This RPM and Body Step class review comes from a double cardio workout day that tested my legs, stamina, coordination, and mental endurance in two very different ways.
I started with RPM by Maria João Lopes, followed by Body Step by Rita Calaz. One class challenged me on the bike, with heavy legs and those tracks that feel much longer than they actually are. The other challenged me on the step, with coordination, impact, burpees, obliques, and jumps that demanded full attention.
This is my honest student experience of doing RPM and Body Step on the same day, how each class felt, what the instructors brought to the room, and why this combination made the workout feel intense, sweaty, and strangely satisfying.
Quick Verdict
RPM
- Intensity: 8
- Good for: cardio endurance, leg strength, stamina, indoor cycling focus, and mental endurance
- My after class mood: sweaty, challenged, slightly desperate during track 6, but proud that I kept going
Body Step
- Intensity: 9
- Good for: step coordination, cardio, leg power, rhythm, agility, and anyone who enjoys challenging group fitness classes
- My after class mood: tired, energised, proud, and genuinely happy that I managed the harder moments
Class Snapshot
RPM
- Class: RPM
- Instructor: Maria João Lopes
- Format: indoor cycling group fitness class
- Equipment: indoor bike
- Main focus: cardio, legs, stamina, climbing, speed, and endurance
- My focus today: managing my effort, surviving track 6, staying with the rhythm, and not giving up when the legs started burning
- Best surprise: even when track 6 felt endless, I still managed to push through and finish the class
Body Step
- Class: Body Step
- Instructor: Rita Calaz
- Format: step-based cardio group fitness class
- Equipment: step platform
- Main focus: cardio, coordination, legs, agility, jumps, burpees, and core control
- My focus today: listening to the cues, controlling my step work, handling the extra hand position requirement, and staying confident even when the class became demanding
- Best surprise: I managed the harder parts better than expected and finished feeling more ready for intense step classes.
My RPM and Body Step Class Experience
I COULDN’T HOLD BACK! My fingers are absolutely itching to write…
My warm-up for PORTUGAL FIT 2024 started today, with RPM by Maria João Lopes, followed by Body Step by Rita Calaz, at Solinca Colombo.
Oh, this RPM! Maria knows exactly how demanding these tracks are. She pushes us like there is no tomorrow. And we absolutely NEED it!
I loved track 4. The music is really fun. Track 5 hits hard. Even so, I managed my effort as best I could, because I knew what was coming in track SIX!
Those 6 minutes contain, for me, the 3 LONGEST MINUTES OF MY LIFE! People, it feels like it never ends. Not even Maria’s encouragement could make my despair disappear. I love the speed, but 3 minutes straight… “come on, keep going!” But listen, it is still my favourite track! Just… with a side-eye…
After track 6, track 7 feels like a walk in the park. At some point I thought: “Right, since we’re suffering anyway, let’s finish with our heads held high and give it everything. Just a little more burn!”
The class was incredible! How Maria keeps those legs on the beat, I will never know. And always with a smile!
Then I moved on to Body Step. Rita welcomed us with her usual warmth.
Classes like Body Step and Power Jump give me a mix of happiness and anxiety. I genuinely love doing them, but I am always looking down at the step. Because the only way I want to end up on the floor is voluntarily.
I am still learning the track order. The 45 minutes go by fast. Rita explained the alternatives really well, and the reasons behind some of the common step mistakes.
Of course my favourite track is the BURPEES one! There is nothing better than that exercise! BUT, today it came with an extra hand position requirement. Yeah… that made things a little more demanding… But I managed!
Oh, that obliques track and the step with a mind of its own. The instructor did her absolute best with the cues, but my step has a very strong personality! It drives me crazy!
This class is incredibly demanding and challenging on so many levels. And I love that! A lot! Rita was impeccable, pushed us hard, and left me absolutely speechless with the height of her jumps on that step! SOMEONE IS READY FOR PORTUGAL FIT!
Instructor Notes
Maria João Lopes made RPM feel demanding, focused, and impossible to take lightly. Her class pushed my legs hard, especially through those tracks that feel like they never end. What stood out was the way she kept the room moving with energy and control, even when the effort became uncomfortable.
Rita Calaz brought warmth, precision, and strong coaching to Body Step. She explained the alternatives clearly, corrected common step mistakes, and still kept the class challenging. Her cues made the class easier to follow, but the workout itself stayed intense, especially with the burpees, obliques track, and jumps on the step.
Together, both classes created a strong double-cardio session: RPM for endurance and leg burn, Body Step for coordination, impact, and full-body effort.
How I Felt After Class
Right after: Tired, sweaty, and very aware that this was not a light training day. RPM had already worked my legs hard, and Body Step added coordination, impact, and another layer of cardio.
Later that day: I felt proud because I had completed two demanding classes in one day. The combination of RPM and Body Step gave me that very specific group fitness feeling: tired body, clear head, and genuine satisfaction.
Next day: My legs remembered RPM, and my body remembered Body Step. It was the kind of soreness that feels connected to effort, focus, and a proper cardio workout.
