To Zumba or not to Zumba

[pjlippert]

So, I took my first Zumba class yesterday. I can see that it COULD be a really fun way to workout. Now, the annoying thing was that the instructor KNEW that 12 of the 14 ladies in the class had NEVER taken a Zumba class before. Her moves were soooo complicated and moved so quickly from one step to another that only her 2 'regular' students got it. I ended up leaving about 3/4 of the way through out of frustration and not being able to get my heartrate up sufficently. I was not the only one, either! I think there must be a BIG difference between a Zumba Dance class vs. a Zumba Fitness class.

Anybody else had a similar experience?

Pam

 

[chefkate]

No experience but wanted to say WHAT A BUMMER! those classes look like they would be so much fun! Too bad you got a lemon of a teacher! Maybe there is another class nearby you could take?

 

[Carmen829]

I started taking Zumba in February. There are only two rules in Zumba....keep moving and have fun. If you cant get the move do your own version of the move or march in place. In my class there are all fitness levels. It looks as if everyone gets a pretty good workout and you dont have to be coordinated or have any rhythm.

I say definately Zumba...try her again if it still does not click, try another instructor....but definately Zumba.

 

[Zozo]

I took my first Zumba class last week.. and i LOVED it.. but I wore my heartrate monitor.. and it looks about equal to a cathe warm up!" i was tons of fun.. but I will not replace my daily workout with it.. but add it on as a bonus

Hopefully, if you stick with it, you'll get more familiar with the moves But i can see how it'd be frustratinG!

 

[bitmover]

I would say keep trying -- maybe you'll get a different instructor? I have only taken two zumba classes (I live in the middle of nowhere and these happened by chance at my kids' school) and they were SO MUCH FUN!!! Hopefully you'll get a better go next time round.

 

[lrayburn]

I love Zumba but haven't found an instructor locally that I really click with (one is too slow, the other doesn't break things down enough). I've been playing with the idea of getting the videos. I do find that even though the classes don't get my heartrate up as high as some activities, they do provide a unique targeting and toning to the upper legs and thighs that other things don't give me. Since those are my problem areas, I think that's more important than getting my heartrate sky high.

Lisa

 

[NRG Woman]

I'm a Zumba instructor and I see what you mean. Let me start with for the most part I think that if you are fit enough to be easily be doing Cathe then most Zumba workouts would be more play than a workout for you.

I think much of the problem is how Zumba instructors are taught to teach the class. As instructors we are told not to cue. They tell us instructors that it is to keep the feel of a dance party. I personally strongly disagree. Most Zumba instructors don't have any experience teaching group fitness (a poll at both of my trainings showed 75% of the people being trained were not fitness instructors) and therefore don't know how to cue. It is a difficult skill. When I teach I always cue since (as was mentioned earlier) the steps are very complicated and students get lost and frustrated if I am just performing a dance they are supposed to follow. To me the class is about the students, not about me.

I think you would also be fairly disappointed with the videos. First of all one of the funnest parts of Zumba is that the whole group is playing together. So doing it alone in your workout space isn't as fun. Second the music is fast. I mean really, really fast...really, really fast! I teach Zumba, I know all of the steps and I seriously have difficulty keeping up the speed on a few of the classes. I get really frustrated that on the videos it sometimes feels more like they are proving that they can dance that fast or move in an interesting way and have no concern for the student and whether they enjoy the class or feel that sense of accomplishment when the video is over.

I would say keep hunting for a teacher. When I put together a class I do the entire thing with the student in mind. Sometimes I slow down the music to a reasonable speed so people can keep up with the choreography. I also change the choreography so it is straight forward enough so I can cue it properly and yet different enough so the students have fun with it.

I guess I am saying that there are so many variables in Zumba that if you keep searching around you will find the instructor that works for you.

Shayne

 

[Timber99]

I liked Zumba and had fun, and a great instructor, but I barely sweated at all and could tell my heart rate was rather low compared to other workouts. It was a fun, light workout for me but not something I would do regularly.

Look around - if you liked it and want to go back, you may find another instructor locally that is better for your style.

 

[syzygy314]

I like Zumba just for fun! It's nice to throw a workout that's not really a "workout" in there now and then just to change the pace. I love bellydance and that isn't much of a calorie burner either, but it does really work the core and release the body from the everyday tougher workouts we Cathletes like to do!

 

[pjlippert]

Okay, you have convinced me to check out some other instructors... ones who actually pay attention to the students! I will also go into the class with the expectation of having fun instead of concentrating on my heart-rate, etc..

Happy 5th of July!

Pam

 

[bitmover]

FWIW, the two times I did zumba I had done my regular morning workout first, so it was just a (really fun!) bonus workout.

 

[Calendar Girl]

I always tell people not to judge Zumba by the first class. I started back in November and I really didn't enjoy the first class, or the second, or the third. I kept going back to support a friend who was going. Well I don't know exactly when it happened but I really started to enjoy the classes and I didn't wnat ot miss any of them. I've gone to several different instructors and there is one who keeps things moving, we are all sweating buckets through out the workout. I haven't gone since May when I started Insanity but the first week that is done, I'm going back. I wonder if they miss me?

 

[Carmen829]

I just got back from a Tuesday night Zumba class. Tonight's class had a couple of songs that had some higher impact moves and some higher than usual aerobic moves. It was a sweat fest.

Carmen.