This Zumba and Body Pump review covers one of those training days that started with music, rhythm and great energy, then moved into a demanding Body Pump session that made the whole week feel properly finished.
I began with a Zumba class led by Belinha, full of movement, choreography and personality. After that, I moved on to Body Pump with Igor Angélico and Rui Batalha, where the new release brought squats, lunges, push-ups, biceps, dancing and a very clear reminder that Body Pump never lets you relax too much.
It was fun, hard, sweaty and completely worth it.
Quick Verdict
Zumba
- Intensity: 7.5 out of 10
- Good for: dance cardio, rhythm, coordination, mood, energy and group fitness motivation
- My after class mood: happy, impressed, focused and lifted by the instructor’s energy
Body Pump
- Intensity: 8.5 out of 10
- Good for: strength endurance, barbell work, squats, lunges, biceps, core and full-body conditioning
- My after class mood: tired, proud, challenged and very aware that the new release was not playing around
Class Snapshot
Zumba
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Format: dance cardio class with choreographed routines, rhythm work, coordination and expressive movement
- Equipment: training shoes, water bottle and towel
- Instructor style: Belinha was warm, stylish, expressive, energetic and full of presence
- My focus today: follow unfamiliar choreographies, stay attentive and enjoy the energy of the room
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just cardio effort, coordination and a lot of attention
Body Pump
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Format: barbell strength endurance class with warm-up, squats, posterior chain work, triceps, lunges, shoulders, biceps and core
- Equipment: barbell, plates, step bench, mat, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Igor brought energy, humour and challenge, while Rui kept checking technique and helping the room stay focused
- My focus today: survive the new release, keep the weight sensible, manage the squat track and stay with the class until the end
- Injury notes: no injury to report, just serious leg and upper-body effort
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 arrived at the Zumba studio and spotted instructor Belinha at the door. She welcomed me with the biggest smile and the best energy, and just like that, the class began.
First things first: the instructor’s LOOK! WOW! 
From the hair to the outfit! Simply MAGNIFICENT!
I struggled quite a bit in this class because I did not know Belinha’s choreographies, so I spent most of it paying close attention and trying to keep up. And the energy she has! 
Being African myself, hip movement is something I notice immediately. I was absolutely amazed by how effortlessly Belinha moved in that department. So good!
I really enjoyed the track with the up, down, side directions (I do not know the name of it 
).
But for me, the star of the class was the cool-down track. Truly beautiful. The music and the choreography together were something else.
I LOVED the class. Belinha is warm, dances beautifully, and brought so much life to the room that by the end, you could hear several participants saying: “I really enjoyed that.” 
Then I moved on to Body Pump with Igor Angélico and… Rui Batalha. I have to mention Igor’s outfit. I absolutely loved the colour choice!
Today I did the new Body Pump release for the very first time! Oh my goodness! 
For me, the hardest track by far was the squat track! JESUS! The BURN! 
Four slow reps! GOOD GOD! Thank goodness I stayed at 30kg.
I enjoyed the posterior chain track, the tricep track, and core.
The lunge track was quite tough and complex! But I liked it! 
During the shoulder track (I think it was that one ), I am honestly not sure what happened with those push-ups. I think Mr. Igor got a little too inspired by the plank track in the new Core release and decided that moving around in plank position should now also be part of Body Pump. 
Come on! Give us a break!
The star of the class was absolutely the bicep track. We suffered SO much!! SO MUCH! But we also danced! And that was the best part! SO GOOD! 
Everything hurts less when there is dancing involved!
The class was SPECTACULAR! Even more so with Rui Batalha there, who kept checking in to make sure we were doing the exercises correctly. I learned SO MUCH TODAY!
A PHENOMENAL training week, and it is done. Now… Me Time. 
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Belinha, Igor Angélico and Rui Batalha
Belinha brought warmth, style and real presence to the Zumba class. Her energy made the room feel alive from the beginning, and even though I did not know her choreographies, the class still felt enjoyable because she gave it so much personality.
Igor brought the challenge in Body Pump. The new release already felt demanding, but his energy made the session fun as well as hard. The squat track, the push-ups and the biceps all had that “what is happening here?” feeling, but in the best possible way.
Rui added something very valuable to the class because he kept watching technique and checking that people were doing the exercises correctly. That made the session feel more focused and useful, especially with a new release.
Together, this was a strong, energetic and very complete training day.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: sweaty, happy and very pleased with the combination
- Later that day: tired, but satisfied that I had finished the training week properly
- Next day: I could definitely feel the Body Pump effort, especially from the new release
Final Thoughts
This was a strong end to the training week.
Zumba gave me rhythm, energy and that bright group fitness atmosphere that makes you want to move. Body Pump gave me the challenge, the burn, the technique reminders and the kind of full-body work that makes you respect the class very quickly.
The new Body Pump release felt tough, especially the squat track and the biceps, but I liked the structure of the workout and the energy in the room.
It was hard, fun and very worth doing.
A proper training day.
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.
