Yeah that’s right. I’m a Zumba Hater. All I’ve heard for months (Hey, give me a break. I live in Northern Utah so it takes longer for stuff to catch on here) is, “Zumba is so much fun!” “Oh my God, have you tried Zumba?” “Did you hear Jolene lost 45 pounds just doing Zumba three times a week?” “Sorry I’m so sweaty. I just came from Zumba.” “No. I can’t meet you at 6. I’ve got Zumba.”
So finally I grudgingly went to Zumba class to find out for myself what the hullaballoo was about. As I walked down the hallway towards the fitness studio I could see the class starting to assemble, and holy crap if they weren’t all twenty-something’s with their hair all big and make-up done perfectly, wearing tank tops and mini-skirts. Gag. I’m walking straight into a fat girls nightmare: a room filled with thin, well-groomed chicks that can shake their groove thang without showing any jiggly bits.
I stopped. I actually came to a stop in that hallway and for a few seconds I considered heading back into the locker room, grabbing my stuff and heading for the safety of home. Who was I to brazenly walk into this thin-girls-only world and dare to aim for self-improvement? I took a deep breath and told myself to go fill up my water bottle. Aching for my friend who so wanted to be there with me but had to work, I remembered I had told a lot of people that I was coming to Zumba class tonight. People were going to hold me accountable even if I was ready to hide in a hole. And I really, really, really did not want to let myself down. So more-confidently-than-I-felt I walked determinedly into the fitness studio and made a beeline for the far back corner.
Thankfully more humble exercise enthusiasts quickly outnumbered the MTV-salsa-dancer-wannabes and I found my people. They welcomed me to my first Zumba class and all aglow with Zumba Love told me to just have fun and not get frustrated. They said, “You’ll be amazed at how quickly you catch on and in a few weeks you’ll know all of the moves.” And with that the music started.
I studied ballet as a child and was a twice-weekly step aerobics buff so I’m not without coordination and a basic understanding of counting. I found most of the moves easy and caught on quickly. Okay, so I never looked at myself in the mirror and why would I? I had morphed into my Size 2 self (the one that was encased in a fat girl’s body by a wicked witch) and I was not about to shatter my resolve by glancing at my Size 24 body. That would have crushed me. So I meringued and sashayed and hip-hopped through the hour-long class in a packed room where the furnace was on and the temperature was nearing 74 degrees (not a normal occurrence I was repeatedly assured). I got my heart rate into my 80-85% max range and held it there.
When the class concluded my surrounding classmates all converged to giddily congratulate me on finishing my first class and ask me what I thought of it. Sweaty and red-faced I thanked them and said, “Yeah, it was good! I did much better than I thought I would.” Blah, blah, blah.
But you know what? I wasn’t oozing Zumba Love. My eyes weren’t sparkling with Zumba-ness. I didn’t have the urge to transform myself into Charo, or run through the streets proclaiming to strangers that, “You MUST try Zumba!” In fact, I was quite underwhelmed. I don’t get what all the fuss is about. And that got me thinking. Are the most vocal Zumba enthusiasts too young to have taken an aerobics class? That’s what Zumba reminded me of: a ‘90’s aerobics class.
Since I’m not averse to doing things I don’t enjoy, I will make Zumba a weekly activity. Why not? What else have I got to do on a Tuesday night? Stay home and watch Glee? Nah. The DVR has me covered so instead I’ll see if I can’t find my inner Charo.
And you? Have you tried Zumba? Are you a Zumba devotee? Did you ever take an aerobics class in the ‘90s? What is your favorite activity these days? Do any of your get-fit activities make you want to run through the streets encouraging strangers to take it up for themselves?
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not to be nitpicky, but wasn’t aerobics an 80s thing? with the legwarmers and all that? regardless, i haven’t tried zumba but equating with aerobics pretty much would make me run the other direction.
Rest assured I’ve not seen legwarmers at my Zumba class. And yes the ’80s aerobics craze did popularize the leotard and legwarmer look which wasn’t present in the ’90s aerobics classes (thankfully).
I’m 26, I’ve taken many other aerobics classes, and I’ve taken Zumba from many different instructors. I’ve noticed a big difference depending on the age and dance background of the instructor. I’ve had older instructors used to teaching regular aerobics, and that made the class feel like just that–90′s low impact aerobics. But I’ve also had classes taught by people with clear Latin dance backgrounds, and I loved it because the pace was much faster than a typical aerobics class, I felt like I was in a music video, and it reminded me of my time studying abroad in Chile. Real Latin dance is just a totally different pace than most dances we are used to, and I think that’s what sets good Zumba classes apart.
Now I’m going to try a class from a different instructor. Thanks for sharing the differences you’ve noticed in classes.
I LOVE that you feel like you’re in a music video while doing Zumba! I’m gonna stick with classes so I can learn the steps to get to that feeling too. Zumba on!
Jenna, I’m late to the party but I could not agree with you more about the pace of the class and being able to tell when someone has a background in or experience with Latin dance!
I’ve done Zumba once in Stockholm a few mos ago. Friend we visited there talked us into going and hubby was the only guy in the class. It was fine (and I’m glad he has a sense of humor and confidence, he cracked me up (and others laughed as well)). I don’t feel like my heart rate really got high enough (didn’t wear a monitor) for me to consider it a regular workout option, but it was a fine way to spend an hour. But I’m also not a convert and have never sought out a class in the US. But sure, I’d go with a friend for company if he/she wanted me to. And I’m glad I tried it!
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Carina that is just too cool that you can say, “Yeah I tried Zumba once when I was in Stockholm.”
What a dear sweet hubby to accompany you to Zumba class. FitHub refuses to dance anywhere but in a club and since the closest club to us is over a mountain pass and a good 80 miles away, he doesn’t dance often.
I did wear my heart rate monitor and was able to burn 702 calories in 50 minutes. I KNOW I can increase the burn once I learn the steps but overall I think that’s a good burn for 50 minutes of dancing.
THANK GOD someone else feels/felt the same way about Zumba. I have friends that treat Zumba like it’s their next hit of some magic drug that I’m not an addict of. “Sorry cant EVER make plans on Tuesday & Thursday, I have Zumba.” I have no rythm, maybe that’s my fear. But I also just have no interest in it, I’ve watched the videos on Youtube…I’ve even watched a little Zumba on ONDEMAND on cable, but still had no desire.
I am glad you tried it though, it was nice to get an honest opinion instead of “OMG Zumba is the new Dylan McKay…it’s even better than 90210″ (nice 90′s reference right?)
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Hahahahahahahaha. You crack me up and I TOTALLY got the Dylan reference because when I wasn’t attending ’90s aerobics classes I was watching 90210. And yes, I admit it. I also watched Melrose Place.
Wait. You live in Northern Utah? I thought you lived in Seattle. I live in Salt Lake City.
I have never tried Zumba but I am glad to hear that someone isn’t enamored with it. I’m kind of tired of hearing about Zumba, frankly.
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OK, I suddenly figured out this is a guest post!
I’ll try not to feel too dumb. 
Wendy recently posted..My Calories
Hi Wendy! Great to meet another Utahan out here in the healthy living blogosphere. Snow, can you believe it? I’m not exactly jumping for joy that it’s snowing today but I really am trying hard not to complain because we have enjoyed such a sunny, warm autumn. Ya know?
If you get a chance, give Zumba a try. I mean why not? It’ll be something new and different.
I know! The snow kinda put a damper on my attitude today. We have had such gorgeous weather, I guess I was starting to get spoiled. It is just so cold and hard to run outside in the snow. If the winters weren’t so long here, I probably wouldn’t be so bummed. But, the sun is shining and that is BEAUTIFUL!
I’m terribly uncoordinated and hate dancing, so I doubt I will ever try zumba.
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You’re a runner! I am in awe of all you runners. I tried the C25K program last winter and was LOVING it until I messed up my hip. I will definitely give running a try again when I lose more weight. Do you train indoors during the winter months or do you get outside and ski/snowboard?
I run on the treadmill for the most part during the winter. But some winter days are good enough to run outdoors. And I have run outside in the bad winter weather, too. I really hate the treadmill, so it feels nice to get outdoors even if it is chilly.
I do not ski or snowboard. I do like to cycle, but haven’t for a couple of months. I will do a bike race or two next year and a friend of mine is trying to get me to do a mini triathlon next August. If I do that, we’ll start swimming soon (indoors, of course!) too. But I am not sold on a tri yet.
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Wendy, if it makes you feel any better I hate to run in the winter here, and our version of “winter” is usually temps in the 40s/50s and drizzly rain. Ugh. The gray is just SO unmotivating!
I love MY Zumba class, but I have also been to others that aren’t so great. (Too bad mine is CANCELED now since my stupid gym closed down!) The instructor that I love teaches Zumba with a hip-hop influence, I guess is how I’d describe it. So the beats are awesome and the dance just has attitude. I have been to another class with a different instructor that is much more “classical” in terms of sticking mostly to actual Latin dance “steps” and not only was it less fun, it was less of a workout.
Anyhow, I think it’s awesome that you are sticking with it for the benefits it can give you, and I also think it’s awesome not to “drink the Kool-Aid” and jump on the bandwagon just because other are doing it, you know?
I was in Jazzercise in the 80s, then went to aerobics, and now Zumba. I love Zumba – but it all depends on the instructor for me. I only go to one person on Wednesday nights – the others are fine and I still enjoy it but not like Wed, nights.
Also, there’s a great mix of ages in the class – from 18 to women in their 60s.
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Hehehehe – jazzercise in the ’80s. Speaking of ’80s aerobics, did you have the Jane Fonda Workout album? My mom had this and I can remember she, my sister and I all rocking out to the Jackson 5, REO Speedwagon, etc. while scissoring our legs along with Jane. Too funny!
As for Zumba instructors, I adore my Zumba instructor: she’s spunky. Enjoy your class!
I’ve never taken Zumba. Of the classesmy gym offers it’s not one I’m interested in. But I hear ya–part of the reason I dislike classes is the makeup wearing girls in size zero clothes…but it won’t kill me to find out for myself!
Lisa I say give it a try! You just might like it. And since that first class I’ve met the MTV-Salsa-dancer wannabes and they’re super sweet in addition to being gorgeous dancers.
I have heard the same thing from so many people so I decided to get the DVD to check it out. It’s on it’s way to me (thanks netflix) and I will see how it goes. I am too chicken to shake my thang in front of people. But if I like it, maybe I will get the courage I need to join a class.
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What a wonderful idea Marisol to get a DVD from netflix and give it a try at home. Let us know what you think! And like everyone keeps telling me, don’t get discouraged if you spend your first few times jumping around like a spaz trying to follow along. You will pick it up just keep trying. Have fun!
okay wendy don’t feel too bad…cause when betsy said “My size 24 body” my first thought was…wait a second, Val is under 200…I started at 262 in a size 24…either she likes loose clothing or she needs to go shopping.” Then I realized it was a guest post…lol.
So you aren’t the only one who forgot. That being said I haven’t tried it and doubt I will. They give free classes on post but it is so crowded it would be like going to europe and watching a soccer game around one of those public tvs.
No room to move.
Love this post.
Hahaha Chris! Glad I am not the only one.
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Loved this post! I haven’t tried Zumba yet…I live in the middle of nowhere, so it’s just not an option. Either way, love it!
I so understand not having tried Zumba yet because you live in the middle of nowhere. Like I said in my post, it took Zumba until this past year to reach my area so maybe you can jump on the Zumba craze next decade? Or you can check out the videos. If no Zumba classes in your area, do you attend fitness classes or do you exercise on your own?
I hate zumba….I AM one f thos ewithout coordination or natural rhythm…my trainer happens to teach zumba too and always wants me to give it one more try….not thanks….4 times is enough to KNOW I do not like it and it just makes me feel inept….
But running….anyone can run!!! and should!!hahahhah
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Hi Kim! See this is why it is superfantabulous to have options and choices. I am not a lover of running and find it very painful. But Zumba is growing on me and I’m enjoying it more and more with each class.
I think it’s great that you gave Zumba, something new, a try even if it didn’t turn out to be your thing. Now you can throw your energy into running.
Zumba is almost like a cult here sometimes, ha. Here’s why I hate zumba. Our instructor has NO sense of musical count or timing. She is a latina so she understands the actual moves very well and is quite talented at performing them BUT has no sense of when a beat starts or stops and it drives me nuts to the point I cannot tolerate the class. Also, rather than using the complete routines in a can provided by zumba inc, it is only partially the canned routines, mostly just random latin moves. You cannot anticipate at all what is coming next or when it is going to happen. Now, I am no dancer but my standards are just a bit higher than this so I don’t go any longer. I think it is fine for true exercise beginners but not if you have any cardio endurance.
Hey cswinney! I would find Zumba cringe-worthy too if my instructor was as bad as you describe the woman who taught your class. It sounds rather dreadful to have an instructor who isn’t following the beat of the music. She sounds like quite a free spirit which is fun for clubbing but not so much for leading a class. It sounds like opting out of her class was a good choice for you.
I’m happy to say that my Zumba instructor IS able to follow the beat of the music, and count, and DOES the same moves week after week. All of this means that I have picked up the dances and am now able to really crank up my intensity during the class and I’m loving it. Yes. I. Am. Loving. Zumba. BUT. I am not running around town awash in Zumba Love. I have my limits.
Fascinating to find the number of people who ‘hate’ zumba. I am probably in the minority in most classes I have attended, being halfway through my fifth decade. However, in my youth I was crazy athletic. For kicks I rode my 10-speed to school in jr high rather than ride the bus for the 7-mile ride…Yah, not far, but that’s where my heart was – fitness. In my 40s I crewed extensively and competitively but life sucked up the time for that. I recall tossing sand on the boat ramps that were glittering with frost, dropping the ’8′ in the river, grabbing those freezing oars, and moving out for 10 minutes before we stopped, disrobed down to tanks, and rowed for another 50 minutes — all this with a major frost in the air. Jazzercise and plain old aerobics instructed by a former military drill sargeant allowed me to appear normal a short 2 mos after the delivery of my second child in my mid 20s.
A year and a half ago I invested in an expensive treadmill which I immediately despised. Somehow counting steps for an hour was just the most boring and unchallenging thing in the world, even when I stepped on it having nearly reached a disgusting sz 18 pant size, … and knowing that a time commitment of 30 minutes twice a day would allow me to easily get back in shape. The sound of the thing sucked the enthusiasm out of me after about 3 sessions…even with the discpline I have when it comes to “just doing it” when it’s the right thing to do.
Feeling pretty sorry for myself, in the throes of menopause, thyroid failure, and a sedentary job (thankfully working at home) I finally succumbed to the almost ‘pleading’ from a good friend about zumba. We are fortunate to have a facility in our small town (a boys & girls club) with a community room and teachers who make themselves available in the mornings, and for just $5 a class. (I am not one who believes in spending a fortune for a gym membership, which just basically turns into a guilt card I carry around with me when I don’t get my money’s worth because I hate gyms and don’t go…) So I figure, for $5 I’ll give it a try.
At this club there are 3 instructors who lead different classes at different times of the day. I tried one class where the instructor had an attitude like this: “I know you’re new. I know how to do this. You can pay $5 to watch me…but don’t expect me to provide any guidance at all, to slow down or to explain my fancy dance moves.” with a history of blown out knees, that was not the class for me. Strike one for zumba. “Okay,” my friend says, “Yah, she’s a little difficult, maybe for more advanced dancers. But you should come back tomorrow morning for So-and-So’s class – she is very, very good, a fun little Latina woman. She’s my favorite.” Okay, I say, I’ll give it another try.
Well, that was last summer. I became a committed student of zumba because of the instructor. Granted, I am a musician with a very good sense of rhythm, and some pretty good dance moves…but I am NOT a 20-something with a pony tail pulled thru my baseball cap, wearing a cropped top and droopy sweats. If I worried about that everywhere I went, I’d be trashing myself all the time.
When I made the commitment to do zumba, ultimately I made it for me, though the first time I went I was more or less placating a friend who drove me nuts suggesting I go. I will be certified to instruct this month. I am THE poster child for zumba. I advocate extensively for it with women who are in the 50s and 60s who feel like there is nothing for them as far as fitness. People look at me, my 25-pound lighter body, the spring in my step, improved posture, the sparkle in my eye, the neverending smile, and ask what the heck I’ve been doing to achieve this new me. I will be opening a studio offering private and semi-private classes for people who would NEVER dare step into a foreign environment full of size 0 20-somethings who apparently have nothing else to do in their life but their hair and makeup and shop at Nordstrom.
As an aside, my blood pressure is down 14 pounds, the scale says I weigh 25 pounds less than I did in September, and if someone had told me it would be this much fun, I would have said they were lying. Yah, I’m the granny driving around with Enrique Iglesias and Shakira blasting on my stereo, working on choreography, getting those little endorphin rushes, and in general loving life a lot more.
No, I don’t hate zumba. It has changed my life. Say what you will about people who go around proselytizing about zumba…I will go forward with it in my arsenal and maybe change a few lives in the meantime.
re: my first post. Of course my BP is down 14 points, not 14 pounds. Can’t be right all the time I guess….
Wow, I’m shocked by your post. Not only by the fact that you hate Zumba, but by the fact that the girls were dressed that way in the class. Maybe that’s a Utah thing? LOL.
I remember those aerobics classes in the 80s/90s and I think Zumba is soooo much more fun than any of those ever were because it has better music, dance moves, and it makes me smile throughout the class. Those other aerobics classes were things to be “gotten through” not things that made me smile.
I do have an excellent instructor, though, and just like any class, that really makes all the difference.
But I really appreciate you sharing your opinion, because it just brings up the point that each of us have to find our own “thing” with exercise.
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Um…I tried Zumba w/different instructors & disliked it both times & I LOVE to dance & am actually good at it. THEN I tried WATER ZUMBA…LOVE IT!!! I can do everything the small girls can do & actually get better results b/c of the resistance the water offers…It’s like Zumba & weight lifting wrapped into one.
I found this page on accident but am absolutely loving it, all of the different perceptions of Zumba Fitness.
I too was one of those people on a journey to loose weight and willing to try anything, I had never heard of Zumba until my girlfriend asked me to go to this new class at the gym( primarily because she was too chicken to go by herself) I reluctantly did and NO I did not fall in love with it but it was different and I continued to go.
What I did fall in love with was the acceptance within the class and the positive vibe, I was in a class full of different sizes, shapes and colors.
It has been 3 years now and I have since became a Zumba Fitness instructor, I absolutely agree that each instructor is very different. I have no formal dance background but I do have a background in being overweight and I know how intimidating a fitness class can be, I remember that every class I step into teach. I do not have lot’s of Hip-Hop on my playlist (my studio offers Hip-Hop classes for that) but I do spend lots of time researching Latin/Internantional rythms that bring just as much funk into my classes. I love the openness and place of freedom my Zumba classes provide.
Oh, yeah and as for the MTV video chicks, there is none of that in my class LOL I have been to a class or two where I have seen it tho, kinda funny, who goes to workout with full makeup on LOL not me I sweat too much to be wastin good foundation and eye shadow LOL. Betsy as I read your story on your first class experience my stomach and heart sank it was almost like being there with you , I am glad you took one for the team LOL!
I think all of the hooplah about Zumba is just that people all over the world have had a workout experience that for them didnt seem like working out and I dont know about you but that was what I was looking for so many years ago, the quick fix only with Zumba you really do see the results.
I have since lost 50lbs and went from a size 16 to a 7 I have not changed my eating habbits that much and am still working on that but I just know it worked for me, I love it and I could say that even before becoming and instructor, actually when I became an instructor it was just a personal challenge not to actually teach oh no, not me but I guess it was just in the cards. I love it and wouldnt change a thing.
I have such a diverse class from young to old from the skinny girls to my thicky chicks, loud to quiet I love each and everyone of them.
I have definately found my niche with Zumba Fitness
Thank you for this page
Up through my early 30′s I was a size 2-4. Unfortunately I landed myself a job that ultimately drove any sense of positive self right into the ground. With that being said, I turned to food for consolation and gained 100 lbs of self hatred along with it. (in 7 yrs) One day I realized I’m literally killing myself over a stupid job and decided I needed to get back to who I really am; an athletic and energetic person. So I drank the Zumba kool-aid and am IN LOVE!!!! I have a very long journey ahead of me but in a month of Zumba, I’ve already lost 15 lbs! We (hubby and I) just ordered the new set and we can’t wait to learn more moves! For those girls and boys afraid of “going public” I must recommend the DVD sets. I’ve bought other DVDs in the past but these are different! They’re wildly addictive and fun..plus you are in the privacy of your own home. I now do the Cardio Party once a day and I often add another toning workout in as well. If it can get my butt off the sofa, it’ll surely work for anyone! GO ZUMBA (the meth of exercise) and GO ME (for finding my true self again)! BTW…I quit my toxic job!
This makes me want to try it now FOR REAL! I’ve been afraid of being the fat girl who couldn’t keep up, I wanna love zumba too!
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DO IT! You will love it! It changes people from the inside out!
I’ve been a fitness instructor for 19 years. I’ve taught many types of classes and have taken many just as well. Zumba is a great workout for the beginner exerciser or someone that just wants a little fitness in their life without pushing themselves too much. It’s fun because it’s dancy but the tons of rotation with the hips, ankles and knees is horrible for those joints and with the smaller moves (not large moves like carrying your body through large ranges of motion) it isn’t overly hard. If your someone that is always in comepetition with yourself and striving to push your physical capacity then you’d definitely need some other sort of cardio workout that is higher intensity, faster or requiring more large movements. I don’t care for Zumba. I’ve taken several classes and tried out several teachers and never left feeeling spent, or like I had a real hard but good workout. But, that’s just my take. I am however tired of all the fitness facilites replacing everything with Zumba. I know some people like it, but many do not and the gyms are losing all those people. As far as aerobics – that term only means in the presence of oxygen. Basically a cardio workout that is sustained be in step, swimming, running, hi – lo classes etc….. The fashion is up to you !!
Whether or not a Zumba class is a good cardio workout really depends on the teacher and how much effort you put into it. I’m in my forties. I’m not athletic but I’ve been active all my life and I love to dance. I don’t drive so I walk everywhere, and I used to ride my bike everywhere until I left my 30′s and realized I wasn’t immortal. I have a ton of energy, great stamina. I workout 7 days a week and twice a day during the work week. I’ve gone to Zumba classes that I could have done in my sleep they were so non-challenging cardio-wise. I’ve also gone to Zumba classes where I was absolutely wrung out, in a good way.
I go to a class taught by a man who also does capoeira (Hope I spelled the right.). His classes are very rigorous. I am soaked and spent afterward. I absolutely love his classes.
I’ve also gone to other classes where the teacher didn’t have any rhythm and/or much stamina. Those classes sucked.
To like Zumba it helps to have rhythm or at least to enjoy music. If I don’t like the music, I tend not to like the class much either.
Zumba is fun for the new or someone that wants a little fitness but all classes are not filled with dancy, hip rolling routines. All instructors are not created equal, this is the misconception of Zumba, one might walk into a class that is predomanately Hip-Hop (which by the way is NOT Zumba formula) and say what the heck is this, I dont want to do that, or one may walk into a class where the instructor is not dancey, there are hundreds of instructors out there you just have to find the right fit.
My class is not dancy or full of hip rolling, ankle twisting or knee twirking and quite contrary to your post my people get a HUGE push.
Zumba isnt a gimic workout, there maybe some that dont like it, in my experience at the gyms I found that the only instructors that didnt like it where the ones that Zumba was taking class numbers from. It is not designed to be so hard that you cant do it or intimidating to the students, it is suppose to be fun exercise in disguise and just for a little side not on the ” Zumba is a great workout for the beginner exerciser or someone that just wants a little fitness in their life without pushing themselves too much. It’s fun because it’s dancy but the tons of rotation with the hips, ankles and knees is horrible for those joints and with the smaller moves (not large moves like carrying your body through large ranges of motion) it isn’t overly hard. If your someone that is always in comepetition with yourself and striving to push your physical capacity then you’d definitely need some other sort of cardio workout that is higher intensity, faster or requiring more large movements.” We burn on average no less than 800 calories in my class and yes, that is one class (1hr) I have all types of people in my classes from the beginner to the sports fanatic.
Sorry your experience did not live up to your expectations but please do not rate all classes on based upon the class you took it actually discourages students to hear its DANCEY or lo to med intensity, your workout is what YOU make it!
Peace and Luv
Sorry, I’m not putting down Zumba completely. But, the 800 calories thing ??? Maybe for the more fit person yes or a larger person that naturally burns more, but I guarantee if you put on a calorie counter and input your information in correctly the “average” person won’t get close to 800 calories. I know this because honestly, some of my best friends wear their heart rate monitors for everything they do and some of them love Zumba and haven’t gotten to 800 calories. Yes, some might as with ANY exercise, but many will not and I would not go around promising that. My experiences didn’t live up to expectations because I had no expectations. I LOVE to workout to many different styles of fitness and after several classes and instructors to try this out it just wasn’t that great. Also, two physical therapists I have close contact with have seen a huge rise in hip problems with Zumba. Fact !!
I LOVE the conversation that this post has sparked – thanks for the great comments, all!
As a fitness instructor I’ve learned that there are as many tastes out there as people. For many years I was a long distance runner, but running took its toll on my body so I had to give it up. For the last 7 years I’ve been a rope jumper (I created Punk Rope) and so far so good. We each need to find that activity or set of activities that light a fire within. My big thing is making a class feel like playtime and making each student feel very comfortable and welcome regardless of their size, shape, age, or fitness level. To Zumba’s credit, it has motivated a large number of people to get off their butts. But to its detriment, some of the information it puts out about caloric expenditure is blatantly false.
Very funny. I could have written this article. I’m in the Seattle metro area and my first Zumba class was last night (Tuesday) and I felt pretty much the same way. it was fun and I’ll be happy to do it every Tuesday night as a way to add cardio to my routine. However, with all the hoopla, I guess I was expecting more. I really felt it was an 80′s aerobics class with latin music. Nothing really new. My class didn’t have all young ladies in it, but I was one of the bigger gals. I felt the same way at the end and also said, “It was good! I did much better than I thought I would.” My husband asked how it went and I said, “Imagine dancing in a sauna.” I wouldn’t call myself a hater. However, I prefer strength training and HIIT on my treadmill. I’ll keep going once a week to change it up. Maybe things will change.