Erm.. so Zumba is bloody brutal!!

Love Zumba. Always left when everyone right, up when down but it's a good workout.

In the post just above yours I mentioned Body Attack. It's a pretty simple form of aerobics.

I taught aerobics in my long ago youth, and expected to really enjoy zumba, when I tried a few years ago. I was aghast to find there was no teaching or even proper cues at all! The instructor didn't instruct, she just performed!

All the right steps but not necessarily in the right order to paraphrase Eric Morecambe.

I have to stick at the back as I'm generally doing my own version of Zumba. As long as I'm moving, I figure I'm doing OK!
I really struggle if the teacher swaps from having their back to us to facing us or vice versa. My brain just can't make that change very quickly.

I wonder if it's also the fact that in yoga the instructor talks you through every step of the way whereas in zumba its all visual. I am also one of those people who absorbs audio content better than video (but written word is far better than either of the others).

You do want a few good people at the front to give everyone else a chance at following. I do Tai Chi and she puts the experienced folk at the four corners so you can always see someone whichever way you are facing.

If you're good it doesn't matter where you are. If your middling you do need someone better to follow.

Easterly - I was thinking that yesterday too as I also find Yoga fine! It’s odd isn’t it? 😂

I’d go if there was, I’m not dyspraxic but one of my DCs is and I do seem to have some traits. I can muddle through following what the instructor is doing, either mirror image or same way for someone in front of me fairly well but very little of it gets retained, its as if its a new class every week. I went to adult ballet and tap for a few years and it always took me longer than most of the others to pick up routines, I had to work really hard at it. I think it might be the speed as I don’t have the same problems with yoga.

I went every week for 4 months and I swear the choreography was different everytime despite the rest of the class of 60+ yr olds knowing every single move.
I still enjoyed it but it was oversubscribed and too many people in the room felt like you could barely move anywhere, so gave up in the end.

I wish they did exercise / dance classes for people like me - I have adhd and dyspraxia and I find following the instructor really hard. It takes me a looong time to pick up a routine and I tend to get too embarrassed to go to classes preferring to ‘f’ it up on my own in online videos … I suspect I’d still be stumbling around in the wrong direction for months after everyone else I kept going to a class.

When I’m learning a new physical thing, for example learning to use a sewing machine, I often have to ask the teacher to place my hands in the right position as I just can’t visualise it on my own. I suspect I need someone to put my feet in the right position too to really get it! 😂

I used to dread dances with steps like cirroc when I was younger as I inevitably got it wrong and tried to lead!

Do you think there is a market for dyspraxic Zumba classes?

@Olveston Your comment is exactly why I dread trying new classes. I try to tell myself people are not paying attention to anyone else but clearly thats not the case in your classes! That poor lady.

Never. The minute I start to learn they change the choreography.
I can only do simple things like Body Attack.

I did a beginners YouTube vid this afternoon!

I dread to think what regular and advanced would be cause I barely kept up lol

That's another thing I've noticed at my class, some of the best dancers are also some of the largest people there, which is really inspiring as I am overweight too.

When I did Zumba with some friends we were told to start right at the front so we could see how to do the moves. The first time I felt incredibly self conscious but after a while you forget everyone is behind you and really enjoy it. I'd hate it if the rest of the class felt like you did about a new comer.

@MummaMummaJumma I really did enjoy it, but I got plantar fasciitis in my heels and found it difficult to keep up, but I loved the music they played. I did it for about a year and have been thinking of restarting. I can't remember if it helped with any weight loss but I think it really helped physically and mentally.

I love zumba!!

If you're having trouble following, work out at the beginning of the sequence if it's 4 or 3 count, and memorize the order - so repeat in your mind right, right, left, turn (for example) and then you can follow and easily switch sides during the sequence.

I think it depends on the instructor. I go to two, one has all Latin and one mainly pop, I prefer the latter.

Good grief you sound like a nasty lot. Thankfully our class isn't like that and the regulars are really friendly and encouraging.

This is making me want to try Zumba 😁

I quite enjoy Zumba, but for me it's much more a mental than a physical workout. I really don't understand how people can throw themselves into it with abandon, laughing and joking, rather than concentrating, and still get the steps right.

Is the music used all latin rhythms? I used to do a proper Zumba class with this sort of music, took a looonnnng break and when I went back there was hardly any - all pop music! Nothing against pop music, but the latin beat gets my blood pumping!