Tell me about your Zumba experiences

Jdismybug1

Good afternoon everyone!
Right now I'm doing Insanity. I am starting week 3 tomorrow.
Today being a rest day I ended up looking up Zumba on YouTube. I tried to keep up with videos, it's harder than it looks for me. I'm very uncoordinated in dance type situations.
I'm just curious what everyone's experiences were? Did you like it? Did you feel uncoordinated with fast paced classes/videos?

WendyLeigh1119

I take Zumba in person/class and also used to be a dancer. I'm still at total spazz at Zumba. But so is everyone else. It's fun and time flies dancing and trying to follow the moves... and suddenly the 60 minutes is over and you've burned 400 or more calories! I look forward to my Zumba days, even though I will probably never stop sucking at it.

kimothy38

I absolutely hated zumba when I first started, I so did not feel like a sexy mama flailing about to salsa music. Then I changed classes to a more hip hop type one and I love, love, love it. I have the attention span of Dory so get lost easily sometimes. I stand at the front so I can't see everyone else behind stuffing it up. I joined the gym purely for zumba classes because the instructor is so dang good.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

WendyLeigh1119 wrote: »

I take Zumba in person/class and also used to be a dancer. I'm still at total spazz at Zumba. But so is everyone else. It's fun and time flies dancing and trying to follow the moves... and suddenly the 60 minutes is over and you've burned 400 or more calories! I look forward to my Zumba days, even though I will probably never stop sucking at it.

I've done Zumba, and seen they types of workouts they do. 400+ calories would be a huge stretch, and that's if you are going at it HARD. It's more likely you are in the 250 range. Sorry to be the wet blanket. If you do want to be more accurate in calorie burns, though, I'd recommend investing in an HRM. It's the only way to get truly accurate calorie burns.

To answer your question OP, I would say that Zumba is definitely a step DOWN from Insanity in terms of intensity, calorie burns and overall quality of workout. Zumba can be fun if dancing is your thing, but honestly unless you're JUST starting to work out, it's not going to give you much bang for your time. Add it to your routine if you like it, but don't replace your Insanity with it. JMO.

WendyLeigh1119

I do wear a heart rate monitor 24-7. Thanks for the opinion, though. I know my calorie burns are accurate by my weight loss, as well.

Zumba burns anywhere from 350 to 600 calories per hour. And intensity has little to do with any particular class. It's about individual effort. The Instructor is a big part, too. But burn is dependent on if *you personally* are throwing every limb, muscle, and move into it. The person next to you might be going through the same moves... but keeping it low intensity. I also don't know what the OP weighs, so I wasn't trying to calculate her actual calories

I took Insanity Live. It was really boring for me, so no more of that. But I love the Les Mills classes and particularly Body Pump and Body Combat. I also take PiYo, Pilates, Kettlebell HIIT, Body Flow, Zumba Mash Up (Zumba with weights), Aqua Zumba, and Boot Camp. Basically, if classes are happening, I take them.

Zumba is a great workout and definitely fun. I see no reason to not recommend variety, as it's the best way to truly condition your body's strength, stability, cardio health, and flexibility.

Jdismybug1

AllOutof_Bubblegum wrote: »

WendyLeigh1119 wrote: »

I take Zumba in person/class and also used to be a dancer. I'm still at total spazz at Zumba. But so is everyone else. It's fun and time flies dancing and trying to follow the moves... and suddenly the 60 minutes is over and you've burned 400 or more calories! I look forward to my Zumba days, even though I will probably never stop sucking at it.

I've done Zumba, and seen they types of workouts they do. 400+ calories would be a huge stretch, and that's if you are going at it HARD. It's more likely you are in the 250 range. Sorry to be the wet blanket. If you do want to be more accurate in calorie burns, though, I'd recommend investing in an HRM. It's the only way to get truly accurate calorie burns.

To answer your question OP, I would say that Zumba is definitely a step DOWN from Insanity in terms of intensity, calorie burns and overall quality of workout. Zumba can be fun if dancing is your thing, but honestly unless you're JUST starting to work out, it's not going to give you much bang for your time. Add it to your routine if you like it, but don't replace your Insanity with it. JMO.

Thank you! I'm going to finish insanity first. I did insanity a few years ago with terrific results.
I've exercised on and off throughout my adult life.
I'm interested in Zumba mostly because it seems fun. I've been interested in dance since I can remember, just not very agile when it comes to dancing.

Jdismybug1

WendyLeigh1119 wrote: »

I do wear a heart rate monitor 24-7. Thanks for the opinion, though. I know my calorie burns are accurate by my weight loss, as well.

Zumba burns anywhere from 350 to 600 calories per hour. And intensity has little to do with any particular class. It's about individual effort. The Instructor is a big part, too. But burn is dependent on if *you personally* are throwing every limb, muscle, and move into it. The person next to you might be going through the same moves... but keeping it low intensity. I also don't know what the OP weighs, so I wasn't trying to calculate her actual calories

I took Insanity Live. It was really boring for me, so no more of that. But I love the Les Mills classes and particularly Body Pump and Body Combat. I also take PiYo, Pilates, Kettlebell HIIT, Body Flow, Zumba Mash Up (Zumba with weights), Aqua Zumba, and Boot Camp. Basically, if classes are happening, I take them.

Zumba is a great workout and definitely fun. I see no reason to not recommend variety, as it's the best way to truly condition your body's strength, stability, cardio health, and flexibility.

I'm 5'2 and 144 lbs. my HRM told me I burned 157 calories for 18 minutes.

firef1y72

AllOutof_Bubblegum wrote: »

I've done Zumba, and seen they types of workouts they do. 400+ calories would be a huge stretch, and that's if you are going at it HARD. It's more likely you are in the 250 range. Sorry to be the wet blanket. If you do want to be more accurate in calorie burns, though, I'd recommend investing in an HRM. It's the only way to get truly accurate calorie burns.

To answer your question OP, I would say that Zumba is definitely a step DOWN from Insanity in terms of intensity, calorie burns and overall quality of workout. Zumba can be fun if dancing is your thing, but honestly unless you're JUST starting to work out, it's not going to give you much bang for your time. Add it to your routine if you like it, but don't replace your Insanity with it. JMO.

I burn far more Calories in 45 minutes of Zumba than in 45 minutes of Insanity, but they really are chalk and cheese aren't they. I do Zumba because I enjoy the cardio aspect, I'm a useless dancer with 2 left feet, but I throw myself in to every move and burn around 350-400 Calories in 45 minutes (at 5'2"/161lb). On the other hand I enjoy the challenge of Insanity, steadily making progress in learning new rounds and getting stronger, the Calorie burn ends up being around 250-300 Calories for 45min.

Juniper210

I just started Zumba about a month ago and I'm really enjoying it. I went 5 times this week. It's a great workout and the time flies by. I'm not a dancer or very coordinated but I was picking up the moves pretty well by the second week of classes. I still have sections every class where I have no clue what they are doing but I just wing it until I figure it out.

It really is a lot of fun. Don't give up after the first class though. Give it a couple tries because it really does get easier to keep up.

kristikitter

The routines (in my experience) often last about 8 weeks or so, so once you've picked up a new routine you get better at it, and then you CRUSH it. It's great fun.

Jdismybug1

I burn far more Calories in 45 minutes of Zumba than in 45 minutes of Insanity, but they really are chalk and cheese aren't they. I do Zumba because I enjoy the cardio aspect, I'm a useless dancer with 2 left feet, but I throw myself in to every move and burn around 350-400 Calories in 45 minutes (at 5'2"/161lb). On the other hand I enjoy the challenge of Insanity, steadily making progress in learning new rounds and getting stronger, the Calorie burn ends up being around 250-300 Calories for 45min.

[/quote]

i have found I burn more with Insanity. Like 350-409 calories. So far.
I haven't tried an entire Zumba class yet. I did try a YouTube video.
I'm looking forward to it. I enjoy my insanity workout, I also liked what I tried yesterday too.
I might throw more Zumba in there after my insanity workouts depending on the day and how I'm feeling.

ladyhusker39

A tip someone told me about Zumba when I first tried it at the Y. Start by doing just the feet. It will take you a little time to get the hang of it. Once you don't have to think so hard about the steps add in the arms. It makes it a lot easier to learn because you're taking it in pieces. Once you get the moves, it becomes crazy fun and a great way to add more variety to your workout. I consistently burn 400-500 calories in a 50 minute class depending on how much I put into it. I'm 5'8" 180 lbs.

Jdismybug1

ladyhusker39 wrote: »

A tip someone told me about Zumba when I first tried it at the Y. Start by doing just the feet. It will take you a little time to get the hang of it. Once you don't have to think so hard about the steps add in the arms. It makes it a lot easier to learn because you're taking it in pieces. Once you get the moves, it becomes crazy fun and a great way to add more variety to your workout. I consistently burn 400-500 calories in a 50 minute class depending on how much I put into it. I'm 5'8" 180 lbs.

I'm going to try this. I like exercising all around. I was also thinking Zumba is something my 4 year old can do too. She's 4, so she loves dancing and trying exercises with me.

caco_ethes

Actual photo of me doing zumba.

I applaud you all.

Gabbysmum2014

Hi! Congrats on 3 weeks of Insanity! I tried Zumba many years ago and hated it. It didn't feel natural or comfortable to me, but I recently gave it another go and it was definitely the instructor. I am taking 2 instructors now and love them both but they are different. I sweat like crazy in both but one focuses more on toning by incorporating things like 30 burpees in a routine. It's definitely not a "blow off" workout as I have seen many walk out after a few songs, it's all about effort. You got this! :-)

shandy82165

I tried Zumba one time and hated it, but in hindsight that might have had more to do with the instructors than the type of exercise. I actually love dancing, but I admit I do tend to like my workouts to be asexual. I tend to not enjoy classes that use motivators like "shake you booty, girls!" ...blech.

I also felt left behind, again probably due to the instructor's incompetence. They didn't make any effort to try to show the newbies how to perform the moves, and it went so fast that most of the class I spent standing around feeling out of place. I consider myself fairly coordinated, and typically pick up moves quickly, but I just failed miserably at Zumba.

This thread is making me want to try it again, though, but maybe somewhere else besides Crunch Gym.

DresdenSinn

My first Zumba experience is when I walked in on my girlfriend while she was doing it..it was like a full body dry heave set to music..it wasn't pretty!

Juniper210

shandy82165 wrote: »

I tried Zumba one time and hated it, but in hindsight that might have had more to do with the instructors than the type of exercise. I actually love dancing, but I admit I do tend to like my workouts to be asexual. I tend to not enjoy classes that use motivators like "shake you booty, girls!" ...blech.

I also felt left behind, again probably due to the instructor's incompetence. They didn't make any effort to try to show the newbies how to perform the moves, and it went so fast that most of the class I spent standing around feeling out of place. I consider myself fairly coordinated, and typically pick up moves quickly, but I just failed miserably at Zumba.

This thread is making me want to try it again, though, but maybe somewhere else besides Crunch Gym.

Definitely try different instructors. I'm a crunch member to and in the month since I started doing Zumba I've tried all of my gyms instructors. There's two of them that I don't like. But the rest are great. One of the ones I don't like it's the most popular instructors they have but he just isn't for me. You gotta find the one that heels with your style.

lainy1979

I love Zumba! I do it twice a week, its a full on 60 minute class doing all sorts of different dance styles to banging music. Personally I'm a single mum so it's my time to let loose and get my freak on!! I don't see anybody else in the room I just dance my *kitten* off and sweat a tonne. The more familiar I become with the routines the harder I can work and really engage my muscles, I've been tonight and I can feel that I've worked my tummy. It's the only thing I've not got bored of since I've been on mfp.

WickAndArtoo

Oh I love Zumba, but yes I am super uncoordinated too, it's so embarrassing. I went to group classes which was even more embarrassing, but pretty much as long as you try and keep moving etc that's all that matters, the point is to have fun with the workout, so I just try not to overthink the fact that I'm getting all the dance moves wrong.

DebLaBounty

I go to a Zumba class three times a week at my gym, a different instructor each day. I like how you just lose yourself in the music and focus on the moves, the time just flies by. Nobody gives a rat's behind how anyone else is doing the moves, we're just anonymous people who jump around to hot tunes and sweat like crazy.

Jdismybug1

DresdenSinn wrote: »

My first Zumba experience is when I walked in on my girlfriend while she was doing it..it was like a full body dry heave set to music..it wasn't pretty!

After my insanity fit test today I did the same short videos over again. I probably looked similar to what you described. My SO didn't say anything and he wouldn't because I've seen him try to dance. Lol.

Jdismybug1

I think for me it will get fun once I've learned some moves. I tried again tonight, not as challenging as yesterday. I used to belly dance almost 10 years ago. It's obviously very different, but I think I'm going to like it.

Treehugger_88

I've gone through insanity twice and loved it! Its so intense. I've tried Zumba classes a few times and I'm so uncoordinated it was embarrassing and I hated it. I spent so much time trying to figure out the moves that I didn't get in a good workout at all.

bbell1985

I used zumba as a way to get a bit more active and back into the gym.

I was fairly good at it because I was a competition dancer as a kid and I'm a music teacher with a decent sense of rhythm. I'm the type that wants to be up front in class.

A lot has changed since then though! I no longer attend zumba classes.

MidModJenn

Gabbysmum2014 wrote: »

Hi! Congrats on 3 weeks of Insanity! I tried Zumba many years ago and hated it. It didn't feel natural or comfortable to me, but I recently gave it another go and it was definitely the instructor. I am taking 2 instructors now and love them both but they are different. I sweat like crazy in both but one focuses more on toning by incorporating things like 30 burpees in a routine. It's definitely not a "blow off" workout as I have seen many walk out after a few songs, it's all about effort. You got this! :-)

The instructor makes all the difference!!!! I've been to so many different Zumba classes over the years... some I've hated, and some I've loved. I've danced all my life, so I've found I most enjoy a local instructor who incorporates a lot of hip-hop and has some more advanced routines. Other friends of mine gravitate towards classes that have more "oldies" songs, or more bhangra. It's all personal preference, that's one of the reasons I love it so much!

clicketykeys

Jdismybug1 wrote: »

I think for me it will get fun once I've learned some moves. I tried again tonight, not as challenging as yesterday. I used to belly dance almost 10 years ago. It's obviously very different, but I think I'm going to like it.

I took belly dance lessons for a bit, and I found that it helped me with Zumba more than I thought. Even marching band, all the way back in high school. If you can find the beat, you'll be okay. Everything else just takes practice!

I take it you're doing this at home by following Youtube videos? Have you found any you've really liked?

Jdismybug1

clicketykeys wrote: »

Jdismybug1 wrote: »

I think for me it will get fun once I've learned some moves. I tried again tonight, not as challenging as yesterday. I used to belly dance almost 10 years ago. It's obviously very different, but I think I'm going to like it.

I took belly dance lessons for a bit, and I found that it helped me with Zumba more than I thought. Even marching band, all the way back in high school. If you can find the beat, you'll be okay. Everything else just takes practice!

I take it you're doing this at home by following Youtube videos? Have you found any you've really liked?

I've found two that I like so far. They're short 5 minute ones. No real instructions, I just follow along.
I've been trying to do everything at home. I always feel I have better success at home than the gym.
I do not like going to the gym.
For me about the time I get there, there's too many people, too much chaos, and no where to park. Lol.

peleroja

I mean, if it works for you, keep doing it.

It was NOT for me. I prefer higher intensity cardio for my cardio (I mostly run, with a bit of cycling) and so it felt like spinning my wheels a bit. Plus I'm not particularly coordinated so I look like a dingus dancing.

I've taken a few dance classes, some yoga, even hooping, and several different types of group fitness and overall I just don't think I'm a group exercise kinda person if the goal is actual exercise. I like taking a drop-in yoga class or a short session of dance classes with my friends but it's really for the social aspect. For fitness I'd rather be on my own, focused on myself and pushing myself independent of anyone else...plus I feel like an hour's run is a much harder workout for me than an hour of Zumba or whatever, no matter how hard I try to push myself. I dunno what my issue is but there you are.

Danicandothis

Love it! Best way to do cardio.

TorStar80

I didn't enjoy it. I just couldn't keep up with the moves, I'm pretty uncoordinated that way. I'd rather an elliptical or treadmill and some headphones.