Few people would argue that Bogotá suffers from a lack of gyms, but for unmotivated, gym-phobic and cash-strapped residents like myself, a decent workout can be harder to come by. There is hope, however, thanks to a growing number of alternative fitness options around town, most of which offer great exercise in addition to cultural enrichment and a highly social environment.
Anyone interested in getting in shape while picking up a little bit of Portuguese and gaining insight into Brazil’s rich and ethnically-diverse culture might try Capoeira. Combining dancing and music with martial arts, Capoeira first arose in Brazil with the arrival of massive numbers of African slaves, and was passed down from generation to generation in the Afro-Brazilian community.
Capoeira combines elements of music and martial arts in a centuries-old Brazilian tradition.
Today, Capoeira enjoys rapidly growing popularity around the world, spreading a complex piece of cultural heritage that “facilitates free and creative expression and the concretization of ideas, abilities and points of view in a place of peaceful coexistence,” according to the International Angolan Capoeira Foundation in Bogotá.
While Capoeira lessons might teach students some decidedly smooth moves, practicing the sport at a discotheque or wedding reception probably won’t go over very well. Dance lessons, on the other hand, work up a sweat and might help the most hopeless gringo bust a move like a native– or at least avoid embarrassment.
Anyone spending more than a few minutes in Colombia will realize the overwhelming importance of dancing in local culture, and most natives know how to shake it in style, so learning some dance movies is imperative for the traveler or ex-pat interested in adopting a little bit of “Colombianidad.”
Not surprisingly in a nation as diverse as Colombia, potential students have a massive range of traditional and modern dances to choose from, but the Holy Grail of Latin dancing– and arguably one of the sexiest things you can do on two feet– is Salsa.
The Academia Paso Latino, a dance school in Bogotá’s Chapinero neighborhood, suggests that Salsa lessons not only improve fitness and posture, but also help increase “values like solidarity and integrity, and an aptitude for leadership.”
Learning salsa not only helps improve fitness, but also helps you not look like an idiot the next time you get invited to go dancing with Colombian friends.
For the rhythmically challenged– or for anyone forced to take public transportation at rush hour– kickboxing lets off some steam while providing a serious workout. Reportedly based on the Thai art of Muay Thai, kickboxing arrived in the West relatively recently, but quickly gained popularity as a way to build muscle, lose weight and release stress.
Not surprisingly, given its origins in Asian martial arts, kickboxing also focuses on intangible personal development. The Kenji Fight Club in Bogotá offers kickboxing classes for men and women of all ages and abilities, noting that the sport helps improve “persistence, tolerance and sacrifice” in addition to physical benefits.
So whether you’re looking to kick and punch stress away, charm a local date at a Salsa club or just work off last night’s cervezas, Bogotá offers myriad alternatives to treadmills and barbells that help participants shape up both mentally and physically.
