So when I told my friend that my gym offered a zumba class that I could do as apart of my membership AND I could bring her for free It thought to myself, “this could be fun!”
Most of everyone I know that has done Zumba has loved it. I mean I did try the pro for the Xbox 360 Zumba and it was kind of fun… I mean I liked it much better than Dance Central which kept telling how sucky of a dancer I was.
So I thought to myself “How bad can it be?”.
Well….
The class first gets delayed by 15 minutes because our instructor takes FOREVER to get there. However, once she got there it was game time. The the music starts and we start moving.
We start doing squats, jumping jacks, and more jumping…. All these fast moves and even more jumping. I am sweating pretty quickly at this point and it really doesn’t feel like “Zumba”.
Either way I was ready to die!!!! Then the instructor stops, tells everyone to take a small break and get water. My friend and I do so and then I realize holy hell, that was just a warm up!
F@#%$….
So the salsa music begins and the instructor lady starts doing moves to which I begin to believe that her butt is not completely attached to her body. I figured this must be the only way she can booty bump without moving anything above her belly button all while going in circles.
My body was very much confused by the fast pace of the music to my butt giggling in places a butt should NOT giggle among other things. I had a few bouts of just standing there staring in the moment of Really????
Sorry my butt just can’t do that…. I am a perfectionist about this kind of think and if I can’t “get it” then I can’t get into it. Besides that I can’t freaking breathe! The room is hot! I am dying slowly…..
My chest was getting pretty tight which was scary (this lead to the ER trip two days later). My friend tells me that if I need to go we can. I tried to keep going. I noticed to two ladies behind me who once were there (who were about my size) are now gone.
I won’t lie it was a small victory… ha, I stayed longer than they did…. And then, I stood in the back. The only validation I got was the one girl who was pretty small and looking like she was going to die, looking at me in the way of girl, I understand.
Shortly after I called it… 15 minutes into the actual Zumba and I was done…. I hate it… Infact, I was telling myself over and over again I will never do that again. I felt stupid doing the moves, I know it didn’t look attractive lol.
Feeling like you are going to die is not much of a motivator to want to come back tomorrow lol….
I came home and the next day even googled…. I hate Zumba looking for some justification that I was not the only person who did not infact like Zumba. I was quickly, justified after pages of pages of different types of people who they too were just not feeling it.
One personal trainer really said it the best though, she was taught when you teach a class you break down the exercise/dance and offer modifications. I won’t lie something like this would have been very beneficial and maybe, my experience wouldn’t have been so bad!
All I know was my body was confused lol….
Now that I have had about a week to sit on it, I will say I probably would try another Zumba class again (probably not that one until I more fit) but I wouldn’t mind finding maybe a beginners? lol.
All in all it wasn’t the best of experiences and surely don’t know how overweight people do it and like it lmbo.
Anyways…. So that was my experience.
versatilestylebytracey said:
it really is a great workout, but the problem is that there are key things to know about the moves that you just can’t get from following an instuctor. I had an experience much like what you described.. The room was too hot and I felt like I was going to pass out. Went home and ordereed the official Zumba program that broke down the steps and was in awe of how much instuction it took and what was missing from the class. I went back to a second class and had the same expereince so gave it up, but I do have the DVD’s and thnk I may just go back and do it on my own as I do need some variety in my workouts… At least I can put a fan on me when I workout at home…
Misty said:
Yes, it really comes down to the moves that and its just a very high impact (or this class was). I totally was a work out. I don’t think I have ever sweat that much that quick before lol. I really would like to learn HOW to do the moves and I think I might have a better time even then though this class is a pretty high intense class so might be a while before I think I could do a whole class.
versatilestylebytracey said:
I agree, I sweated more in this class than ever before. Mine was not high impact. Wonder if there is anything on Youtube to help learn the moves. I propose if you do it again, stay in the back, do what you can and leave when you want… Just try to learn something each time and stay a minute or so longer each time. I did that for awhile and it was getting better, but gave up the Y membership due to a pervert who they made leave the pool area due to his crude comment to me, but still allowed him to keep his membership and he was always around.. too creepy…
Misty said:
Oh yeah, I was in the back lol there were 3 rows infront us of lol. I did look at youtube but found a hard time to find the way she did things. So then I started to looking at how to do things like the booty pop lol. I did find some moves she did but will say it was just a lot of going all over the room it feel like, bouncing, jumping, hip and butt popping my body was confused lol. Some of the other zumba’s I found online were not quiet the same. I may check out other Zumba places just for fun too who knows.
versatilestylebytracey said:
Good Luck and just remember that as long as you are working up a sweat it’s a good thing.. who cares if you are doing it correctly, you are doing this for yourself not anyone else!
Misty said:
Honestly? It’s me who cares… I like to to do things “right” plus I think doing moves correctly helps avoid any injuries. I am just programmed that way lol. Plus makes it feel less fun when you can’t do it well which IMO is the whole point of the class is to have fun and work out. But I get what you are saying.
versatilestylebytracey said:
Laughing as I can see injuries to the back and hips from doing those moves correctly!!!!! Aaah, you may have a touch of perfectionism which is somethng I don’t possess at all except when it comes to treating people well and being a top notch mother…
Misty said:
Oh yeah, the way this chick moved her butt I think I could break my butt bone just sayin… lol
Linda Sherwood said:
If you have the game, they do teach you the moves on there. I ordered the Exhilarate DVDs, which also include a break down of all the steps. Once I became familiar with the steps, it was much easier to join a class. I highly recommend trying another class, but try to find a different instructor. It can be a different experience.
You mentioned the warm up happening and then a break, which is weird. In every class I’ve taken the warm up is done using salsa music as well, and there isn’t a break. (Why would they break after the warm up?)
I’d recommend checking Zumba.com and seeing if your instructor is listed there. She would be if she is certified. If she isn’t, you weren’t really doing Zumba, which could also explain your experience.
Misty said:
Thanks for the info! That is helpful! How long does a normal Zumba class last BTW?
Linda Sherwood said:
The classes I’ve been to last about an hour.
Misty said:
okay this one was an hour too.
Brittany said:
I do not like Zumba at all. I find it way to fast paced. By the time you get the move, they’ve moved on to something else. It’s just not my favorite type of exercise that’s for sure!
Misty said:
The fast pace was VERY hard for me. I don’t mind working HARD but the fast stuff my body had a hard time keeping up lol.
Brittany said:
I know what you mean girl! But good for you for trying it out!
Becoming the Best Me said:
My mom bought zumba gold for herself and she didn’t like it so she gave it to me. It included a DVD with teaching you the basic steps. I learned the steps (for the most part) and really enjoy zumba. If I didn’t practice the moves I don’t think I would have liked it nearly as much.
Misty said:
Yeah I think that would help a lot… And well if it were a tad bit slower lol.
Becoming the Best Me said:
Well, it is slower! haha My mom is in her 50’s and she bought Zumba Gold for herself, which is for seniors! haha Now I workout to Zumba Gold (for seniors) even though I’m 24. But I think its great for beginners so you should look into it! haha!
braidedkitteness said:
Wow! Sounds like you did have a bad experience! I’m sorry about that. My instructor always breaks down the moves for us before and during the class. You’ll find one better suited for you in the future! 🙂
Misty said:
It wasn’t the best of experiences, I will try the other instructor but not sure if it really is the work out for me 🙂
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