This Body Pump review after Zumba covers one of those weekend training days that started with joy and ended with proper effort.
I began with a 45 minute Zumba class full of energy, music and choreography, then moved on to a 55 minute Body Pump session that quickly turned into a serious test of strength, focus and how much weight I was really willing to use.
It was a great combination.
Zumba brought movement, good mood and that bright group fitness atmosphere that instantly lifts the room. Body Pump brought the challenge, the discipline, the heavier plates and the kind of instructor pressure that can completely change how you approach a workout.
This was not just a light gym visit.
It was a proper weekend training day.
Quick Verdict
Zumba
- Intensity: 7.5 out of 10
- Good for: dance cardio, coordination, rhythm, energy, mood and group fitness motivation
- My after class mood: happy, energised, smiling and fully lifted by the room
Body Pump
- Intensity: 8.5 out of 10
- Good for: strength endurance, barbell work, squats, chest, back, biceps, discipline and gradual weight progression
- My after class mood: challenged, proud, worked hard and very aware that I had not been allowed to hide behind the easy option
Class Snapshot
Zumba
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Format: dance cardio class with choreographed routines, rhythm work, coordination and short challenge moments
- Equipment: training shoes, water bottle and towel
- Instructor style: Diana was bright, energetic and welcoming, with music and choreography that made the class feel alive
- Guest instructor: Carlos Maria de Brito brought extra energy, stage presence and great mood
- My focus today: enjoy the music, follow the choreography, stay present and rise to the challenge moments
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just cardio effort, movement and coordination
Body Pump
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Format: barbell strength endurance class with warm-up, squats, chest, back, biceps and repeated resistance tracks
- Equipment: barbell, plates, step or bench, mat, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Igor was direct, demanding, motivating and very good at pushing us to use the weight we were actually capable of lifting
- My focus today: use enough weight, survive the harder tracks and not choose the lazy option
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just heavy effort, especially in squats, chest, back and biceps
Track Your Body Pump Progress
Body Pump progress can be hard to see from one class to the next, especially when you are slowly changing weights, rebuilding confidence, or learning which tracks challenge you most.
I created the Barbell Class Progress Tracker for women who take Body Pump or other barbell based group fitness classes and want a simple printable way to record their weights, follow their progress, and stay consistent from class to class.
The Workout: Zumba + Body Pump
I started with Zumba and Diana Saldanha. The energy in this class is SO good. The smile Diana greets us with is always so bright!
We had a special guest: Carlos Maria de Brito. Some time ago, he also taught this class alongside Diana and I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by his energy and great mood.
Whenever I dance to Diana’s music selection I really love it, because the choreographies are so well put together.
One of the things I love most about group classes is the existence of challenges. I take them very seriously and always try to rise to them. In Diana’s Zumba, on top of the choreographies already being VERY challenging, every now and then she encourages us to do it on our own, meaning without her guidance. They are brief moments, but just enough to show we have been paying attention and catch that proud teacher expression on Diana’s face!
The class was MAGNIFICENT. Diana and Carlos were wonderful on stage, and it was so lovely to see the camaraderie between colleagues.
I moved on to Body Pump with Igor Angélico.
The moment I walked into the room, I was warned by Mr. Igor that I would need to use more weight today, since he had heard I was well rested. My immediate thought was: “I am done for! No room for laziness today!”
Warm-up done, which included push-ups, we moved into squats. I automatically loaded up my 32.5kg (to avoid the telling-off) and we got started.
The chest track was really tough, but I kept up, as did the back track, whose music choice was spectacular.
And speaking of telling-offs, it was during this last one (if I remember correctly) that, as we began the exercise, I reached for the 5kg plate. Suddenly I hear a booming voice: “Suzi, you can do it with 10! You can do it with 10!” I thought: “10kg? Really?” I found one of my 10kg plates and got back to it. And would you believe the instructor was right? I managed it, and managed it well! WONDERFUL!
The remaining tracks were reasonable, with the exception of the biceps one, where I nearly “died.” Our facial expressions must have been something to behold, because Igor actually came down from the stage to do it with us!
I LOVED the class! Igor was phenomenal, the workout seriously demanding, and the fun was very much present throughout.
WEEKEND TRAINING DAY? CHECK!
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Diana Saldanha, Carlos Maria de Brito and Igor Angélico
This was one of those training days where the instructors clearly shaped the entire experience.
Diana brought brightness, rhythm and that welcoming energy that makes a class feel good before it even properly starts. Her choreography was challenging, but enjoyable, and the way she tested the room with those short no-guidance moments added focus and a sense of pride when you got it right.
Carlos added even more stage energy and warmth. The dynamic between both instructors made the class feel lively and generous, not just physically active.
Igor brought something completely different to the second half of the session.
His coaching in Body Pump was demanding, playful and sharp. He knew exactly when to push, exactly when to challenge, and exactly when to call out the safer option. That moment with the 10 kg plate mattered because it changed the result of the track and proved that sometimes the instructor sees your real capacity before you do.
Together, these classes gave me a training day with both joy and progression.
Is Zumba Before Body Pump a Good Combination?
For me, yes.
Zumba first works very well because it gets the body moving, lifts the mood and raises the energy without feeling heavy in the same way strength work does. It is cardio, coordination and rhythm, but it also feels playful.
That makes it a great opening class.
Body Pump afterwards changes the tone completely. The workout becomes more structured, more demanding and much more dependent on focus, muscular endurance and weight selection.
The combination works because the first class wakes you up and the second class asks you to work.
Zumba gives you movement, music and joy.
Body Pump gives you challenge, resistance and progress.
If you enjoy group fitness and want a weekend session that feels both fun and productive, this is a very good pairing.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: happy, sweaty and proud that I had done both classes
- Later that day: tired, satisfied and very aware that Body Pump had done its job
- Next day: the body definitely felt the effort, especially after the heavier choices in Pump
Final Thoughts
This was a very good weekend training day.
Zumba gave me joy, energy, music and that uplifting room atmosphere that makes you want to move. Body Pump gave me the challenge, the structure and the reminder that progress often appears when someone pushes you beyond the option you were about to choose for yourself.
That was the real value of this session. That I was pushed into doing more than I was about to settle for.
And I did it.
That 10 kg moment alone was worth remembering.
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.
