Yes, we know your Latina blood gives you natural rhythm. But are you getting the most out of your girls’ nights out? It’s time to shake up your half-hearted merengue routine and sign up for a class. The health benefits of regular vigorous dance sessions, such as Zumba aerobics and Brazilian capoeira, are vast. In addition to strengthening bones, toning muscles and boosting heart health, hooking up with comadres for regular dance-offs will also make you happier and smarter. Science shows that exercise, especially in groups, can work as an instant antidepressant. Here are three ways to add a dash of sexy to your summer exercise routine:

1. Zumba Aerobics. This workout originated in Colombia, but it takes Latin dance moves from everywhere: salsa, merengue, reggaeton, hip-hop, pop and more. Unlike typical aerobics routines that focus on counting out loud, Zumba sessions are high-energy parties where you dance to the beat and burn between 400 and 600 calories. The high levels of feel-good hormones you will release help lower stress, avoid hypertension and keep your heart healthy.

2. Brazilian Capoeira. A combination of martial arts and music, this art form originated in the quilombos -- or slave settlements -- of South America. The practice was both a way for slaves to entertain themselves and a cunning way for them to practice self-protection moves in case of an attack. Today, this “dance-fight” is practiced around the world. It can be a lethal workout on the dance floor, burning as many as 500 to 700 calories per hour. The best part? You will be using your entire body -- head, arms, legs, and feet -- to kick, cartwheel and do handstands. You’ll have incredible flexibility.

3. Argentine Tango. This well-known dance is best described as a combination of walking and gymnastics. Though it can burn anywhere from 200 to 400 calories per hour, the dance’s powerful workout is often overlooked. Those slow, deep lunges are amazing for improving coordination and toning legs. And its sharp turns require a strong, wide upper body frame, which in turn improves posture.

Latin pride is in full bloom this June as music festivals and parades pop up across the country. Here are three other cities where cultura is on the mind and salsa, són, and rumba are in the heart:

1. Bethlehem, Penn.: From June 17 through June 19, the city will host Sabor! -- an event that celebrates the region’s dynamic Latin heritage with flair -- at the Steel Sacks art and culture center. Sample Latino cuisine and take in musical performances by local rapero Bolo Flow and salsero Luisito Rosario.

2. Chicago: In Chicago’s Humboldt Park, the six-day Fiestas Puertorriqueñas start June 14. The events showcase Puerto Rican cuisine, art, dance and music. Families revel in PR’s són by local musicians and top Latino entertainers. Other activities include the Youth Jamboree -- in which adolescents and young adults perform in a talent show -- and the San Juan 8K Race/2M Fitness Walk.

3. Los Angeles: Lovers of Mexican music descend upon the Hollywood Bowl on June 18, to be mesmerized by over four hours of mariachi music and folkloric dancing. Guests can also have an unforgettable al-fresco dining experience by trying out the fresh cuisine by the event’s official caterer.

Photo: pantagrapher/flickr CC

September 11, 2001 should have been the best day of Melissa Fox’s life. After working as a film exec in Hollywood for eight years, she quit her job and was on her way back home to NYC in the hopes of finding something more fulfilling.

Despite being deplaned and heartbroken over the tragedy of 9/11, Fox still forged ahead with her plans to move and did what every woman in her family had done in times of trouble: she cooked. “Everything was a mess, so planning meals and procuring ingredients became a form of therapy.” Fox started throwing weekly dinner parties. “Eventually, friends would call, inquiring about a dish I made, and I offered to make it for them. That’s how my catering began.”

Fox grew up with a Nicaraguan-born mom and an all-American dad from Omaha, and her catering menu reflected her bicultural upbringing. Her empanadas came baked, not fried; were filled with unusual ingredients, like smoked Gouda and portabella mushrooms; and topped with her own homemade picante and chipotle mayonnaise.

When she opened A Casa Fox, her Latin fusion restaurant in New York City, Fox honored her family for instilling in her their love of food and togetherness. Pictures of the volcano in Managua adorn the walls of A Casa Fox, as do photos of her mom, grandma and aunts, many of whom still live in Nicaragua.

At the restaurant, Fox’s mom often works the crowd, “letting everyone know she’s the mom of the owner,” says a smiling Fox. “What can I say? My family is proud of me.”

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/jtyler

Even though a huge number of ladies in our lives are mothers, somehow we forget to nurture and pamper them on the big day. Here are four ways to honor them and inspire yourself.

1. Host a networking brunch. Does your sister hope the four-star meals she cooks end up in a restaurant some day? Host a brunch for well-connected foodie moms to help her chase her dream. It will also inspire you and create the chance to connect with ladies you wouldn’t have known otherwise.

2. Book a special girls’ night out. You know your comadre would spend more time with you if she had someone to watch the kids. She’s been there for you through the worst, so show your gratitude by paying for a babysitter and taking her to a musical or a spa day. There are plenty of things her esposo won’t do!

3. Enroll her in a one-day class. Whether it’s a Spanish refresher course or intense all-day yoga, let her be the nurtured one, if only for a day.

4. Write a poem. Don’t have the funds or the time to plan something elaborate? Do something simple and from the heart. Whether you’re a natural-born singer or writer, create a homemade ode to the lucky lady. It will give you a chance to express yourself and show her you care. Have her kids help out for a personal touch.

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/digitalskillet

As a parent, part of your role is to be an ambassador -- to give a nuanced, intimate portrait of what it means to be Latino. Fortunately, there are small touches that you can incorporate into your daily home life that will help your child feel connected to you and your culture.

Stories at Bedtime
Goodnight Moon and The Cat In The Hat should be staples of every little one’s childhood library, but so should Abuela and Chato’s Kitchen. Build a selection that covers a variety of topics, from authors of various backgrounds, to introduce children to multiculturalism -- a key facet of what it means to be American.

Break Time in the Playroom
Create songs and games in Spanish to keep your little one engaged in the language or your padres. You can also set your DVD language so that, with the right programming, you can turn Disney’s Cinderella into Cenicientas -- without having to wave a magic wand.

Connect in the Kitchen
Food is one of the major transmitters of culture, so make sure the meals you share with your child are a cultural and culinary smorgasbord of ethnic delights. Urge your kids to identify what their favorite family foods are so you can share in the preparation and enjoyment together.

Learning Together in the Living Room
Look for opportunities to sit down together and personalize the lessons your child is learning. For example, if he or she recently studied Women’s History Month, discuss why Sonia Sotomayor made history, as well as other trailblazing American women. This will keep you connected and help you engage with your children in a relevant way.

Giving your child the gift of an affirmed and informed cultural identity is key to helping them navigate their identities in the larger world. As you confidently and easily blend American and Latino cultural traditions, they will as well.