1. WHAT IS IT? Developed by Tara
Franzinelli, an Australian fitness
instructor and founder of The Jungle
Body, Konga is a cross between dance,
aerobics, boxing and Pilates.
HOW MUCH? Fifty-minute classes
average about $10.
THE VERDICT? As a yoga-going, regular
power walker I was excited to step out-
side my usual routine into an exercise
class that claims you can burn almost
3000kJ in under an hour – by dancing!
I arrived early with my best Beyoncé
game face, and my usual workout gear of
black tights and black top. After a quick
chat with the instructor, Yin, I was reas-
sured a lack of coordination was no
obstacle to joining in. She explained:
“There are only four steps in each set,
and it’s designed to be simple to follow.”
The mirror-lined, disco-lit studio
was filled with lycra-clad ladies and a
token male. I placed myself at the back of
the class, obscuring my mirror exposure
lest self-consciousness got the better of
my kilojoule-burning potential. Yin said
the warm-up would get me into the
groove, and it turned out that the rou-
tines were a cinch to follow, even if my
executionwasn’tasMTV-worthyashers.
After the R’n’B-fuelled warm-up
was the toning segment, full of squats,
lunges and enough hip gyrations to
make Beyoncé proud.
A quick 10-second break (enough to
grab a mouthful of water) and then it
was on to the boxing component. I threw
my arms out in front, to the sides and
above my head zealously during the
nonstop five-minute routine. At this
point, I was working up a sweat and
loving the beats.
The floor work included plenty of
hip raises and slow sit-ups (ouch!) and I
would have happily laid there in recovery
if not for the short cool-down stretch.
In the 50-minute class, we jumped
and hip-shaked through eight songs.
I certainly felt energised after having
channelled my inner hip-hop diva.
Konga had enough intensity to
make my heart rate peak and the toning
exercises certainly burnt, but when
you’re holding a pulsing lunge to
Usher, you don’t really notice.
FIND OUT MORE: For class
timetables and more information,
visit thejunglebody.com.au/programs.
Dance, box and burn up to 3000 kilojoules in just
one class with the latest addition to group fitness
High-octane music and
easy-to-follow routines
keep the intensity fun.
www.marieclaire.com.au164
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konga
tried tested&
After the r’n’B-fuelled warm-up
was the toning segment, full of squats, lunges and enough
hip gyrations to make Beyoncé proud