This Zumba and Body Pump review is from one of those Saturday mornings where the energy was already high before the workout even started.

I was ready for the dances, the squats, the lunges and the whole “bring it on” feeling. Zumba with Diana Saldanha gave me music, joy, a packed room and pure group energy. Then Body Pump came with Igor Angélico, Pedro Pereiros and Rita Leonardo on stage, which immediately turned the class into something bigger than a normal workout.

It was one of those mornings where the classes were hard, the room was alive, and I spent far too much time smiling for someone doing squats, lunges and biceps.

Quick Verdict

Zumba

• Intensity: 7.5 out of 10
• Good for: dance cardio, rhythm, coordination, energy, mood, calorie burn and group fitness joy
• My after class mood: happy, lifted, smiling and completely fed by the room’s excitement

Body Pump

• Intensity: 8.5 out of 10
• Good for: strength endurance, barbell work, squats, lunges, chest, triceps, abs, biceps and a serious group fitness push
• My after class mood: challenged, proud, energised and still smiling because the atmosphere was too good

Class Snapshot

Zumba

• Duration: 45 minutes
• Format: dance cardio class with choreographed routines, rhythm work, interaction tracks and high-energy music
• Equipment: training shoes, water bottle and towel
• Instructor style: Diana was warm, energetic and full of life, with the kind of presence that makes a packed room feel even more excited to move
• My focus today: enjoy the songs, follow the choreography, join the interaction tracks and let the good mood take over
• Injury notes: no injury to report, just cardio effort, sweat and a lot of happy movement

Body Pump

• Duration: 55 minutes
• Format: barbell strength endurance class with warm-up, squats, chest, back/posterior chain, triceps, biceps, lunges, shoulders, abs and stretch
• Equipment: barbell, plates, step or bench, mat, towel and water bottle
• Instructor style: Igor, Pedro and Rita brought huge energy to the stage. Rita was confident, clear and full of presence; Igor and Pedro brought their usual strength, humour and showmanship.
• My focus today: enjoy the rare three-instructor energy, survive the tougher tracks and keep going through the squats, lunges, chest, triceps and abs
• Injury notes: no injury to report, just heavy effort and the usual Body Pump negotiation with the body

Instructor Notes

Instructor credit: Diana Saldanha, Igor Angélico, Pedro Pereiros and Rita Leonardo

This was one of those training days where the instructors made the whole experience feel bigger.

Diana brought exactly what I love about her Zumba classes: joy, music, warmth and a room that feels genuinely alive. The class was packed, the students were excited, and she even brought back songs we had not danced to in a while. The interaction tracks were such a good moment too. Everyone joined in with so much joy, and that is what makes her classes feel like more than just cardio.

Then came Body Pump with three instructors on stage. OMG.

Rita deserves a special mention. If she is an intern, then what an entrance. She looked so comfortable on stage, her cueing was spot on, her energy was beautiful, and that smile stayed there the whole time. She owned that stage.

Igor and Pedro were an incredible duo as always. The class had strength, humour, energy and that slightly chaotic happy feeling that makes the hard tracks easier to accept. Pedro even got applause, which says a lot. And seeing Hugo Rocha stop by was a lovely extra moment too.

• Right after: happy, sweaty, smiling and very aware that this had been a special Saturday workout
• Later that day: tired but in a brilliant mood, with that “I did something I love” feeling
• Next day: the body definitely felt the effort, especially after Body Pump, but the good mood was worth it