This Zumba and Body Pump review is from a Saturday morning that started a little grey, so the plan was simple: shake the skeleton first, lift weights after, and finish the training week properly.
I started with Zumba with Diana Saldanha, which brought the friendliness, the cardio, the music and the fun straight away. Then came Body Pump with Igor Angélico and Pedro Pereiros teaching together, with Rita also there, good people all around, and a class full of energy, suffering faces and dance moments.
I was tired by the end, but so happy. Exactly why we keep coming back.
Quick Verdict
Zumba
- Intensity: 7.5 out of 10
- Good for: dance cardio, coordination, rhythm, sensuality, mood, stress release and group fitness fun
- My after class mood: happy, warm, energised and fully cheered up by the room
Body Pump
- Intensity: 8.5 out of 10
- Good for: strength endurance, barbell work, squats, lunges, triceps, coordination, stamina and a strong end to the training week
- My after class mood: tired, proud, amused and very happy I had stayed for the second class
Class Snapshot
Zumba
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Format: dance cardio class with choreographed routines, rhythm work, cardio tracks and interaction moments
- Equipment: training shoes, water bottle and towel
- Instructor style: Diana was friendly, upbeat and full of energy, with the kind of presence that makes the class feel fun from the moment she says good morning
- My focus today: cheer up the morning, enjoy the music, follow the choreography and let the class lift my mood
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just cardio effort and a proper breathless start
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 and Pedro had fantastic chemistry, with humour, energy, strong cueing and that playful dynamic that makes even the hard tracks feel fun
- My focus today: finish the training week strong, survive the squats and lunges, enjoy the instructor energy and fully take advantage of the dance moment
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just heavy effort, especially during squats, lunges and triceps
Zumba
Saturday’s feeling a bit down today. It’s missing the sun. So we need to cheer it up.
Shall we go to Zumba? And then Body Pump right after? Shake the skeleton and then lift weights to triumphantly wrap up the training week?
Let’s go! 
Today, no surprise here, I showed up at the gym super excited! I started with Zumba and Diana Saldanha.
We were waiting to go in when suddenly I hear someone say cheerfully: GOOD MORNING! It was Diana! Friendliness? Check 
!
We walked in and jumped straight into a breathless track. We also danced “Madalena” and “Mundo vai” to get the cardio going 
! Workout? Check !
And, to our delight, Diana had everyone circling the room 
! Fun? Check !
Today we got treated to 2 elements I love: coordination and sensuality, in the same track! 🙌🏾
I finally got to dance “Me Gusta” again, missed that song! I really love dancing to it! 
At the end, when Diana announced we were moving into the cool down, someone said out loud: “Ohhhh!” That’s exactly what we were all thinking!! 
Did we all love the class? Check !
Add to all that a super upbeat instructor and the class was perfect! 👌🏾
Body Pump
Next up was Body Pump, with Igor Angélico… and Pedro Pereiros! Yes… today it was 2 guys teaching the class!
Oh… and I also noticed intern Rita was there. Today it was just good people all around!
The chemistry between these 2 instructors is fantastic. Who’s the funnier one? If Pedro tried to hide it, he didn’t manage: I totally caught his amused expression watching our faces of suffering! I even thought: “Is it really that obvious?” 
And then, suddenly, Suzike nearly jumps for joy when Igor announces we’d be coordinating legs and arms 
! The moment I heard the music I knew we were going to DANCE! 
Fantastic! I took full advantage and danced 
! Loved this part!
Pedro really tried to escape, but Igor managed to pull 4 dance steps out of him 
! Phenomenal!
The class had its tough moments (the squats and lunges track… 
… no more comments 
), but also the triceps one. We were even invited up on stage to join the instructors, but I prefer to leave the stardom to them on this track 
.
At the start, Igor asked us to give our feedback on Pedro. “Constructive!” he said. As for me, Pedro is more than approved! Especially because after doing Sprint and Grit with him before, I already knew his Body Pump performance could only be flawless!
Really fun class, Igor and Pedro spectacular and a solid workout. Exactly why we keep coming back!
Training week done. I’m super tired, but so happy! 
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Diana Saldanha, Igor Angélico and Pedro Pereiros
Diana started the morning exactly as needed: cheerful, friendly and ready to make the room move. That “GOOD MORNING!” already set the tone. The class had cardio, fun, interaction and songs I was happy to dance again, especially “Me Gusta”. I loved the mix of coordination and sensuality in the same track. That is very much my kind of Zumba moment.
Then Body Pump came with Igor and Pedro teaching together, and the chemistry between them was fantastic. There was humour, strength, challenge and that little bit of chaos that makes the class feel alive. Pedro tried to escape the dance moment, but Igor still managed to pull a few steps out of him. Phenomenal.
Rita being there also added to the good feeling of the class. Honestly, it just felt like good people all around.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: sweaty, tired and in a much better mood than when the morning started
- Later that day: happy, satisfied and very aware that Zumba plus Body Pump had properly closed the training week
- Next day: the body definitely felt the effort, especially after Body Pump, but the mood boost was worth it
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.
