Group fitness classes and gym memberships can be very expensive.  If you are searching for ways to save money, or are cutting expenses due to a recent job loss, it doesn’t mean your health has to suffer.  You don’t have to miss out on fun workouts like the ones offered at your local high-priced gym.  City of Cleveland residents can get free admission to any of the city’s 22 community recreation centers.  In addition to free use of the facilities and equipment, residents can also attend group classes for absolutely no charge.

Scheduled fitness classes include yoga, karate, soccer, water aerobics, step aerobics and boxing.   A popular fitness program called Zumba, sold on DVD for $99 and offered as a group class at some Fitworks gyms, is completely free for residents three days a week at some Cleveland city recreation centers.

What is Zumba?

Zumba is a high-energy Latin-dance workout.  The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms, and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. It’s based on the influences of merengue, salsa, hip-hop, mambo and reggae.  Zumba was created by celebrity fitness trainer, "Beto" Perez in Columbia in the mid-1990’s.  In response to the demand for the classes in the U.S., an institute was created in 2005 to certify instructors to teach Zumba.  According to the Zumba website, by July of 2008, there were over 20,000 trained instructors in 35 countries worldwide.

Associated Content contributor and Zumba instructor Nadia De Leon wrote about her experience becoming certified to teach the classes, saying it was both a vigorous workout and an entertaining way to burn calories.  “I could not remember the last time I had had so much fun in either an aerobics class or a dance class. I was having such a good time that I did not realize how intense the exercise was, until after it was all over,” De Leon said. 

Hour-long classes are scheduled:

6:30 Monday (Ages 16+)

Zone Recreation Center, 6301 Lorain Avenue

(216) 664-3373

6:30 Monday (All Ages)

Estabrook Recreation Center, 4125 Fulton Road

(216) 664-4149

6:30 Friday (Ages 18+)

Cudell Recreation Center, 1910 West Boulevard

(216) 664-4137

4:30 Saturday (All Ages)

Estabrook Recreation Center, 4125 Fulton Road

(216) 664-4149

If you are searching for a class environment similar to the gym, attend one of the classes 16-18+ or bring the kids to one of the all-ages classes for a family-friendly way to get fit and have fun.  Classes are subject to change without notice.  It is recommended you call on class day to confirm.