This Zumba and Body Pump review covers one of those training days where the room was full, the energy was high and both classes delivered something memorable.
I started with Zumba and Diana Saldanha, in a class full of music, movement, coordination, battle cries and that kind of energy that makes you forget how hard you are working. Then I moved on to Body Pump with Igor Angélico, where we got to vote for the release, suffer through the squat track, survive the lunges and confirm once again that Body Pump can be absolutely brutal in the best possible way.
It was fun, intense, sweaty and very worth showing up for.
Quick Verdict
Zumba
- Intensity: 7.5 out of 10
- Good for: dance cardio, coordination, rhythm, confidence, mood and group fitness energy
- My after class mood: happy, energised, challenged and very aware that Diana’s classes are serious training
Body Pump
- Intensity: 8 out of 10
- Good for: strength endurance, barbell work, squats, triceps, lunges, plates and mental discipline
- My after class mood: tired, amused, proud and fully aware that the release we voted for came with consequences
Class Snapshot
Zumba
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Format: dance cardio class with choreographed routines, rhythm work, coordination, new tracks and strong instructor energy
- Equipment: training shoes, water bottle and towel
- Instructor style: Diana was joyful, intense, encouraging and full of personality
- My focus today: follow the choreography faster, enjoy the music, keep moving and let the class energy carry me
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just cardio effort, coordination and a lot of sweat
Body Pump
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Format: barbell strength endurance class with warm-up, squats, triceps, lunges, plates and full-body effort
- Equipment: barbell, plates, step bench, mat, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Igor was funny, demanding, playful and very good at making the room work harder than planned
- My focus today: survive the voted release, manage the squat track, respect the lunges and avoid unnecessary drama where possible
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just serious lower-body fatigue and a very intense Body Pump session
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.
Diana was in the best mood. Full room and we got started.
One thing Diana does in class that I really love is pushing us. Not just to dance, but also to let out those incredible battle cries. And believe me, sometimes that is genuinely hard given the intensity of the dancing. 
We danced “So Sexy” 
. I love it! That song is quite challenging in terms of coordination, and really great for feeling sensual… 😁
There was a new track. I was really happy to notice that, even though it was something new, I was already able to follow along much faster. At the beginning I used to really struggle 
. It is so important not to give up when things are hard. There is only one direction: forward.
And of course, without fail: every time Diana announces that the class is over, we hear protests. 😁 I completely understand them. It always feels like it ended too soon.
I loved the class, got a great workout in, and most importantly, had fun. 👌🏾
Then I moved on to Body Pump with Igor Angélico.
And today, we actually got to vote for the Body Pump release we wanted to do. The one I voted for won 
! However, Igor warned us that the joy would not be quite the same once we reached the lunge track.
I do not know why he only mentioned the lunges. The squat track was… how to say it?… AWFUL ?! There was one exercise, whose name I need to clarify with Igor, that was pure torture: we went down bit by bit and came back up in the same way. GOOD GRIEF! With 32.5 kg, that was no joke!
During the tricep track, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the people on stage suffering with Igor . Now that is one of those moments where I much prefer to stay in my little corner. Let me make my little scenes discreetly . But they did really well, because that exercise is no joke!
And yes, the lunge track was something extraordinary! Squats with 8 pulses? Really? Times 3? Really? Combined with lunges? Really? With a plate? REALLY?! Yes, it was killer!
What a SPECTACULAR class!
Due to “Mommy duties”, I had to leave early. Then I heard Igor talking about a photo! I rushed to the changing room, grabbed my bag and came back to see if I could still make it into the picture 
. I did not make it 
! Igor’s photos are so “COOL” ! Next time I will be in it! DEFINITELY!
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Diana Saldanha and Igor Angélico
Diana brought strong energy, joy and intensity to the Zumba class. Her class had music, coordination, sensuality, battle cries and that full-room feeling that makes people protest when it ends.
The strongest part of this Zumba session was the sense of progress. A new track appeared, and I noticed I could follow along faster than before. That matters. It shows what consistency does, especially in classes where choreography and coordination can feel difficult at first.
Igor brought the Body Pump challenge with humour and pressure in the right dose. The voted release sounded like a win at the beginning, then the squat track and lunge track made it very clear that we had chosen pain.
The session had exactly what makes Body Pump memorable: weight, burn, suffering, laughter and that feeling of “why am I doing this?” followed by “this was spectacular.”
Together, Diana and Igor made this a very strong training day.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: sweaty, tired and very happy with both classes
- Later that day: physically worked, amused by the madness and slightly annoyed that I missed the photo
- Next day: I could definitely feel the Body Pump effort, especially from squats and lunges
Final Thoughts
This was a very strong Zumba and Body Pump training day.
Zumba gave me energy, music, sensuality, coordination and that clear feeling of progress when a new track already felt easier to follow.
Body Pump gave me the burn, the weight, the voted release, the squat torture and the extraordinary lunge track that almost deserves its own warning sign.
The best part was how alive both classes felt. There was effort, humour, challenge and a lot of personality in the room.
A hard workout, a fun morning and another class review 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.
