Dance-based Fitness Takes Back The Spotlight

TV shows like "Dancing With The Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" have rekindled that flame for dance in so many of us and have many people fondly remembering the 80's when dance-based aerobics dominated the fitness scene. I often hear my clients reminisce about old aerobics classes and videos. They loved the challenge of learning and performing new choreography, plus it was downright FUN!

Finally, I have great news for my clients and all of you -- the demand for dance is BACK and becoming popularly known as "retro aerobics!" You can read more about it on AOL's that's fit, but in a nutshell, more and more gyms across the country are offering a variety of dance-aerobics classes. People are revisiting the classics, like my friend Kathy Smith's first aerobic videos from the 1980s (check out her classics now available on DVD). I have always believed in dancing as a workout and have based my career around it. I can't think of a better way to sculpt your entire body and ignite your metabolism -- all while having an absolute blast! This is a trend that I've been committed to my entire life, and I'm thrilled to see America embracing a form of movement that not only shapes your body, but lifts your spirits too. So, let your hair down and take my Mambo Mania class or update your dance/aerobic video collections with one of my Mambo Mania dvds! Let's party towards our personal best!

What to Eat Before Mambo Mania - Yummy!

Clarita's favorite pre-Mambo Mania snack tip!

Snacks To Keep You On Track

It's very easy to fall into the junk food trap when you are on the go in your car, at the office, or in between getting the kids homework done and dinner ready. By keeping healthy snacks handy, it is easy to steer clear of the chips and candy. Here are a few of my favorite snacks that are tasty, travel well and keep me goin' when I'm on the go: pop open cans of tuna with crackers, pre packaged carrots, celery sticks with low fat dressing, or almond butter, high protein low carb power bars, almonds, hard boiled eggs, string cheese, bananas, apples, oranges, strawberries, blueberries and lots of water!

Also, when you do your weekly shopping for all these healthy snacks make sure you don't go to the grocery store hungry! You don't want your belly tempting you to make bad decisions. And if you fall off the wagon and end up eating a candy bar during the weak, don't beat yourself up... just stop by for a class at Personal Best.

Here's A Taste Of Afro Cuban Rumba!

This is just a sampling from my Afro Cuban Rumba class. Traditional Afro Cuban dance moves make a great workout for your core, because most of the moves involve contracting your core and rotating your hips. It also works your quads because you are always moving with your knees bent. It is a fun, rootsy workout that doesn't feel like a workout. Most students are concentrating on their footwork and the dance sequences and forget that they are even exercising. In this class there are men and women of all ages and fitness levels, so there is no reason to be intimidated! Download the MP4 of this workout here to take with you anywhere, or if you are in the Los Angeles/Southbay/Long Beach area come take the class at Personal Best, my studio in San Pedro.

Sneak Peak at Mambo Mania

Last week we filmed a bit of an Original Mambo Mania class at my studio - I dare you not to dance along with it.

Do You Really Think I Dance All The Time?

Well, I am swinging my hips 99% of the time, but that 1% of the time I'm not - I still have to get my exercise in!

Today, I was featured on Vital Juice talking about what I do when I'm not teaching mambo, salsa and rumba in an article about my favorite L.A. staycation spot, which happens to be right in Personal Best's backyard. One of my husband and I's favorite getaways is to go hiking along the beautiful, coastline between San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes. Click here to read all about it. See you in class, or on the trails!