What is Zumba like?

[Justanothergal]

Do you do Zumba? What is it like?

I’m keen to be a bit more active and I love dancing but I am absolutely horrendous at it. (I’ve taken dance classes and even the most simple things befuddle me and my left feet). I also love latin and funky music, so I thought perhaps I could pop into a Zumba group. But will it be a bunch of intensely serious dancers? Or more middle-aged/older ladies like me, who just want to exercise a bit? I’m in my mid 40s and not in pretty average condition. Not looking to improve my dancing but do like moving my body in that way! I’m also a bit shy, so the idea of just rocking up to a group full of talented people fills me with dread!

I have done it, but it was many years ago. I remember it being pretty easy and not needing any dance talent, it’s just repetitive movements.

I think its popularity has waned massively from 10 or 15 years ago. Having said that, they still do it in our village hall. My mother in law goes and I think there’s no-one under 75 in the class. It’s just fun, no talent needed.

The one in our local gym would mostly be older women. Not many of them would be particularly good… I’ve been a lot a few times. It’s not really my thing but fun enough to do on occasion

It's fun.

The teachers don't give instructions, you just have to copy them, so make sure you stand where you can see them.

I was an instructor 10 years ago. I loved it and still do. It's just fun exercise but you might need to try a few instructors before you find one you really gel with.

I have zumba on the Nintendo switch to avoid the embarrassment

I’ve been a couple of times with friends and didn’t like it. I felt I was trying to work out the moves and then it would change so I was just kind of doing random steps and flailing my arms about the whole time. I think you need to go a few times and get to know the routine and then it is fun and you feel like you’ve done some exercise, but it wasn’t for me.

Im early 40s and go once a week. I love it, it gets me out and moving (and i love music and dancing). Honestly on a quick look around the class no one is worrying about what anyone else is doing or how they look because your too busy concentrating on yourself.
My tip is worry about one thing at a time, trying to coordinate feet and arms at once can get you confused, start with the feet and the arms sort themselves out along the way.
Have fun and dont take it too serious.

The class I do probably ranges from women in late 20s-mid 60s.
Some are good dancers but most aren't!
I find it really hard (but fun) - I can't co-ordinate arms and feet at the same time, and I generally just try to be moving in the same direction as everyone else and not fall over 😂

It’s fun. Don’t worry about getting it perfect, as long as you’re working up a sweat & getting it vaguely right that’s absolutely fine.

It’s fun and you definitely don’t need to be perfect! I avoid it as there is quite a bit of knee twisting which I can’t do.

It’s hugely popular here, lots of classes in different venues and book up quickly. It is mostly women (but there are a few men in my regular class and they are very good at it). Although some are really dedicated and go all the time no one is deadly serious about it, even the best people and instructor get it wrong, just smile and keep moving in time to the music, In our class all the really good people tend to go to the front which is really useful as you can follow them if you lose sight of the instructor. I mess up all the time but I just like the music and the movement of it.

Thank you everyone, this gives me hope! I can’t find anywhere near me that offers a free trial so I’m loathe to sign up for a month and not go. I’ve taken dance classes before and it’s been a failure. I just want to move to music (but need to do it outside of my home or I never do it in a structured way!)

I tried it a few years ago and didn't get on with it. I'm not very coordinated but the biggest problem was that it's a basic tenet of zumba that the instructors don't give verbal instructions so you have to be at the front if you want to know what to do. I wasn't keen on that

It's fun. It's dance based rather than dance, it's about exercise rather than skill. It's kind of like aerobics. I'm a rubbish dancer but I can do Zumba.

I live in darkest Cornwall so I do it on line as I'd have to drive at least 25 minutes to a class. You can do a class on YouTube to see if you like it, or on the Zumba official website there are classes.

There are lots of Zumba videos on Youtube

It's fairly simple dance-based aerobics. Each song has a routine so at first you'll have to learn the range of routines, but over time you'll learn them one by one as the playlist changes.
Classes tend to bias towards more mature women looking for some fun exercise.

(Clubbercise has a similar format but sways towards dance/ pop music from the 90s onwards)

Message a few instructors and see if you can do a pay as you go for your first couple of classes. Lots offer the first class free or discounted to entice people in.

Yep! I’ve seen some horrible Zumba teachers at the gym. One of whom shouted over at the rest of us using the equipment and called us fat and lazy for not booking her class 🙄

Where I live now we have a young Zumba instructor (33) who makes the class so fun, inclusive and cheerful. I’ve been going for five years :D I’m 39 and am one of the younger participants but not the youngest there.

Edit: Oh also worth pointing out that I’m dyspraxic and normally suck at dancing but with Zumba I’m ok.

I've never managed to memorise a whole song but you do find after a while you are doing it without thinking too much. Although each song is different they are all based on a fairly small group of movements. Also the instructors use hand signals once you get your eye in for those it helps.

Just give it a try. Ask if you can do a trial class.

I went to one yesterday (I have done it before but ages ago). All the steps were basically step-ball change and box step, so assuming that was typical, it could be worth looking those up and practising them beforehand, as it will free up brain space for stuff like forwards/back/left/right!

I thought it was a bit crap that they don't even briefly demonstrate the steps, but that is a very common issue with supposedly "beginner" dance classes.

It’s so fun (as is Clubbercise) As I think someone mentioned up thread, if you’re struggling with arms and feet, just do the feet til you get then add the arms. Enjoy x