Anyone try Zumba? If so think it worth it. Hard? As fun as they make it seem? Any thought welcome

I do Zumba a minimum of 2x a week and sometimes 4 & 5 x a week.

Lots of fun and depending on the instructor and how energetic I am, I burn between 200 & 300 calories per class (according to my HR monitor). YMMV. You may very well burn more.

Some of the steps are a little complicated, but a good instructor will take the class through a few warm-up steps before starting that particular song. There are steps I just cannot get.. either because my brain can't process it that fast..LOL.. or because the move is too hard on my older joints. When that happens I modify the move to something I CAN do..usually jogging in place.

Go and give it a try. It is a lot of fun and most of the time there are a few new people learning at the same time you are.

I ordered the dvds because there are days that I just can't make it to the gym. I've found that I prefer doing the dvds than going to the gym now. I love them. They aren't easy, but they are fun. My little girls will tell me they want to dance, so we Zumba.

I have the DVD's also but I haven't been able to start them yet.

All the classes around here have 50+ people in them and the instructors (Ha!) do not take the time to show new people how to do it. They just expect you to watch and eventually pick it up. Well for $10 for an hour of Zumba, that's pathetically inadequate. I'm not one of those who can just pick it up. I need it broken down into small bites and then bring it all together. I'm not a professional dancer.

As far as I can tell from observing the 6 zumba instructors in my area, they 'teach' zumba as a way of doing what they already enjoy and making beaucoup bucks doing it because they spend the entire hour doing Zumba without even once showing someone who's having difficult how to do it. I was sooo frustrated at the Zumba classes.

I plan on getting the Zumba game to go with the new Xbox Kinect we have preordered (releases in November) so I can do it at home and learn at my own pace. If I understand correctly, the Kinect will also tell me when I'm not doing a move right...unlike the DVDs.

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I also do Zumba at the gym. I am lucky to say that my instructor is awesome. She lost 80lbs just doing Zumba as her workout so she is very passionate about it. Zumba can be hard but it's so worth doing. And the classes are usually go packed that no one even notices you or what you maybe doing wrong.

I think the videos would be great too.

I love Zumba. I go to the gym it is included in my membership. No one judges at my place, thank god LOL

Try it !!! I dont know about you but I havn't danced for an hour in a very long time ..... Who knows maybe I will get my mojo back.

P.S Yes it is hard but so is the LB work we all are doing.

i have the dvd's and yes it's hard. i feel like a major screw up while doing it lol. but if there are steps i can't get i just improvise. might look silly but it's ok at least i am moving.

All the classes around here have 50+ people in them and the instructors (Ha!) do not take the time to show new people how to do it. They just expect you to watch and eventually pick it up. Well for $10 for an hour of Zumba, that's pathetically inadequate. I'm not one of those who can just pick it up. I need it broken down into small bites and then bring it all together. I'm not a professional dancer.

As far as I can tell from observing the 6 zumba instructors in my area, they 'teach' zumba as a way of doing what they already enjoy and making beaucoup bucks doing it because they spend the entire hour doing Zumba without even once showing someone who's having difficult how to do it. I was sooo frustrated at the Zumba classes.

I plan on getting the Zumba game to go with the new Xbox Kinect we have preordered (releases in November) so I can do it at home and learn at my own pace. If I understand correctly, the Kinect will also tell me when I'm not doing a move right...unlike the DVDs.

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I'm sorry your instructors don't take the time to demo steps.

10.00/hr is high. I took an out of town class over the labor day weekend and it was only 5.00.

My gym charges 1.00/class on top of regular membership fees. This is to help defray music, instructor training, etc.

I think I'd keep looking for another place. You can find lists of classes at Zumba.com. However the Xbox Kinect thing sounds like a viable alternative.

I take Zumba once a week and really enjoy it. I am 58 and some of the steps were hard at first but the more you come to class you eventually pick it up. I am always sweating after a class so not sure how many calories I am burning but I'm moving and that is what counts. I also swim 2 times a week and do arobics 1 time a week. The Zumba classes in my area are either $5/hour or you can buy a coupon book for $20 that includes 5 classes. Try it - if you like music and like to move, you will enjoy.

All the classes around here have 50+ people in them and the instructors (Ha!) do not take the time to show new people how to do it. They just expect you to watch and eventually pick it up. Well for $10 for an hour of Zumba, that's pathetically inadequate. I'm not one of those who can just pick it up. I need it broken down into small bites and then bring it all together. I'm not a professional dancer.

As far as I can tell from observing the 6 zumba instructors in my area, they 'teach' zumba as a way of doing what they already enjoy and making beaucoup bucks doing it because they spend the entire hour doing Zumba without even once showing someone who's having difficult how to do it. I was sooo frustrated at the Zumba classes.

I plan on getting the Zumba game to go with the new Xbox Kinect we have preordered (releases in November) so I can do it at home and learn at my own pace. If I understand correctly, the Kinect will also tell me when I'm not doing a move right...unlike the DVDs.

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The DVDs actually have 1 whole dvd devoted to teaching you the steps. I did this the first couple of times, and i was good to go.

I'm one of those people who doesn't really like exercise, so I'm a HUGE advocate of finding whatever works for you. I went to one Zumba class and I liked it a lot! I am a Jazzercise class manager (I became one because it keeps me committed) and I get plenty of cardio there, so I don't end up doing other classes often. If I can only pick one, I prefer Jazzercise because they have weight & flexibility training added, plus they (at least in my classes) seem to focus more on technique. I like/need that.

In Zumba, you can let loose and dance, dance, dance! If you are into dancing, I think you would like it. Have fun!

Jazzercise is something I would definitely try if it were offered in my area. I've checked and there's not one convenient to me.. but maybe it will happen one day. We've gotten one new gym and are supposed to get 2 more.. so who knows? :rolleyes2:

Think the DVD are as helpful as class?

Think the DVD are as helpful as class?

I don't have the DVD's, but have two friends who do have them and they also take the classes.

They say that the DVD's are useful .. especially if you are a perfectionist.. because they go over the steps very slowly and you can take your time to learn them.

The DVD's that I'm familiar with are kinda pricey.. around 100.00.. so to me, since I'm not afraid of making mistakes or looking silly.. the classes are a better option.

It's all on how motivated you are. I have a Wii Fit that I asked for for last Christmas.. still haven't gotten it out. I should, but I enjoy the companionship at the gym too much.

Hope this helps.

I got the dvds for $72.80 including shipping and taxes. I paid around $34 up front, and then have two more monthly installments of $19.95.

I've got 4 kids with 2 of them being in school, and they both have after school activities. There are days that I just don't have the time to get to the gym, and I figured this was a good way to get my exercise in.