Men and Zumba!

dancer1178
dancer1178 Posts: 50
in Fitness and Exercise
I just had to share this story! So for the most part the response as a Zumba instructor that I get from men is that Zumba is not a workout, it's a dainty girls class, you know, all we do is wiggle around and shake are butts? Well, last night I had a man come into my class. I am talking a man's man. Beer guzzling, truck driving, and a relatively fit man. When I first heard that he wanted to take my class, I thought ok everyone must be drinking and they are busting my chops. Oh no, he came into my class and danced his butt off! He was sweating by the beginning of the second song and kept exclaiming "HOLY S*@T!" after each song ended. I heard everything from, "Oh that one had too many moves in it", to "that was hard! Is the next one easy?" Of course the ladies gave a good natured ribbing. He said he had an awesome workout, I kicked his butt and he'd be back next week with a buddy!


Moral of the story? Men...you need to give Zumba a try! :)
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Replies

  • PureAdamic
    PureAdamic Posts: 185
    Zumba would be contrary to my goals. I want a stiff rigid trunk, not one that wobbles. I want to lift hundreds of pounds not dance. I want to be strong not light on my feet.
  • StaticEntropy
    StaticEntropy Posts: 224 Member
    Anything is better than the hamster wheel.
  • mdn15
    mdn15 Posts: 145
    My opinion is that men want to build strength and muscles. So they are more interested in Boot camp/ crossfit type classes and heavy weights.

    Zumba is good for cardio, heart health, and sweating off calories.

    But it won't give guys the guns/ muscles they want...

    So don't think you'll get a rush of men into Zumba...
  • WDEvy
    WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
    I dragged my hubby last week to one of my classes. He had to admit it was a hell of a workout!
  • berriboobear
    berriboobear Posts: 524 Member
    There has never been a man in any of my classes... But I know all the ladies would love to have one ;)
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    I got ready for Army Ranger School using aerobics as part of my fitness routine and I was normally the only guy in the class. But it worked.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    No.
    You know how women are always posting here about how they are intimidated to venture into the free-weights part of the gym because it is all guys?
    Same thing.
    Only, we don't admit to being intimidated as well as women do . . . which makes trying something different and unconventional, for a male, well nigh impossible.
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    Love that! Until they do it they have no idea haha. I do the intermediate classes usually and though the advanced couldn't work me much harder but yup it worked me so freaking hard! So much fun and it's great exercise!
  • jo69
    jo69 Posts: 78 Member
    Zumba is no joke, it's a serious workout!! The moves are awesome....
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
    When I was in the military, one morning for PT we met at a gym and the captain's wife came out and said she was going to lead us through aerobics. Everyone started laughing and making jokes. She torched us for about 40 minutes, and at the end, no one was laughing anymore!

    However, it is still aerobics, and not something I'm interested in, I can get the same results doing other more masculine exercises. Same with Zumba. Sorry, I'm a lifelong alpha-male, I'm beyond help, lol!
  • cebiginalaska
    cebiginalaska Posts: 280 Member
    Zumba was okay. Hot woman instructors on the DVDs and I did sweat from doing the Zumba dancing stuff but I have "two left feet" so I started using other DVD workout routines.
    ginatanya.jpg:love:
  • jjscholar
    jjscholar Posts: 413 Member
    dancer1178 is right Zumba is for anyone... That is contrary to what a lot of guys think, Zumba is not for wimps...

    It is an actual workout... Zumba has improved my life for the better. When I started Zumba in January 2012, my heart's efficiency rating was only 27%... By December 2012, my heart's efficiency rating improved to 48%... In addition, my heart is less enlarged than it was in January 2012...

    In fact, I am such a fan of Zumba that on May 2, 2013, I had gone through the Zumba Basic 1 Instructor Training...
  • manhn1
    manhn1 Posts: 137 Member
    As a guy who does aerobics, I have enjoyed the few zumba classes I've done. But the success of zumba is a lot more dependent on the participants and instructor than other classes (i.e. cardio kickbox, step, bootcamp). If I were to get more guys to do aerobics, I would not have them do zumba first.
  • lewandt
    lewandt Posts: 566 Member
    The Zumba class i took had 3 men in it, 2 just like you described and one younger (20 ish), and very fit.

    I thought it was cool to see men in the class and they knew the steps better than a lot of the women there so they must go every week.
  • Unknown
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  • TigerBite
    TigerBite Posts: 611 Member
    Women tend to like a man who can (or isn't afraid to , even if he doesn't necessarily know how to) dance ... Remember that.
  • KevinS62
    KevinS62 Posts: 239 Member
    Fun to watch, but I got two left feet. Y'all would kick my *kitten* anyways,
  • michelefrench
    michelefrench Posts: 814 Member
    Quite a few men take classes at the studio i attend, including fireman!! Took awhile but they shake their tailfeathers quite nicely. ..
  • helpfit101
    helpfit101 Posts: 347 Member
    I used to do it with my wife at home. Fun! But I would not go to a normal class.
  • silken555
    silken555 Posts: 478 Member
    It's the same situation with Cardio Baladi. A poor guy got laughed at for asking if he could try (we were waiting for the previous class to finish and the door is next to the weights). I lit into the guys that laughed and told them that unless they wanted to take the class and find out what it was about they'd best shut their yaps. They were shocked that I spoke up I think but at least they were as embarassed as they made the guy feel.
  • ktliu
    ktliu Posts: 334 Member
    Zumba an awesome workout. It's really a serious workout with some dance moves thrown in for fun. It's as strenuous as you want it to be. If you take it seriously, A sub 200 pound guy can easily burn 900 plus calories in one hour. I am the only guy in my gym to do it consistently (2-3 times a week) and I have gotten to know some real cuties... Fringe benefit.
    The reason that guys don't dance is that they have inhibitions or lack of rhythm. If you have Rhythm. Join the fun. It's the quickest and most fun way to burn an hour worth of workout. And seriously, girls dancing by themselves are NOT natural. (The old Yin/Yang thing)Throw in a guy and the mixture is a lot more fun. Not a bad way to get to know some ladies. (BTW, I am happily married for 28 years) unfortunately my wife cannot dance to save her life. She's more of a endurance gal.

    As far as the old macho thing, what's more macho than being able to seduce a woman via dancing. Think Tango, Dirty Dancing, Footloose. not to mention the ultimate sex symbol, the Matador. Zumba have Paso Doble which is a matador dance.

    As for the "GUNS" factor. I usually throw in 2 session of weight training a week plus a class of PIYO in for flexibility and strength training. And a class of insanity just to keep myself humble.

    And people, don't forget Zumba is invented by a GUY (Beto Perez)

    And final thing get over yourself looking stupid, cause nobody is watching you. Everybody eyes is staring at the instructor.and frantically trying to keep up.
  • gfroniewski
    gfroniewski Posts: 168
    I keep getting confronted with the idea of trying Zumba; I may have to at least give it a try. Not something I would do normally since an optimum burn for a given time is the same no matter the activity, and I have my favorites already lol.
  • jsdcap
    jsdcap Posts: 46 Member
    Zumba is awesome and a lot of fun, its all how much you put into the class. I just wish I was Spanish so I would have rhythm and knew the basic moves. Its is not for just ladies there are about 4-6 guys that do Zumba classes regularly.
  • dancer1178
    dancer1178 Posts: 50
    dancer1178 is right Zumba is for anyone... That is contrary to what a lot of guys think, Zumba is not for wimps...

    It is an actual workout... Zumba has improved my life for the better. When I started Zumba in January 2012, my heart's efficiency rating was only 27%... By December 2012, my heart's efficiency rating improved to 48%... In addition, my heart is less enlarged than it was in January 2012...

    In fact, I am such a fan of Zumba that on May 2, 2013, I had gone through the Zumba Basic 1 Instructor Training...

    This is wonderful to hear!! I'm incredibly happy that you found something that you love and has made you healthier! Welcome to the instructor club! Love it!!


    COMPLETELY understanding that trying something new isn't easy and that most guys are looking just to get bulk...Zumba is a COMPLETE workout. Everyone needs a bit of cardio and Zumba also adds muscle tone. Especially if you go to a Zumba Toning class. There are other styles as well...Zumba Sentao, which adds the use of a chair...and so on an so forth!
  • dancer1178
    dancer1178 Posts: 50
    Zumba an awesome workout. It's really a serious workout with some dance moves thrown in for fun. It's as strenuous as you want it to be. If you take it seriously, A sub 200 pound guy can easily burn 900 plus calories in one hour. I am the only guy in my gym to do it consistently (2-3 times a week) and I have gotten to know some real cuties... Fringe benefit.
    The reason that guys don't dance is that they have inhibitions or lack of rhythm. If you have Rhythm. Join the fun. It's the quickest and most fun way to burn an hour worth of workout. And seriously, girls dancing by themselves are NOT natural. (The old Yin/Yang thing)Throw in a guy and the mixture is a lot more fun. Not a bad way to get to know some ladies. (BTW, I am happily married for 28 years) unfortunately my wife cannot dance to save her life. She's more of a endurance gal.

    As far as the old macho thing, what's more macho than being able to seduce a woman via dancing. Think Tango, Dirty Dancing, Footloose. not to mention the ultimate sex symbol, the Matador. Zumba have Paso Doble which is a matador dance.

    As for the "GUNS" factor. I usually throw in 2 session of weight training a week plus a class of PIYO in for flexibility and strength training. And a class of insanity just to keep myself humble.

    And people, don't forget Zumba is invented by a GUY (Beto Perez)

    And final thing get over yourself looking stupid, cause nobody is watching you. Everybody eyes is staring at the instructor.and frantically trying to keep up.

    This is true!!! Awesome!!!
  • michelefrench
    michelefrench Posts: 814 Member
    Was in class one day w/a man who had quite obviously been dragged there by his wife/girlfriend...he gave it his all though. on the way out I heard him say "I will NEVER call it your little dance class again" :happy:
  • pamelak5
    pamelak5 Posts: 327 Member
    It really depends on the class. Some Zumba classes seem to involve nothing more than shaking your bum around, and I have trouble getting my heart rate up. I've left a couple classes halfway through because the movements just weren't much exercise.

    But then I've been to some incredible Zumba classes that incorporate squat jumps and plyometrics - and those ones are AWESOME. And super fun. Fortunately, the first Zumba class I went to was great, so I didn't judge all classes by the more dancy/less sweaty ones I went to later.

    FWIW, I run and lift heavy but always make room for one Zumba or other dance class, and encourage others to do so as well :)
  • dancer1178
    dancer1178 Posts: 50
    Loving everyone's responses and it's so great to hear so many men loving it!

    As for the "girlish" moves...they aren't girlish, they are mostly latin :) as a few previous posters have said...women LOVE a man who can dance and at the very least love a man who doesn't care what he looks like. I'd say 90% of my students come in saying that have "two-left feet". It's just not true. By the middle of class they are following along just fine. If you have a good instructor, they should be "cueing" you to the next step and the routines should be repetitive so that by the end you have a vague idea. Same steps done on the verse, same steps on the chorus etc. It's also a stacking method. We start simple and add arms the next time the chorus comes around. We will then add a jump the next time. But if you aren't comfortable adding anything in yet, stay with the more simple step to you get that one. So many people think they have to copy the instructor to the tee that they don't realize that's almost impossible and you're there to just feel the music. And it's true, with anything else it's what you make out of it! Based off of someone weighing 150lbs, you can burn up to 700 calories in one class.
  • dancer1178
    dancer1178 Posts: 50
    It really depends on the class. Some Zumba classes seem to involve nothing more than shaking your bum around, and I have trouble getting my heart rate up. I've left a couple classes halfway through because the movements just weren't much exercise.

    But then I've been to some incredible Zumba classes that incorporate squat jumps and plyometrics - and those ones are AWESOME. And super fun. Fortunately, the first Zumba class I went to was great, so I didn't judge all classes by the more dancy/less sweaty ones I went to later.

    FWIW, I run and lift heavy but always make room for one Zumba or other dance class, and encourage others to do so as well :)

    This is definitely true as well! (and good to hear! :))


    You really do need to find a class that is right for you. I always say that when looking for ANY type of class that you should be sure your instructor is licensed or certified. With Zumba you want to be sure your instructor is a ZIN member or at the very least an active instructor. Not everyone is going to follow the "rules" unfortunately but you can sort out the bad from the good quite easily if you're willing to give it a chance.
  • Keiras_Mom
    Keiras_Mom Posts: 844 Member
    I have an awesome Zumba instructor and her class is always packed, with a wide variety of people. We have some classic "jock" types of men who come and really work hard. It's GREAT!

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