Should I attempt a Zumba class?

jen7eleven
jen7eleven Posts: 83 Member
edited December 19 in Fitness and Exercise
The gym I go to is [finally] offering Zumba in their class line-up. I'm veeerrry shy and easily embarrassed when it comes to things like this, which is why as much as I wanted to try zumba I just kept putting it off.

If I do go, does anyone have advice for a newbie? :blushing:

I think I'm just very self-conscious about being chubby and lacking overall coordination aka looking like a fool.
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Replies

  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    Nobody gets all the moves at first. You would be surprised at how often people modify moves even after they has been going awhile. Often instructors will change it up a bit to keep it challenging. That means even veterans won't always get every move right. After a few classes, you will start to pick out common moves and it is easier to follow. But right away you can start moving and grooving and having fun. You need to focus on that part. People are too busy keeping up and enjoying their own graceless grooving to worry about others. Having said that, I do peek. I laugh because I realize we are all in the same boat and slightly different. Yes there are people who are naturally good at it and look graceful but I don't find that to be true of most Zumba enthusiasts, at least not all the time. You will be surprised at how much better you get after just a few sessions! It is definitely a work out. I recommend bringing a water bottle to sip between songs.

    The key is to have fun and not worry and go at least 3 times before making up your mind. I have gotten others addicted. It really is a blast and you burn a lot of calories!
  • jen7eleven
    jen7eleven Posts: 83 Member
    thank you!!
  • cjv428
    cjv428 Posts: 124
    Zumba is seriously the most fun cardio class I have ever come across. No one in the class is going to be watching you because they'll be focused on themselves, but I also wouldn't recommend going to the front of the class. Just try it! You'll have a blast if the instructor is good. The music is awesome and the atmosphere is so energetic. Plus it's really fun to watch yourself shake it and my mom swears by it for her weight loss.
  • bjfrezell
    bjfrezell Posts: 241
    I was so terrified of starting because I'm chubby. But I started Zumba and love it. I stand near the back to prevent those who are better than me from having me bump into them. The point isn't necessarily to do all the moves all the time. The point is to keep moving in class and do the best you can. Enjoy!
  • gigibenton
    gigibenton Posts: 123 Member
    Just started zumba myself. Take a friend and you'll feel less self conscious. I call it my flopping around class...I am seriously bad but I sure do love it.:smile: :
  • oomalmal
    oomalmal Posts: 219 Member
    HECK YEA!!!

    If you're worried about somebody looking at you, don't. Most people are to busy looking at the instructor making sure they get the steps right.

    Only cardio I've ever stuck with.
  • AABru
    AABru Posts: 610 Member
    Try it! I spend most of the class sweating and laughing out loud at my mental picture of myself looking foolish. I have a great time, and love the music. Most people are so concerned with trying to get the moves correct, they won't even notice you! DO IT! You will not regret it!
  • kaklos
    kaklos Posts: 13
    YES! I have been going to Zumba for about a year and a half and LOVE IT! I am not exactly a "fit" girl myself and I really love it. Give a try and keep at it!
  • cressievargo
    cressievargo Posts: 392 Member
    I've been wondering this, too. I have the DVDs - and seriously - I look like a drunken fool - but at least it's in the privacy of my living room, KWIM?
    But I've really wanted to go out and do the class - more for the socialization (being a SAHM, well, I'd like to meet adults haha), but afraid of looking...well, like a fat drunken fool.
  • nszocinski
    nszocinski Posts: 156 Member
    Does your center offer Aqua Zumba? That's how I started. My next step will be Zumba Gold and then regular Zumba. It's great fun!
  • missgabriella22
    missgabriella22 Posts: 30
    GO FOR IT!! I absolutely love it! Like others have previously said, everyone is pretty much focusing on themselves and trying to get down the moves! I go to several different classes in my area, and the people that go range from every shape and size under the sun, including all different age groups! I have so much fun when I go, especially when they play the music I love. If you can, grab a friend and just try it out, I'm sure you will not be disappointed!! :)
  • fitnsexy23
    fitnsexy23 Posts: 1
    Truthfully if you like to dance at home or to music on the radio you will love Zumba...and the BEST part NO ONE is looking or judging you. It is like you dancing in your house by yourself but the only difference is to watch your space in between people beside you and front of you. You will sweat and have a blast and might learn some cool moves to take home to. Classes are usually packed find a place mid way so you can see the instructor or the people in front you can follow.
  • Amy_nz
    Amy_nz Posts: 145
    DO IT! It's great fun, there'll be loads of people there who are learning as well. Stand towards the back, and you won't feel as self conscious.

    I hate dancing, I'm really bad at it. And I'm terrible at Zumba. But our instructor turns the lights out so that the stage is the only bit that's lit up - no matter how dreadful I am, nobody can see me! (She's awesome.)
  • kashmyre
    kashmyre Posts: 105 Member
    Yes!!!! A thousand times YES! It is a great workout and typically the people who go alot are really welcoming (at least in my class they were). Nobody cares what you look like. They all remember what it was like when they started. In my class there always seems to be one or two new people so the chances that your are the only newbie are really slim. Just go! Enjoy! Make new friends!

    I was 230lbs when I took my first class. At 162 now, I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Good luck!
  • ArtGeek22
    ArtGeek22 Posts: 1,429 Member
    Zumba is seriously the most fun cardio class I have ever come across. No one in the class is going to be watching you because they'll be focused on themselves, but I also wouldn't recommend going to the front of the class. Just try it! You'll have a blast if the instructor is good. The music is awesome and the atmosphere is so energetic. Plus it's really fun to watch yourself shake it and my mom swears by it for her weight loss.

    ^^ This! There are all shapes and sizes in Zumba class and as she said everyone is so focused on themselves and getting the moves right they won't be looking at you. If you go, just have fun and don't take yourself to seriously! :bigsmile:

    (P.S in my first zumba class I went to the front because you can get a better view of the instructor :smile: )
  • huango
    huango Posts: 1,007 Member
    Another tip: if the routine seems too complicated, just drop the arms and focus on getting the foot work first. Once you got the footwork or the steps down, then you can incorporate the arms movements.

    I've been taking Zumba for ~2years and I still have to resort to dropping the arms part, especially when my crazy instructor throws in wonky moves!!!

    Just listen to the music and move your hips to it!

    I don't even consider it a "work-out". I call it my night out dancing.

    Have fun,
    Amanda
  • karylee44
    karylee44 Posts: 892
    great fun.. i love it.. i dont always go the right way.. and i sometimes can't do all the jumpy things due to my knees.. but as long as you are moving your fine.. make sure you find a great instructor.. some are ok and mine is fabulous! she makes everyone of us feel sexy!
  • whit1108
    whit1108 Posts: 94
    TRY IT!! You will love it! Its a great and fun workout and you will burn LOTS of calories. I prefer the class than doing it at home with a dvd or game because i think you push yourself more in a class setting...No one even pays attenetion to other people when in the class. People pay attention to the teacher. I swear by it for weight loss. It is the workout i have done the entire time and i have lost 35 pounds!! GO TRY IT!! :)
  • lu136mickey
    lu136mickey Posts: 202
    I do zumba on ps3 move and love it!! I have no rythem at all lol but it is fun and you work up a sweat, I have not tried a Zumba class yet so could not tell you about that but the workout game is a blast!! I also lost 31 pounds as of yesterday by doing zumba and a little walking but mostly zumba that is since Jan 11 2012 So that said go try it and have fun blasting calories
  • cressievargo
    cressievargo Posts: 392 Member
    Okay - so what is Zumba Gold?
  • j77r68
    j77r68 Posts: 271 Member
    you are there for yourself so go have fun and just focus on the instructor and moving to the music whether you understand the moves. if not the moves will come with practice. i myself am self conscious and i go to aqua zumba and love, love, love it ! i can't yell and scream yet but man do i move ! if i do say so myself i almost feel like a latin dancer (under water, of course) lol if i was doing zumba in a studio i am sure i would look like a fish out of water but i don't care because i'm having fun and losing my jiggle more and more each class
  • Cranny
    Cranny Posts: 27 Member
    Me and a friend did our 1st Zumba Class last night! We've been discussing it for a week or so, and finally just went ahead and did it! I lost a lot of weight a few years ago (now starting to regain UGH!), and most of that weight was lost doing Richard Simmon's Sweatin' to the Oldies video's, so I jumped right into the whole 'dancing' routine.

    Our instructor had forgotten his playlist, so he had to stop after each song to change the music on the studio's sound system, so it wasn't very complete. We're planning on going again on Sunday, with a different instructor - hoping for a better experience.

    Looking forward to hanging out with everyone again on MFP!!! :)
  • miranda_mom
    miranda_mom Posts: 873 Member
    You'll love it! I was self conscious at first too but then you realize everyone is worried about how they look and not worried how you look. :bigsmile:
  • chief_roberts89
    chief_roberts89 Posts: 6
    Zumba is amazing!

    One of my favourite ways to exercise. I had quite flabby legs and bottom before I started Zumba and I have toned up lots!

    No flab at all now really. I only do about 4 hours a week of it amongst other exercise classes.

    Highly recommend it I would :)
  • mygrl4meee
    mygrl4meee Posts: 943 Member
    I was scared and nervous about trying zumba for all the same reasons and more. I see people of all shapes and sizes and mostly just have to pay attention to myself. It can be hard to get all the moves so sometimes I have to concentrate on just the feet then the hands. I try to stick to the same nights to have the same instructors but even then they hav cha.ged things up a bit. I really feel like I get a great workout in. I am only doing it twice a week to give my joints rest from the impact that I am not used to. I say go for it.
  • garlic7girl
    garlic7girl Posts: 2,236 Member
    I felt like you. But I went and so glad I did! First of all no one is looking at you bc so worried about not tripping over their own feet! Everyone is into themselves. Trust me. Finally I had so much fun with the music it made me forget everything else but I really like music so I can get into it.
  • jwaitman
    jwaitman Posts: 367 Member
    I did Zumba for a while and I have two left feet. Can't dance to save my life, but I kept at it and eventually caught on. The first few times I participated the instructor even laughed at me. That did not deter me and I kept at it until I hurt my back and couldn't do some of the moves. I say go for it. If I can do it so can you.

    I don't get to go anymore. The class has since moved on to another part of town and too far away for me to go. :(
  • jkleon86
    jkleon86 Posts: 245 Member
    The gym I go to is [finally] offering Zumba in their class line-up. I'm veeerrry shy and easily embarrassed when it comes to things like this, which is why as much as I wanted to try zumba I just kept putting it off.

    If I do go, does anyone have advice for a newbie? :blushing:

    I think I'm just very self-conscious about being chubby and lacking overall coordination aka looking like a fool.

    wow you wrote my feelings about trying it. I want to but I just can't push myself to go try. I don't have enough chubby friends to go and surround me so I'd feel comfortable enough you know camoed.
  • senyosmom
    senyosmom Posts: 613 Member
    I am 5 foot flat, 185 lbs and I LOVE zumba!!!! Dont worry about how you look - it is fun and a great workout! The first few classes you will totally feel like a klutz - my advice, stay in the back but hang in there. After a few classes you wil be more familiar with the routine and it will become easier and less awkward. You will realize that no one is even looking at you - they are watching the instructor or themselves in the mirror.

    Have fun!
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    (P.S in my first zumba class I went to the front because you can get a better view of the instructor :smile: )

    This made me laugh. Let me tell you about my first day. I suddenly decided one day I was going to the gym. I had no idea what Zumba was but the class was about to start. I joined. I was very unprepared! I am deaf and I am so used to being front and center for lipreading growing up that I never considered any other place in the room. I quietly let the instructor know I can't hear and how when there are call out moves in aerobics, I'm often too far behind and lost. She told me this was the perfect class for me because it is designed to be visual and using cuing instead of calling out the moves. I had on a bra that was too loose and the strap kept coming down. My shirt had a V neck which was no big deal standing up but doing the jiggy was a different story. My face was red and all these people were sipping water quickly between dances and I had nothing. I was struggling to keep up. I looked like a boiled lobster. Half way through the class I ducked out to get a drink from the water fountain and I sat out for one song. I fixed my bra, ignored my discomfort with my shirt and jumped right back in. Oh and I have feet problems so I was wearing loafers! I went back the next week with proper attire, a few bottles of water and kept right on going. In spite of all of that, it really was a fun class and I was already warned to give it a few times before giving up. By the 4th class, there was a huge difference in my endurance and ability to keep up!

    Now if I'm late, the regulars will literally move aside and let me up front and center. Since I've never told any of them why I choose that spot, I have no idea if they've figured it out. Either way, it is a bit endearing. Yesterday I planned to go to the back with my friend but one of the regulars insisted I have the front spot. It was so sweet that I couldn't decline.

    But yeah, front and center is the way I jive. This weekend I'm going to a 3 hour Zumba Fest. I can't wait!
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