Exercise is important, and not only when you’re healthy. Here at The Pain Center of Arizona, we know that patients dealing with chronic pain also need to exercise. But when pain is radiating through the body, it can be difficult to find the energy to work out. This is why Zumba Sentao is a great workout for chronic pain patients.
Zumba Sentao is a spin-off of regular Zumba, the popular cardio dance class that has become all the rage recently. It is a great all over body toning workout using a chair and Zumba moves.
Zumba Sentao combines strength and resistance exercises with cool dance moves on and around a chair while still keeping the Zumba party dance rhythms and international flavors.
Zumba creator Beto Perez came up with the idea for Sentao when he arrived to demonstrate a Zumba class in Italy and found everyone sitting on chairs ready to “watch” the show. He quickly improvised and taught simple Zumba routines in the chair. Then he got the class up off the chair, moving around the chair, using the chair for simple toning and strength exercises. The class loved it and Zumba Sentao was born.
While currently there are only a few hundred licensed Zumba Sentao instructors worldwide (meaning there may not be a class near every patient), patients can ask a Zumba Fitness instructor about the program and when it is coming to their part of the world.
One of the main advantages of Zumba Sentao class is being able to effectively work the core muscles, which include the abs and midsection.
When siting on the chair and lifting the knee up, having your feet off the ground activates the lower abdominals. Normally this kind of exercise is very hard for most people to do while lying on the ground (think of the V-sit or bicycle exercise).
Exercises are much easier to do in a chair and very effective. Sentao is also very functional. This means it is a great workout for everyday life. How many times a day do we sit and stand? A lot. And we all need good balance and posture to get through the day without aches and pains.
Because Zumba Sentao is based around a chair it is a great class for those who look at a regular Zumba class and think they could never do that. Zumba Sentao is also perfect for those who can’t stand for long periods of time. The addition of a chair can also make the class appear more comfortable and achievable for the beginner exerciser.
Go to www.zumba.com to find a class near you.
If you suffer from chronic pain due to any condition or injury, find hope at The Pain Center of Arizona! Our dedicated team of board certified pain management physicians will work with you to treat your pain, increase your functionality and quality of life, and get you back into life! We have locations across Arizona, including Phoenix, Anthem, Surprise, Mesa, Gilbert, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and now Prescott and Tucson! We take multiple insurance plans; click here to see if we take yours! To make an appointment and take the first step toward getting back into life, call us today at 1-888-PAINCENTER. We hope to see you soon!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.