This Zumba and Body Pump review is from a Saturday gym morning with Carnival energy, a packed room, great instructors and the perfect end to a strong training week.
I started with Carnival Zumba with Diana Saldanha, full of music, accessories, movement and that party feeling that somehow still counts as serious cardio. Then came Body Pump with Igor Angélico and special guest Pedro Pereiros, which brought strength, humour, dancing during biceps and some very rude triceps.
It was fun, tough, sweaty and exactly the kind of workout morning that makes me think: yes, I am growing stronger and loving it.
Quick Verdict
Zumba
- Intensity: 7.5 out of 10
- Good for: dance cardio, Carnival energy, coordination, rhythm, mood, calorie burn and pure fun
- My after class mood: happy, festive, sweaty and fully served by my own little Carnival party
Body Pump
- Intensity: 8.5 out of 10
- Good for: strength endurance, barbell work, triceps, lunges, biceps, stamina, discipline and finishing the training week strong
- My after class mood: tired, proud, amused and very happy with the full week of workouts
Class Snapshot
Zumba
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Format: Carnival-themed dance cardio class with choreographed routines, high-energy tracks, rhythm work and party atmosphere
- Equipment: training shoes, water bottle, towel and Carnival accessory
- Instructor style: Diana was warm, thoughtful, powerful and full of energy, with a strong voice and a way of making the room feel completely in Carnival mode
- My focus today: enjoy the costume, dance comfortably, follow the new tracks and fully enter the Carnival spirit
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just breathless moments, sweat and lots of dancing with accessories on
Body Pump
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Format: barbell strength endurance class with warm-up, squats, chest, back, triceps, biceps, lunges, shoulders, abs and stretch
- Equipment: barbell, plates, step or bench, mat, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Igor was fun, tough and classically Igor, while Pedro brought friendliness, strong stage presence and great energy as the special guest
- My focus today: finish the training week strong, enjoy the two-instructor energy and survive the triceps and lunge tracks
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just heavy effort, especially during triceps and lunges
Zumba
Today is Saturday! Zumba and Body Pump day!
And what’s better than Zumba? Carnival Zumba! 
Diana asked us to bring a Carnival accessory today. Of course I didn’t hesitate for a second. The only thing left to decide was what to wear, because after all, we’re still training… 
And the day has arrived. I love my “costume.” I think I can dance comfortably in it. 
Hint: Meow! And it’s not a cat. I know I’m a cat in the figurative sense 
, but not costume-wise 
. But it’s not far off… coming soon on stories… 
What a special day! Walking into the room for Zumba class, there was Diana Saldanha at the door, looking gorgeous in her Carnival accessory. As always, with her usual warmth, she welcomed us in. What a thoughtful instructor 
: for students who forgot theirs, she brought extra props. So well thought out! 👏🏾 That’s how we all got into the Carnival spirit.
Have I told you about Diana’s voice? What a powerhouse! What strength! What energy! It was one of the first things I noticed at her very first class I attended. Powerful! 
We did class in a bigger room. And even that one filled up! What a sight!
From the very start I could feel we were in Carnival mode! The music, the energy, the fun. Diana was in an incredible mood!
There were new tracks that left me breathless! 
I love it when Diana comes off the stage and dances with us 
. Everything gets even more fun!
I actually thought I’d struggle doing the class with my accessories on, but I did great. I danced, had a blast!
I already went to my Carnival party and got well served! 
Body Pump
Next up was Body Pump, with Igor Angélico.
Yesterday, in Core, Igor mentioned he’d have a special guest for Body Pump. And guess who it was? I talked about him just yesterday. Life really is funny that way .
It was Pedro Pereiros! Just yesterday I mentioned the great relationship between colleagues, and once again, today was proof of that. I really love going to classes with more than one instructor. It makes everything even more fun. Pedro was super friendly as always, and Igor brought a class that was classically him: super fun, but tough on the exercises.
I’ve already noticed Igor can’t help himself when it comes to dancing 
! Good music comes on and his body starts throwing in dance moves, I think it’s automatic ! Wonderful! Especially during the biceps track. We’re mid-workout and suddenly there he goes, dancing ! I’m always watching, I love observing. I start smiling right away. Makes my day! 🙌🏾
The tracks were tough, but today’s bad reputation award goes to triceps. I can’t even say which was worse, that one or the lunges track… (notice I didn’t complain about the squats? Don’t worry, that’ll be short-lived ).
Packed room, great mood, friendly people, excellent workout! Perfect! 
And that’s it, training week complete. I managed every class I had planned, tried a new one (Body Attack), and even added Core on Friday!
Growing Stronger and loving it!!! 
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Diana Saldanha, Igor Angélico and Pedro Pereiros
Diana made Carnival Zumba feel special from the moment we walked into the room. She was at the door welcoming everyone, looking gorgeous in her Carnival accessory, and even brought extra props for the students who had forgotten theirs. That kind of thoughtfulness really sets the tone.
Her voice and energy are powerful. It is one of the first things I noticed when I first attended her class, and this Carnival session showed it again. The bigger room filled up, the music was strong, the new tracks were breathless, and when Diana came off stage to dance with us, everything got even more fun.
Then Body Pump brought Igor and Pedro together, and that combination worked beautifully. Igor was fun, demanding and clearly unable to resist dancing when good music came on, especially during the biceps track. Pedro was friendly as always, and after doing Sprint and GRIT with him before, seeing him in Body Pump felt like another reminder of how strong and natural he is as an instructor.
Packed room, great mood, friendly people, excellent workout.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: sweaty, happy and fully in that Carnival-meets-strength-training mood
- Later that day: tired, satisfied and proud that I had completed every class I had planned that week
- Next day: the body definitely felt the effort, especially after Body Pump, but the week felt complete in the best way
The Carnival Outfit I Wore
For this Carnival Zumba class, I wore the easy black mask and gloves outfit I had put together for the theme. I wanted something fun, but still comfortable enough to dance, move, sweat and then survive Body Pump afterwards.
It worked perfectly. Nothing felt restrictive, the accessories stayed in place, and I could actually train in it.
I shared the full outfit here: Catwoman Costume for Women: Easy Mask and Gloves Outfit for a Dance Class or Party
My Gym Essentials
Everything I actually use and love during my workouts. Tested, approved, and perfect for busy women who want efficient results.
- Group Fitness Class Tracker for Women (Free Printable)
- Water Bottle: Stay hydrated without wasting time refilling.
- Training Shoes: Light, comfortable, and perfect for kettlebell workouts and power walks.
- Small Gym Bag: Compact but spacious enough to fit everything I need for my sessions.
- Shockproof Phone Case: Keeps my phone safe during intense workouts, because I drop it. More than I would like to admit.
- Smart Fitness Watch: Tracks my heart rate, calories burned, and progress, game-changer for my journey.
