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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think zumba isn't in fact the best! thing! ever!

91 replies

ShushBaby · 02/06/2011 17:17

I mean, it's relatively fun, as exercise classes go. The bogling, for example, I quite enjoyed. But before I went for the first time last night, I was expecting some sort of exercise epiphany. People are practically evangelical about it.
But for me it was, well, an aerobics class. A big one.

And the 'ditch the workout, join the party' tagline? I'm not sure it felt like a party- more an excuse to get as many people as poss into a gym, and therefore as much cash as poss.

I'll go again. But I was really expecting a lot. And it was just... fine.

Am I missing something?

OP posts:
Hassled · 02/06/2011 17:20

I have no idea, never having been, but the people I know on FB who do it go "Whoop! Whoop! Zumba! at lot and it makes me want to kill them.

said · 02/06/2011 17:20

Just the name puts me off plus the fact it's exercise, of course

Original poster
ShushBaby · 02/06/2011 17:21

Yes it was Facebook which sucked me in! I feel a bit left out of 'the party'- is there something I'm just not getting? Do I need to bogle a bit harder to really feel the zumba love?

OP posts:
FoxyRevenger · 02/06/2011 17:23

Oh thank god. Now I don't have to go.

FoxyRevenger · 02/06/2011 17:24

And what the hell is bogling? Sounds like some sort of Scottish hillwalking-related pastime.

Pandemoniaa · 02/06/2011 17:25

Me and several of my friends are totally anti-Zumba. Not least because of the ridiculous hype.

Original poster
ShushBaby · 02/06/2011 17:26

foxyrevenger, you are welcome.

OP posts:
mosschops30 · 02/06/2011 17:26

It deffo depends on the teacher too.
At my old club i loved zumba, the teacher was amazing, but at my new club, shes shit and i walked out halfway through the last class it was so bad.
Im now a body combat addict

Original poster
ShushBaby · 02/06/2011 17:29

Ah Body Combat. Bloody hard work but great. I am a bit of a sucker for exercise crazes- Body Pump and so on. But usually they do live up to the hype- British Military Fitness for example I loved but since having a baby cannot be arsed to do. So you see am not general naysayer, but quite dismayed at emperor's new clothes-ness of Zumba.

OP posts:
FoxyRevenger · 02/06/2011 17:30

Ooooh, that's called bogling? Every day's a school day on MN Grin

cantpooinpeace · 02/06/2011 17:32

YES! Totally agree I just thought it was ok, would much rather do it to current songs than generic Latin shite :)

Have been twice, will probably go every now and again.

mrsravelstein · 02/06/2011 17:35

i have a fb friend who teaches zumba, about 5 classes a day every day (it's obviously popular) and who posts endless status updates with lots of 'shake it baby' etc...

jeckadeck · 02/06/2011 17:38

Massively over-rated. Tries to please everyone with a bit of bland middle of the road ethnic-style dance and misses on all counts. If you want to do latin, for example, you're better off doing a salsa class. And you don't really get fit either: I did it on and off for about a year and never once broke a sweat. I think its largely for the kind of person who wants to do something "ethnic" but without really entering into the spirit. The kind of people who celebrate "diversity" because there's a thai restaurant in the high street and they listen to banghra but don't have a single non-white friend.

PatTheHammer · 02/06/2011 17:43

I've been a few times and switched to spin instead as I wasn't co-ordinated enough and wasn't breaking a sweat. I also hated the music, so cheesy!

I love combat, pump, balance, circuits, spin and boot camp but Zumba is a definite no-no for me. Would rather just go out for a run!

Also the FB Zumba 'whoopers', I've got a few of those too........what is that!

Original poster
ShushBaby · 02/06/2011 19:15

So is anybody here a closet zumba whooper? Come out come out!

OP posts:
pink4ever · 02/06/2011 19:23

You are all talking shite-I love Zumba!! Go twice a week and sweat buckets!!(admittedly I am probably not the fittest person in the world). I love it because I love dancing and it is basically just a form of dance aerobics. Would love to do a real salsa class but sadly there are none available in my area.
Zumba-Whoop whoop!!!!!

manicinsomniac · 02/06/2011 20:58

Hooray,finally a thread that isn't raving about the wonders of zumba.

I'm left completely cold by it. Repetitive, almost embarrassinglyly basic choreography that doesn't deserve the word exercise as far as I'm concerned.

BettySuarez · 01/07/2011 00:15

I have tried two Zumba classes. One was bog standard to say the least and I felt totally uninspired.

But the second class I tried was FAB. A lot of it is down to the teacher but it's a great class with a great atmosphere and we are absolutley exhausted at the end of it.

But I do agree that a lot of the 'whoa whoa' on Facebook gets a bit tiresome Smile

LDNmummy · 01/07/2011 01:29

Well I believe my local class is one of the best but I am waiting to have my LO before venturing there.

I have been wondering whether it was actually over hyped or worth it so will watch this with interest.

I do think as with any excercise, it will depend heavily on the instructor.

StableButDeluded · 01/07/2011 01:52

I do zumba three times a week when i can and i can tell you it totally depends on the quality of the teaching. Did you know that anyone can become a Zumba teacher just by taking a two-day course? and I mean anyone-you don't have to have any previous dance or exercise knowledge, you just pay your money, learn a few basic routines and bingo! You can call yourself a qualified zumba instructor. No wonder so many of you have had crap classes.

I was absolutley gobsmacked when my instructor told me that. She even said some of the people gave up half way through on her course and moaned about how hard the course was-but they still 'passed'. Shocking.

I think my instructor is one of the best. She's a qualified dance instructor who has toured internationally with Spirit Of The Dance and various Broadway productions for several years. She's doing zumba classes and ballet/tap/jazz now because she wantsa break from the touring life.

She's lovely, her classes are hard work but inspiring, she puts a lot of effort into working out enjoyable routines and very importantly, she knows how to do a proper and safe warm up and cool-down. And even she sweats when she's doing them, so they must be good! More fun than boring old aerobics.

StableButDeluded · 01/07/2011 01:53

But I've never heard of 'bogling'-WTF is that?

housemum · 07/07/2011 14:52

Shushbaby's link above shows bogling - looks like a cheesy 70's dance move with a bit more of a tummy wiggle. You know the dance your OH or Dad (depending how young you are!) does - points fingers like 2 guns and waves them in front while they wiggle - embarassing.

charliejosh · 07/07/2011 14:59

YANBU, Zumba is utter shoite.

mauricetinkler · 07/07/2011 15:01

Zumba should be banned. Only half-witted idiots are flocking to do it IMO.

notso · 07/07/2011 15:05

I enjoy Zumba mostly because I like to laugh at my Mum shaking her ass.
I usually hate exercise in general classes except pilates, but to get me out the house for a laugh Zumba is fine.
Thankfully no whooping in my class and the instructor does her own choreography.