Live Bold, Dance Gold
August 28, 2025 By Carin Clegg, APD
Despite the insane popularity of weight loss diets, pills, shakes and programs out there, the research says that it is not energy intake that impacts body size, rather physical activity. And, it is what you eat and how much you move your body that impacts health, not weight.
As a Dietitian, I see first-hand that when people increase their physical activity levels, not only does their metabolism increase, but their ability to make better food choices improves. It is a win-win. This is why I have also become a fitness professional because I know how important body movement is to both my health and well-being and that of my clients.
AUS Active, the Australian Fitness Association, has created the Million Moves Campaign. In September, we are all encouraged to do 75 moves a day for 21 days to represent the 75% of Aussies who do not move their body enough. It will take millions of us to make the movement to change this statistic. And I think we can do it!
When it comes to exercise, the best kind is the one that you enjoy. If you want to increase your physical activity levels, just like eating a buffet dinner, you need to increase your choices! I recommend having at least 3 different types of physical activities a week including both cardio and weight bearing exercise. For me, I love running, but you could walk. I also love yoga, hula hoop (weight bearing) and dance.
I have danced my whole life, starting with ballet and Irish dancing then moving on to Latin, ballroom, tap and hoop dance. I love moving my body to music and it makes me feel so good, especially if I have had a bad day or week. And this is why I became a Zumba Gold Instructor.
Zumba Gold is the lower impact, easier and more accessible form of the Zumba dance class. It is specifically designed for:
- people getting back into to fitness or dance, including post-pregnancy: we build upon the basic moves as the dance progresses to improve co-ordination and confidence.
- the older active adult: basically, a falls prevention class with specific transfer of weight and balance exercises.
- people with an injury: low impact means no jumping or twisting!
- people with disability or neurodiversity who need to keep their busy brain active with positive thoughts and connect the mind to body. There is also the option to sit if need be, stick to the basic moves, just do the arms or legs or challenge yourself as needed.
- anyone who finds the regular Zumba class too fast and intense and may not be overly keen on too much Latino or electronic music.
I actually prefer Zumba Gold to the regular Zumba as there is more time to enjoy the music when you dance, there is a bit of Salsa, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Disco, Swing, Cha Cha, Belly Dancing, Tango, Flamenco and more!
Zumba Gold can be just the thing you need to improve your strength, endurance, cardio capacity, bone density, flexibility, posture, co-ordination, range of motion, balance, brain function and mood. It reduces aches and pains, falls risk and helps you age gracefully, or at least feel more like it.
If diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer or any kind of chronic disease, exercise, including dance, can be an important way of managing and preventing progression of the condition, in conjunction with or sometimes as a replacement to medicine.
For mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, dance has been proven to be a better therapy than taking medicine.
Now, that’s got to be worth it’s weight in gold!
As part of the Million Moves Campaign in September I am holding some free Zumba Gold Classes:
- Friday 5th, Narara Eco-Village, 33 Gugandi Rd Narara.
- Sunday 14th, at SPIRAL COAST 2pm join our circusy friends at Roundabout Circus, then Zumba Class at 3pm at Sensory Park, Showground road, Gosford.
- Tuesday 30th, 2.30pm, Gosford 50 + Leisure and Learning Centre, 217, Albany Street, Gosford - all adult ages welcome
Join me in the Million Moves Campaign by signing up to Zumba Gold with Carin: https://millionmoves.org.au/zumba-gold-with-carin
If you want to try some Zumba Gold before you come, and dance at home each day as part of the challenge, check out my Zumba Instructor Page with an online mini-class and some free dances (access code in the details): https://www.zumba.com/p/Carin-Clegg/2756837
Leave all judgement at home. Bring your friends and family for a laugh and a boogie.
See you on the dance floor!