Zumba is usually taught in classes with instructors licensed by Zumba Fitness, at any gym, fitness centre or even at instructor’s home. Meanwhile, Zumba has its DVD collections and Wii game available to conduct the workout and party at home.

At Class

Zumba® classes are usually of an hour. The Zumba instructor will lead the class in easy, simple movements with a combination of dance and fitness moves.

The music is fun and invigorating and is mostly Latin. Different Latin dance styles will be used, as well as fitness moves, such as bicep curls, lunges, and other body- toning moves. There will be a lot of hip and booty shaking too!

Safety first:  

If you have any low back or knee problems (or any medical problems), keep your moves basic and ask your Instructor for an alternative way to do the move.

The structure of the class starts with a warm-up and proceeds to intervals of faster and slower tempos throughout the duration of the class (AKA Interval Training), ending with a cool-down and stretch.

Most of the Zumba classes are cardio workouts...some Instructors may add Hand Weights, a Step routine, or add another form of exercise to Zumba.  Just make sure to bring a bottle of water, because you will sweat! Most vital; be ready to express your enthusiasm!

At Home

Zumba Fitness, LLC, the company that markets Zumba fitness products, offers a four-set DVD collection called the “Zumba Fitness DVD collection” that includes seven different Zumba workouts. Instructional DVDs with Latin-inflected and international music routines also walk you through the vigorous one-hour workout.

One of the reasons why Zumba is so hugely popular is that you can enjoy the experience in your own home with Wii Zumba Fitness or with the DVD collections.

Or, you can do Zumba for free with YouTube. Zumba Fitness has a “Basic Steps Demo” on their LoveZumba YouTube channel that offers instructions in the most basic dance moves.

Looking for “Zumba” on YouTube will also turn up a handful of Zumba videos. Online videos are usually only a few minutes in length, which allows you to pick up basic Zumba moves that you can then configure into a full Zumba workout on your own.

Basic Comparison

If you are elderly, shy, heavyset or lack confidence because you think you have the proverbial two left feet, Zumba Fitness at home can get you started. "Zumba Fitness Exhilarate DVD Experience" provides in-depth descriptions of the individual steps, including cumbia, salsa and calypso.

Trainers Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant conduct a 45-minute class, while Perez leads a live group-fitness party for 45 minutes. Guest instructors also lead a "Mix" workout featuring international tunes, while trainers Kass Martin and Loretta Bates conduct a 20-minute "Rush" workout.

But if you want to have party and increase your social circle, you must go for a Zumba class as there are more people so you can interact with them, share their experiences, make new friends.

But most importantly, you have instructors there to provide you proper guidelines and aware you about do’s and dont’s.

Doing Both

Zumba Fitness DVDs continually bring new students to classes -- and they can help experienced students get better. Whereas, Zumba classes are quiet attractive enough for students that has made Zumba their number-one priority for fitness workout regardless of their age group.

Both ways have their own significance, it depends on you what suits you better. However, the classes have edge over the home workout efforts as instructors are always there to support and motivate you.