Erm.. so Zumba is bloody brutal!!

[MummaMummaJumma]

Had my first Zumba class tonight, expecting it to be just some light two-stepping, with a couple of shimmy’s thrown in 🤨.

Just when I got into the rhythm, it transitioned! Worst of all, I got to see how truly uncoordinated I am thanks to the full length mirror in front of me 👍🏼

Was really fun though! How long did it take for you to pick up all the moves? Couldn’t believe how well the others were doing, they looked great! I want to move like that lol.

About 4 wks. Can not do it for a year and instantly pick it up again

Oh that’s good to know. Glad when I get the hang of it, it’ll stick!

I go to two different classes. One picks tunes which are all on a 4 count, are fairly slow and she does simple and repetitive moves. I got that about the third week. The other one I go to is much more mixed with more complicated moves and a year or so later I still get confused sometimes. There are a couple of younger women who did a lot of dance in this more complicated class and they picked it up within seconds, add their own shimmies and just look amazing.

I love Zumba, used to do several hours a week when I was early 30's even did a 6hr Zumbathon for charity!
I had a long break for many reasons and recently started again in my 40's and although the dances are completely different base steps are the same but it still took me a good few months to feel confident, but even when I wasn't 100% sure I tried and am loving it again, I don't care if it's not perfect.. I come out sweating and smiling!

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa definitely think I was in the harder class. It was like Beyoncé’s choreography! (At least that’s what it felt like to me).

@obsessedwithfreshbread Oh wow! That’s reassuring to know. I really did enjoy myself, lots of sweating and moving. Feel achy now, so I got a good old workout 🕺

If it's Beyoncé like, then I swear that I don't have the same bones & muscles in my body! There are some moves the teacher and the dance girls do and I just stare as I have no idea how to isolate that but of my body and get it to move.

It's a great workout. It feels like it's very good for flexibility and movement in hips and lower back, in a way that my other classes (Body pump, Pilates) isn't. Important for me as I'm in my 50s and WFH

I've been going for a few weeks and am still not great at it but the class has about 6 people who know it inside out and the rest of us just muddle through, I often can't see the instructor but make sure I can see one of the good ones and follow them, it's a great class, very inclusive of all shapes, sizes, ages and you can modify by not jumping if it's too strenuous.

Just please don't stand right at the front til you know the moves.
We have a newbie to my class who doesn't have a clue and she's standing right in front of the teacher blocking everyone else's view.
Better to go further back until you pick it up more.
I know the moves now but still like to be able to either see the teacher or a well experienced member doing them.

I’ve never done Zumba but do dance classes. Is everyone that rude in your class?

I might join Zumba just to stand at the front and annoy you! You don’t get to dictate where anyone stands unless you are the instructor.

I'm not being rude. It's basic etiquette. Just the same as in any other area of life, you have consideration for others. I haven't said anything to the newcomer, I'll just move to the front next time.

All of the regulars were moaning about her.

How unpleasant. You are why people are put off joining exercise classes!

There’s no mistakes in Zumba. Only Zumba solos

Why would people who know the moves need to be at the front? Surely the newbie needs to see the teacher the most! That's so unwelcoming to bitch behind her back, poor woman.

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!

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.

This is making me want to try Zumba 😁

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

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

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.

That’s a good tip! I literally got into the swing of it and then the move changed lol. Luckily, really nice group and a few newbies so we had a little giggle about ourselves during the song change.

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.

A few of the regulars did ask if I wanted to stand at the front too. Tbh, I do want to lose a bit of weight but I also want to push myself outside of my comfort zone a bit. I’ve always felt quite intimidated by Zumba so I left feeling proud that I actually attended 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.

I did a beginners YouTube vid this afternoon!

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