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I've started a new thread as this doesn't really relate to the "Jam being replaced by Zumba" thread...

 OMFG!!! I did my first Zumba class today... Not an experience I'm in ANY hurry to repeat!!! At the club I'm GFM at we're adding Zumba to the timetable in addition to Body Jam (company policy) and we ran a taster this morning... Myself and my Jam team went as we were curious as to what it was going to be like and also support the team teaching it... I nearly cried... The cueing was late and there were times where we were looking at each other going "they're not on the beat?!?" The chorey was BORING and they kept stopping the music and pre teaching the moves and then putting the music on again - had flashbacks to the old format of Jam - way too stop/start...  I got a workout, but just didn't get the Body Jam "high"... From what I have found out about the process of getting qualified as a Zumba instructor, the training/assessment process is nowhere near as tough as what we go through to become Jam instructors either, so not surprised I was disappointed...

 Verdict - fine for people that don't want to use their brains, want to do a "dance style" class, but don't actually want to dance etc... I just don't see this as competition for Jam - they are two programs that are 100% completely, utterly different...

 My Jammers were not impressed, so I'm not worried about and of my girls "defecting" to the other side lol...

 I can see the value of it for people that are de-conditioned or just have no motor skills, but it's just not my bag!

It will be in the timetable of our gym club too for the end of this month

I'm curious to try it to see what it's like compared to BJ

Paul_T:

I nearly cried... The cueing was late and there were times where we were looking at each other going "they're not on the beat?!?" The chorey was BORING and they kept stopping the music and pre teaching the moves and then putting the music on again - had flashbacks to the old format of Jam - way too stop/start...  I got a workout, but just didn't get the Body Jam "high"... From what I have found out about the process of getting qualified as a Zumba instructor, the training/assessment process is nowhere near as tough as what we go through to become Jam instructors either, so not surprised I was disappointed...

It may depends on instructors or licensed distributor, I guess...  Our gym has both Zumba and BJ, and here, like this:

Zumba -- totally exciting dance party, good CV workout, never stopping, but choreo.. just fairly good

BJ -- given too much influence by "street dance" classes which are not so high level and mirror-lover members in the front line, what's happening is more like the description of Zumba by Paul_T.  Besides, choreo presented by instructors are affected too much by their other programs, such as BC and aero.  What is worse is late cue, which is totally out of beat.  (Still having these problems, but some other crutial issues they used to have were resolved after I suggested improvements several times.)

The Zumba you tested may be not as good as those in other clubs, so why don't you suggest improvements?  In my opinion, having BOTH Zumba and BJ is very good (though Zumba doesn't seem to have someone like G).

We do not have BJ at our club - I've only done it in a quarterly, but from what i can tell Zumba is not even close as far as the workout level.  Fun? yes, with the right instructor.  A hard Workout? No - a lot of stops & starts as the OP noted, very low impact, which can be good, but not if you are used to a more aerobic/cardio type workout.  I hardly break a sweat doing it after BP.  Finally I question the safety & ergonomics of some of the movements.  Seems as a lot of participants turn their knees in a odd fashion, then complain of knee pain.  One instructor ques "on your toes - Like you are wearing High Heels" then people end up with calf pain & shin splints.  She even does some odd modified Jacks - all on toes - big no no from my aerobic & BA background. 

so IMO BJ seems as it is a better organized & choreographed program.

salawson:

One instructor ques "on your toes - Like you are wearing High Heels" then people end up with calf pain & shin splints.  She even does some odd modified Jacks - all on toes - big no no from my aerobic & BA background. 

 

That's terrible...  And you don't have BJ...

Actually, the "on the toes" is suggested in some of the Bodyjam latin blocks, and I think it's a good move that can be done safely with the chorey G provides.  It's good to work your calves.  I've certified in both Jam and Zumba.  My opinion is that Jam is a much better cardio workout and more fun.  Jam also has a lot more quality control.  Both are as good as the instructor.  Zumba is either choreographed by the instructor using guidelines given in the training, or the instructor pays $30 monthly for choreography and so-so music.  But a lot of members are less intimidated by Zumba because it tends to be less complicated.  I have been on medical leave the past 2 months,my class was subbed by a Zumba instructor, and my participants are VERY glad to have me back teaching Jam.

Paul_T:

  OMFG!!! I did my first Zumba class today... Not an experience I'm in ANY hurry to repeat!!!

LOL! The original post is such a hachet job as to be totally laughable.

Those of us at larger locations where there are several slots of both Jam and Zumba with sizable numbers of participants in all slots know that it's a matter of preference for each individual participant. I don't know the exact numbers, but my guess is that it's a toss up here as to which draws more peeps.

All our Jam instructors are also certified in Zumba.  One weakness in the Zumba program is there isn't the pressure to learn a complete new release every three months. I know that one of our Jam instructors quit teaching Zumba because she didn't have the time to continuously learn new material for both Jam and Zumba, and her Zumba classes were the losers for that. Honorable decision on her part.

My personal preference is for BJ as I accept the chorey as a challenge that will take me a couple weeks to master. As crazy as I am in BJ classes, I take quite a bit of pride in my basic mastery of the chorey.  Though my breakouts can get pretty far from the basic chorey.  Participent license.

I always have fun when I do Zumba, and I get just as good a cardio workout. Lots of peeps feel much less compelled to mimic the chorey of the instructor in Zumba.

I tutor English to Latinos and occassionally bring a student as a guest to my location, and we always go to a Zumba class since it's simply push play and dance for them, fun from the gitgo.

Rex

RexFury:

LOL! The original post is such a hachet job as to be totally laughable.

What is laughable about it? It's an honest review of my first experience of Zumba - not a "hatchet job", this is an open forum where we are allowed to express personal views and opinions...

 As Maki said, this may not be reflective of the program itself, I may just have done it with two instructors that just weren't that great...

 As I said, I can see a market for it and I will put it on my timetable, but personally it's just not for me.

If you liked Jazzercize, a workout for stay at home moms and people with low self esteem who are too afraid to challenge themselves,  and/or have never really experienced the joy of dance, either in a dance class or on the dance floor, then you'll love the Zumba craze.

Hopefully with time, this Zumba fad will fade, to take its place along Jazzercize as another one of those low effort, low output classes.  But Body Jam, it's the real thing-it can bring the exhilaration out in you-better than any therapy you would waste hundreds of dollars for.  May it forever thrive.  Our brains and bodies will be ever so much the better for it..

springrain:

Hopefully with time, this Zumba fad will fade, to take its place along Jazzercize as another one of those low effort, low output classes. 

Sounds like a prayer to me.

I teach both ( or I did until my Jam class got cut)...I think your experience is reflective of having a sub-par instructor. Honestly, Zumba is far more hardcore about "push play and go" than Jam and you are discouraged from "talking"/verbally cueing ( although I can't help myself). There shouldn't have been any stop and start.

I do agree that there are moves that seem unsafe, especially since you aren't "supposed" to explain much. Plus the "its a dance party!!!" vibe I really believe allows participants to ignore any tech tips that the instructor might want to give. 

I do like that I can pretty much tailor my own mix. I'll take suggestions from my class but otherwise I can do my own thing which is nice. I only have one number that has some high impact stuff, otherwise my class stays dancier than most.

Agreed that the Zumba training is very simple...but then again so is the workout. 

 @ Rex-

No, more like an encomium-but don't bother looking up the word-the concept would be lost on the likes of you.

May I motivate you?   Huh?   With what?  Certainly not your brain.

springrain:

If you liked Jazzercize, a workout for stay at home moms and people with low self esteem who are too afraid to challenge themselves,  and/or have never really experienced the joy of dance, either in a dance class or on the dance floor, then you'll love the Zumba craze.

Hopefully with time, this Zumba fad will fade, to take its place along Jazzercize as another one of those low effort, low output classes.  But Body Jam, it's the real thing-it can bring the exhilaration out in you-better than any therapy you would waste hundreds of dollars for.  May it forever thrive.  Our brains and bodies will be ever so much the better for it..

Know thy self; Know thy enemy.  Ring a bell? 

Springrain??? LOL! Now who might this be behind a new ident with nothing to support it? Who are you? Your first two posts here?  Not bloody likely.

Objective and factual analysis and review of this program will be helpful to the survival of BJ since at the moment Zumba is having BJ's lunch. Baseless hatchet jobs are not helpful, not to LMI, nor to LMI instructors who might not have seen a Zumba class YET.

Try supporting your suppositions with facts, or even personal experience, and not baseless ad copy.

Whistling past the graveyard.  Ring a bell? 

Ring a bell?   Check the links if you're clueless.

Rex