It’s fairly new to California, especially the Inland Empire. Davis, a personal trainer whose introduction to Zumba came through an infomercial, said she couldn’t find a class locally. Rather than wait for someone to start teaching, she became certified.

That’s allowed others like Maria Castellanos to experience Zumba live.

“I had heard about it on TV,” the Rialto woman said, adding that, at first, the only classes she could find were in Los Angeles.

Now Davis’ Zumba classes are a part of her workout twice a week. She eventually bought the Zumba videos to dance with at home.

“I think the draw with Zumba is the music and the fitness that is incorporated into the dance,” said Joan Reed, a group instructor at 24 Hour Fitness who added Zumba to her repertoire earlier this year.

Her Tuesday night class in north Fontana draws 50 people.

Zumba isn’t one of those workouts where you dance for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, then hit the floor for crunches and push-ups.

Those muscle-sculpting elements are built into the dance moves. Squats are done to the beat of the music. Crunches are disguised as pelvic thrusts. Lunges are the transition to the next set of dance steps.

As for your arms, well, they never stop moving. Ever. “You don’t realize you’re doing it,” Reed said.

If it sounds like fun but the only salsa you know about goes with chips, don’t sweat it.

Kathleen Johnson is one of Davis’ regulars. She’s 62 and heads to Fontana from her Ontario home for her Zumba fix twice a week.

She jokes about getting her “Norwegian hips” moving to the Latin rhythms, but is no stranger to having fun. At a recent class, she was the star of the freestyle dance section during “Grease Lightning,” even whipping out the mashed potato.

“I guess it’s the Latin music; it just gets you going. You can’t be tired,” Johnson said before a Friday evening class. “It’s more like a party.” The instructors take the time to give you the lowdown on the different styles of steps. Davis, for example, describes the basic calypso steps as “starting out like you’re going to run, then you put the brakes on — then you slide the foot back.” “I teach them the steps, and I tell them to take your time and once you get it, add your own flavor,” Davis said.

An hour goes by quickly when you Zumba. There’s lots of banter between the instructor and the participants, and the clapping and whoops of joy can be heard above the music.

Just be sure to wear comfortable workout shoes, and don’t forget to bring a towel and lots of water.

“People are having such a blast, and they’re working out,” Reed said of her classes. “I mean we sweat. It’s not just your typical salsa class.”

1 Find an activity you like

You're more likely to stick with an exercise program you enjoy, said Kat Davis, a trainer who teaches Zumba classes at Heritage Fitness in Fontana. Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance workout.
"It's a party atmosphere," she said of her classes. People like to socialize when they work out, and they don't like a boring activity that never changes, she said.
No matter what kind of exercise you choose, make sure it's something you like to do, Davis said.

2. Eat well and exercise

"Just eat right and exercise," said Dong Kwan "D.K." Kim who owns D.K. Kick-Boxing in Redlands. "What else can you do?"
That may sound obvious, but it's really the best way to get in better shape.
It's important to eat a diet that's low in fat but full of fruits and vegetables, said Maury Manliguis, San Bernardino County's deputy health officer.
It's especially important to try to stay away from fast food, he said.

3. Take a class or get a trainer

Sometimes all the machines and equipment can overwhelm people, said Davis. That's why it's often a good idea to get a trainer or to take fitness classes.
Group classes are included with membership at many gyms.

4. Look at nutrition labels and pay attention to portion size

"Reading labels is probably the biggest key," Manliguis said.
People often don't look at the labels and don't know what's in their diets, he said.
Sometimes they don't realize they're eating much more than the serving size. It's not a good idea, for example, to open a bag of potato chips and eat the whole thing. There's probably more than one serving in a bag, Manliguis said.
People also often eat too much meat, he said. The size of your fist is the amount of red meat you need in the day.
And alcohol can cause health problems, not only because drunken driving is dangerous, but also because alcohol is full of calories and doesn't provide much nutritional value, Manliguis said.

5. Try a city-run program

The community you live in may offer fitness programs. Chino has a community garden where residents not only can get outside and garden, but they can also grow healthy food.
Fontana broadcasts a healthy cooking class on its city cable station.
Many cities also have fitness activities, such as walking clubs.
A regional trail system spanning downtown Claremont to downtown Rialto is in the works. Some segments of the trail, like Upland's, are already complete and ready for joggers, walkers and bikers.

6. Be realistic

A regimen that's too strict could backfire, because it's more likely you'll stop following it, Manliguis said.
People who cut out too many calories put their bodies in a constant state of hunger, he said.
Before he was a doctor, Manliguis was a trainer, and he said people start intense gym routines that leave them sore and discouraged.
Magazine images of people in great shape don't always help, he said. What you look like has a lot to do with the genes your parents gave you.
"We're all different," Manliguis said.

jason.pesick@sbsun.com
(909) 386-3861

(c) 2007 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc

City of Corona - “Heart” of Dos Lagos will offer the Dos Lagos community, local residents and visitors a variety of outdoor fitness classes beginning February 1 by introducing its new Fit & Fun program.

Certified trainers will offer weekly classes at the Dos Lagos Amphitheater and Lakeside Garden Retreats. Classes include Get Fit Corona™ Fitness Boot Camp; Corona Outdoor Fitness Camp for Women by Xtreme Fitness; Zumba® Fitness; and Stroller Strides®.

“We offer unique fitness classes that participants will enjoy and can easily incorporate into their lifestyle,” said Tiffany Jones, Program and Event Manager for The “Heart” of Dos Lagos. “We plan to introduce senior and children classes into the Fit & Fun program in the near future.”

The Fit & Fun program kicks off at the Dos Lagos Amphitheater on Friday, February 1 at 7:00 p.m. with a free Zumba Fitness demonstration class sponsored by The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos. “We invite the public to come out and experience Zumba, which combines dance, fitness, and entertainment all in one dynamic and fun way,” said Katherine Davis, founder of KATz Outdoor Fitness and certified Zumba instructor.

All classes are approximately one hour and will be held at The “Heart” of Dos Lagos, north of The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos. Early registration is suggested as space is limited for each class. For an updated class schedule and directions, call (951) 277-7601 or visit http://www.promenadeshopsatdoslagos.com/.

Fontana City Council - The Mayor and City Council would like to invite residents to celebrate the 1990s with Healthy Fontana and the summer aquatics program at the weekly Variety Night event on Tuesday July 31, at Miller Park, located at 17004 Arrow Blvd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Healthy Fontana has invited families to sign up for a game of Family Feud with the winning family receiving a grand prize family fun pack. Participants who come dressed in a 90s costume will be eligible to enter a costume contest. Other activities include a Mr. Potato Head Contest, Mobile Recreation, Sports Game, Nutrition Decathlon, Boot Camp demo, Water Aerobics, and Zumba Performance by KATZ Outdoor Fitness.

Variety Nights are open to the public and held at a different park every Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Citizens are invited to visit the parks, play games and have a fun time. To find out more, please call the Community Services Department at (909) 428-8360 or visit online at www.fontanarecreation.org.

Fontana City Council - The Mayor and City Council would like to invite women in the Fontana area to register for the popular Women’s Boot Camp beginning August 27 and running for four weeks at the Southridge Park, located next to the Don Day Center at 14501 Live Oak Avenue. Women’s Boot Camp meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m.

A Health and Fitness Boot Camp for men and women over 18 years of age, sponsored by Healthy Fontana, is also undergoing registration for Saturday morning classes beginning September 1 from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. The program runs for four weeks at Miller Park located at 17004 Arrow Boulevard. Both programs are taught by Katherine Davis of KATZ Outdoor Fitness.

Cardio, calisthenics, and kick boxing are a few of the drills covered at the Boot Camps. By starting the day off with an intensive body building workout participants will see the benefits of feeling more energized and alert. They will also get a great cardio vascular and body toning workout through the motivational atmosphere that makes Boot Camps so unique to everyday training.

To find out more, please contact the Community Services Department at (909) 428-8360. To register for the Women’s Boot Camp, please call the Don Day Center at (909) 428-8383. To register for the Health and Fitness Boot Camp please call (909) 350-6542 or visit the Healthy Fontana website at www.healthyfontana.com to read more about the program.

Fontana City Council - The Mayor and City Council would like to invite citizens in the Fontana area to register for August Boot Camps taught by Katherine Davis of KATZ Outdoor Fitness.

The popular Women’s Boot Camp begins July 30 and runs for four weeks at the Southridge Park, located next to the Don Day Center at 14501 Live Oak Avenue. Women’s Boot Camp meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. and is available for $144. A Health and Fitness Boot Camp is also available beginning August 4.

The Health and Fitness Boot Camp for men and women over 18 years of age, sponsored by Healthy Fontana and KATZ Outdoor Fitness, is offered on Saturday mornings beginning August 4 from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. The program is held at Miller Park located at 17004 Arrow Boulevard. The program is $20 for four weeks and participants are bound to be pleased with the results from this workout.

Cardio, calisthenics, and kick boxing are a few of the drills covered at the Boot Camps. By starting the day off with an intensive body building workout, participants will see the benefits of feeling more energized and alert. They will also get a great cardio vascular and body toning workout through the motivational atmosphere that makes Boot Camps so unique to everyday training.

To find out more, please contact the Community Services Department at (909) 428-8360. To register for the Women’s Boot Camp, please call the Don Day Center at (909) 428-8383. To register for the Health and Fitness Boot Camp please call (909) 350-6542 or visit the Healthy Fontana website at www.healthyfontana.com to read more about the program. 

Fontana City Council - The Mayor and City Council would like to invite residents to a FREE physical fitness Boot Camp session at Miller Park, 17004 Arrow Blvd., on Saturday, June 30 from 7:00 a.m. to 8 a.m. This one-time offer is an introduction to the regularly scheduled class that will start meeting weekly at Miller Park beginning Saturday, July 7 at 7:00 a.m. for $20 for four weeks. No matter the fitness level, the class participants will motivate each other to get moving and have fun.

The Boot Camp program is sponsored by Healthy Fontana and KATZ Outdoor Fitness and is designed to promote fit lifestyles and weight loss in an unconventional way. Class emphasis is placed on healthful living, team work, and body toning.

Boot Camp sessions are four-weeks and are $20 per session.  The session on June 30 is FREE, so curious individuals should plan to take advantage of this incredible offer and register immediately.  Participants must be eighteen or older.  To find out more or to register, contact Healthy Fontana at (909) 350-6542 or visit www.fontanarecreation.org

OurFontana.com - The City of Fontana and KATz Outdoor Fitness have partnered to bring you Fontana's only outdoor boot camps: If you are not active yet or are looking for a change in your fitness routine, here's a good class to challenge your body....and your mind. WomenOnly Outdoor BootCamp @ Southridge Park Co-Ed Outdoor BootCamp @ McDermott Park Health & Fitness Saturday BootCamp @ Miller Park Go ahead Fontana, choose your bootcamp. To get more info or to register please call Don Day Community Center 909.428.8383

County of San Bernardino Website - Supervisor Gonzales at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center's Run or Walk to Better Health Community 5K. Over 300 residents participated in the event. Special thanks to the City of Colton, 24 Hour Fitness, Katz Outdoor Fitness and all of the staff and volunteers who made this event a success.

Healthy Partners Website - In recognition of KATz Outdoor Fitness and their ongoing commitment to physical fitness and keeping Fontana active the City of Fontana has added Katherine Davis and KATz Outdoor Fitness to their Healthy Partners Website as a listed Program Partner.

Fontana City Council - The Fontana City Council gives a Special Presentation during an open council meeting to Katz Outdoor Fitness for sponsorship in Fontana's Biggest Loser.

Fontana Herald News - To keep employees on task, physical trainer Katherine Davis of KATz Outdoor Fitness will help employees set up fitness programs. And Nutritionist Paula Thompson of the San Bernardino County Department of Health will give one-hour lectures on nutrition.