Why don't guys do Zumba?

Ivey05131980

-Feminine dance moves
-lots of guys can't dance well
-ego

I actually like going to many types of group fitness classes, in which I am usually the only guy and I certainly don't mind the company, and I've become quite comfortable going to things like Group Power, Spinning, Yoga, Ripped, but Zumba seems to be at a whole other level that I'm just not comfortable with. Its probably the most feminine class at any gym. oh wait, there is a new one called Barre, which incorporates ballet movements for lower body toning, that one might take the cake.

This.

beautyonthebeach83

I don't care if I look like a bear getting electrocuted, I enjoy it.

:laugh:

dlrfit

I take a Zumba class with 2 male instructors who used to be gymnasts. There are always at least 100 people in the class and maybe 5-10% of the regulars are male. I think it boils down to the differences between male and female body compositions. My amateur opinion is that women naturally have a higher body fat percentage, so we need more cardio, and the majority of us see results when we do it. Men are leaner with a higher muscle percentage, so they need more strength training and they see results when they do that. I think if Zumba gave men big muscles, they'd do it.

mperrott2205

I'm a man. I am simple. Therefore, lifting weights makes me happy.

etoiles_argentees

I only dance when I'm drunk and that probably wouldn't go over very well in a Zumba class.

I have been meaning to attend a yoga class, but I still can't get over the idea that the chicks will think I'm there to creepily stare at them twisting themselves in half.

You are. We see you back there.

Oh! Old thread! Got all excited when I thought you were no longer banned.

86_Ohms

Zumba is marketed to those who don't prefer traditional work outs (either find them no fun or too confusing/hard). You get the hear the keywords when they market the commercial (fun/easy) like many other infomercials do.

I do just fine with my current work outs. For those who are obese or have no idea how to get an effective workout in, then yeah, go to Zumba.

Whipppets

On monday nights we do pump together and then I stay with my wife for zumba.. Its fun and lots of movement.
I can not do the hip movements or the shimmy stuff but I like watching it and trying my best.

MiloBloom83

I log lots of "zumba".

notenoughspeed

Because if I'm going to go dancing, I'm going to a night club.

Whipppets

Zumba is marketed to those who don't prefer traditional work outs (either find them no fun or too confusing/hard). You get the hear the keywords when they market the commercial (fun/easy) like many other infomercials do.

I do just fine with my current work outs. For those who are obese or have no idea how to get an effective workout in, then yeah, go to Zumba.

wow so I guess I am obese, gay or just wierd.. Maybe its just fun and you can burn calories doing zumba with beautiful
women all around you.

jlahorn

I've had two male Zumba instructors, both straight (I think) and they were *fantastic*, but they were subs. I wish they were permanent, because they made it a straight hard workout with none of the goofy shimmying that a few of my regular female instructors include. I know it's dance, but I am honestly trying to use it as a workout, not as a "dance party". I love Zumba, and the 55 minutes of cardio flies by, but sometimes I feel like I have to modify the choreography myself in order to get my heart rate up and work it like an athlete instead of a stripper. I can absolutely see men avoiding Zumba classes taught by some of these (very talented) women.

BeachIron

I'd rather do my own thing as I work out solely for me. When I lift I'm completely focused on what I'm doing, not looking around. When I run, I disappear into myself and my thoughts or into the music I listen to. I personally despise group workouts with a passion unless it's just me and one or two very similarly situated friends.

cindybowcut

When my daughter and I were going to Zumba our instructor was a man. It helped even more that he was a nice piece of eye candy. I thing that is why we continued going.

dandelyon

I don't know why, but I've never seen a man in my Zumba class.

The reason *I* started going is because I needed to do something, anything, in the dead of winter and here I am, in my tiny little village, when a Zumba class is offered 2 minutes from my house, right as I'm getting out of work, with a free class. So it was sort of a no brainer and has been a good workout for me.

I wish my husband would do Zumba because I am currently the least coordinated person in class and it would be nice to have someone else to screw up with

TribeHokie

While it it fun I think it's two things:
1) most of the guys I know don't dance in a mostly dark club unless they're completely tanked so getting them to dance in a well lit room while sobor is laughable.
2) As a group fit instructor I find that fitness classes are primarily a women's dominated world. Most the women I know love the group atmosphere . . . most of the men I know prefer to work out alone or with one other guy, they don't rove in gaggles.

LOL #1 = truthfact

Tony_Brewski

Who says they don't? Yeah that's right! I've done it.

Goddessmaker1

It looks fruity and I'm a chick. I abhor it. Much too frilly for my taste. I prefer lifting,cycle or something more male focused.

Joreanasaurous

I don't blame men for not doing it. I've been dragged to it by my friends a few times and found it boring. There are a lot more effective workouts I could do in half the time that would be twice as effective. And for me at least 10x more enjoyable than doing the ChaCha.

kevinjb1

I'd rather do my own thing as I work out solely for me. When I lift I'm completely focused on what I'm doing, not looking around. When I run, I disappear into myself and my thoughts or into the music I listen to. I personally despise group workouts with a passion unless it's just me and one or two very similarly situated friends.

That pretty much sums it up for me. I've done some classes before and just didn't get much out of them.

JustJennie1

I took a zumba class once and there were a few guys in it.

There were also guys who took the step aerobics and cardio kick classes.

cleotherio

I don't blame men for not doing it. I've been dragged to it by my friends a few times and found it boring. There are a lot more effective workouts I could do in half the time that would be twice as effective. And for me at least 10x more enjoyable than doing the ChaCha.

^^same here. It's just not for me. I actually have a stronger opinion about it, but I'll just leave it at that.

ninerbuff

Lol, it's funny but I think of it like the difference in strip clubs.

In a men's strip club, men like to sit by themselves and enjoy. In a women's strip club, it's a whooping and hollering. Kinda like the gym.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

SteelersFan7

I actually attend a Zumba class with several men. Their wives used to bring them along and when the wives stopped attending the husbands stayed. They are entertaining and the instructor will have them come to the front of the class and help lead certain songs. They're a pretty fun and rowdy bunch.

delaniecastillo

I'm a Zumba instructor, and I usually have 2-3 guys in my class from time to time.

Zumba is an incredibly awesome way to help with the cardio endurance - it's an interval-based cardio dance workout. Of course, that's if you're teaching it properly, which a lot of instructors don't seem to be doing (judging by what I've read on the Zumba boards).
One reason I think a lot of men don't do it is because a lot of the instructors tend to choreograph "sexy, hip-shaking" movements into their routines that feel quite unnatural for most straight men (even though I'd really LOVE to see them do it! What, I'm a healthy woman that likes looking at men!)

Keep in mind that the founder of Zumba is a man. There are thousands (more like tens of thousands) of Male Zumba Instructors....

....but it is seen as a very "feminine and sissy" activity.

Doesn't stop them from watching through the windows....

This this this. 1000%
When I used to teach Zumba (currently on a weight loss break but going to classes than teaching), there wasn't many men but the ones who went were always so much fun!

Laces_0ut

if im doing cardio id rather it be sport or focused training(sprints for example).

Toblave

I attend an early morning Zumba class. It's typically about 10 - 12 ladies and one older gentleman with the worst rhythm I've ever seen in a human but his smile and energy are infectious. He's been a fixture in this class since before I joined the group and earlier this week another older gentleman who I've seen watching us through the glass door finally came in and joined us. He stayed to the back of the class but seemed to be enjoying himself. I hope to see him in future classes.

But why don't more men do Zumba? It's fun. The workout is intense. There are a lot of jiggling boobs to watch if nothing else. Or am I stereotyping based on my admittedly limited point of view? Guys, please weigh in. :happy:

Because women assume they're either creepy or gay...and Zumba is not manly like picking things up and putting them down :-)

mdn15

I've noticed this for group fitness classes in general. Unless it's an abs class, or boot camp, (and occasionally yoga or hip hop choreography), guys seldom attend group fitness classes.

Most Group X classes are marketed to females so that they will join the gym. Most of the group X classes I attend are about 90-95% women.

I believe gyms have realized that most women do not look at the weight room when evaluating a gym. Women look at how many cardio machines there are and what classes are offered.

I evaluate a gym on how many squat racks there are and whether is a "wait" for them. I also look at whether the weight plates are new. I like a gym with a big weight room with a variety of free weights and weight machines.

I also believe that a lot of guys want to be "cut and jacked" and Zumba won't make that happen for them. The guys I know who do Zumba do it for the "views".

nonstopper

I have heard of guys doing it, but i think its because its full of women and might not feel the same as a gym lol but im sure the view is much better

carissar7

Considering that obtaining a Zumba instructor certification is very, very easy, I don't think it's a good enough workout, plain and simple. With that said, my friend owns her own fitness studio and teaches Zumba among a ton of other things, and she is very very good. When hiring new Zumba instructors, she said she interviewed over 100 applicants and only 4 of them she felt were worthy to teach a 20 minute mock trial class to see if her students liked them. There really are some horrific fitness instructors out there and considering how easy it is to be Zumba certified, it doesn't surprise me how many people think it is a sissy workout. Of course it depends on the instructor, and the individual as well. I can't tell you how many people I've met that complain they aren't losing weight when they don't push themselves enough. But I think that even with an amazing instructor, someone who already has an elite level of fitness will not benefit from it. The only thing that I can think of to be challenging is learning the choreography. In my eyes Zumba is marketed towards the average woman (and that is in no way a criticism), and if you're a man who is interested in building muscle (like most men are) while increasing strength and agility, doing dance-inspired cardio to Latin music is borderline useless to them, or anyone else with similar interests.

LolBroScience

its just... not manly.