This Zumba and Body Pump review is from one of those Saturday mornings that started with music, choreography, and good mood… and ended with my legs questioning all my life choices.
I began with Zumba with Diana Saldanha, which gave me the happy cardio energy I needed, and then moved into Body Pump with Igor Angélico, who had just come back from vacation and clearly returned with zero intention of being gentle with us. 
Basically: Zumba made me smile, Body Pump made me suffer, and the whole morning reminded me why I love these group fitness classes so much.
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 completely lifted by the room
Body Pump
- Intensity: 8.5 out of 10
- Good for: strength endurance, barbell work, squats, chest, back, biceps, discipline and getting back into the routine after a break
- My after class mood: challenged, proud, tired and very aware that Igor had come back from vacation with all his strength
Class Snapshot
Zumba
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Format: dance cardio class with choreographed routines, rhythm work, coordination and strong cardio moments
- Equipment: training shoes, water bottle and towel
- Instructor style: Diana was bright, warm, precise and expressive, with choreography that made the class feel alive
- My focus today: enjoy the music, follow the choreography, stay present and take in the energy of the room
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just cardio effort, movement and tiredness halfway through class
Body Pump
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Format: barbell strength endurance class with warm-up, squats, chest, back, biceps, lunges, shoulders and core tracks
- Equipment: barbell, plates, step or bench, mat, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Igor was energetic, motivating, playful and very good at bringing the room up while still making us work hard
- My focus today: see if I could still handle my 32.5 kg after two weeks without Body Pump
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just heavy effort, especially during the lunge track and that serious calf burn
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.
Saturday! Zumba and Body Pump day!
Well, looks like someone’s back from vacation… I bet he’s coming back full of energy… I just hope he has mercy on those of us who weren’t living the good life while he was gone…
I haven’t done Body Pump in 2 weeks… time flies… 
we’ll see if I can still handle my 32.5 kg. 
Before anything else: HE’S BACK!!! What a CLASS!
Zumba
I started with Zumba and the incredible Diana Saldanha!
We had something new today. Track 2! OMG! Such a beautiful song, and even more so, the choreography! Diana really shows it so well. We managed to pick up the steps fast.
I always start super upbeat, full of energy, with a huge smile. Halfway through class I really start to feel the tiredness. The smile stays, the good mood stays too, but the energy starts to fade 
.
May is heart health month, so Diana said we’d be getting a solid cardio workout in class. And… YES! Confirmed! That class was intense 
!
I got chills today! I stood on the left side of the room, but in the middle row. I could really take in the atmosphere and the students. There was a moment where I was just mesmerized. The room was packed and everyone was dancing so well 
! I thought: “I wonder what Diana feels in these moments?” It must be so moving for the instructor, week after week seeing the room fill up with happy students dancing their hearts out. So good to be part of this Zumba community! 💪🏾
What a spectacular class! 
Note: the name of the song I keep talking about isn’t Madalena. It’s Magalenha. 
Confirmed it with Diana today. Where’s the hole I can crawl into? 
Body Pump
Next up, Body Pump with Igor Angélico.
Sitting on the bench in the hallway, I see him arrive! All in a great mood. Of course… coming back from vacation…
The room filled up, equipment set up, and the warm-up began.
We moved on to track 2 and I managed it with my 32.5kg. Cool.
I did the chest and posterior chain tracks with some difficulty, but it went okay.
But Igor had to prove he came back from vacation with all his strength! The lunge track. I nearly “died.” JESUS! At some point the burn in my calves was so bad I didn’t know which way to turn anymore. And to top it off, the exercise ended with a jump on the step. MOTHER OF GOD! That track hurt! A LOT!
The rest of the tracks brought Igor’s typical toughness, where I made all my usual ugly faces, especially during biceps .
The class was spectacular. We had our Igor back, in the best mood, hyping everyone up, and the crowd was CLEARLY happy to have him back! What a WONDERFUL CLASS! 
What a MAGNIFICENT week of workouts! 🙌🏾
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Diana Saldanha and Igor Angélico
This was one of those training days where both instructors shaped the whole experience.
Diana brought joy, music and that full-room Zumba atmosphere that makes the class feel bigger than just cardio. The new Track 2 was beautiful, and she showed the choreography so well that we managed to pick it up fast. There was also that moment where I looked around the room, saw everyone dancing, and thought about what it must feel like for her to see a packed room moving like that every week.
Igor brought a completely different energy to the second half of the morning.
He was back from vacation, in a great mood, hyping everyone up, and the room was clearly happy to have him back. His Body Pump class was strong, demanding and fun, but that lunge track was a crime against my calves. Very Igor: good mood, hard work, and me making ugly faces during biceps.
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 lunge track and the return to heavier barbell work
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.
