Pitbull We Speak No Americano Yolanda Be CooSexy and I Know It LMFAORude Boy Rihanna

WalkingThe most basic form of workout, taking a stroll and gradually increasing the pace to a brisk walk is a must. Wake up early to make the most of the crisp winter, inhale fresh oxygen to freshen up for the day. You can burn 200-300 calories per hour during a brisk walk. From a fast walk, you can graduate to jogging, too, on simalar beats.Be Happy Mary J BligeCome Again KameliaFall In Love Tonight LoraHappy Together TurtlesPocketful Of Sunshine Natasha BedingfieldRehab Amy Winehouse

CyclingWhen you choose to go back to riding a bicycle, you tone thighs and buttocks. Pedalling helps with the quads at the front of the thighs and hamstrings at the back, apart from helping you shed a minimum of 450-500 calories per hour. A fast song prevents you from just cruising and helps you pedal harder.Born This Way Lady GagaRain Over Me (electro remix by DJ Kiehl) Pitbull feat. Marc AnthonyThe Kids MGMTFirework Katy PerryDynamite Tiao CruzAlors on Danse Stromae

ZumbaTargeting a minimum of 550 calories per hour, this Latin-inspired dance workout is great for arms, waist and hips. “A 60-minute class daily gives best results as it tones muscles and sculpts the body without letting you feel the exertion because it’s so much fun,” says Sachin Shaniya, Zumba instructor. For an effective regimen, acombination of squats, lunges, waist twists and bicep curls could be induced in the Zumba session, too. Remixes are the best bet in such a class, where you need all the rhythm to pep you up.Moves like Jagger Maroon 5Tonight I’m Loving You Enrique IglesiasCuando Floresca El Chuno Tom Pulse (remix)Valio La Pena (Salsa Version) Marc AntonyFuego Kumbia KingsDrop It Low Will.i.am (Rio)

Belly DanceThe movements in belly dance involve isolating different parts of the body such as hips, shoulders, chest and stomach. It is the core muscles of the body that produce the movement rather than the external muscles. The calories lost would be about 350-500.Chammak Challo Ra.OneShiela Ki Jawani Tees Maar KhanMaiya Maiya GuruHips Don’t Lie ShakiraGypsy ShakiraDidi remix Aic Music