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A review of the 2008 Zumba DVD collection.
A whole lot of exercise!!




So I ordered the new 2008 Zumba DVD collection.  The website, zumbafitness.com, promises to deliver in 2 to 3 weeks and I promptly
received my package in 2 weeks. A small box arrived with the contents of 4-DVD's, a guide book, and a set of toning sticks. It is
well-packaged (no bulky DVD cases) and the $72 price (which includes $12 shipping) is worth it when you consider that there are 6
different classes included in the set, plus a set of light weights.

Start by reading the "total-body transformation guide," a colorful, spiral booklet that will give you training tips including a stretching
guide; a 7-day plan for getting started with Zumba exercise (they even include a free day: "relax in a hot tub or steam bath"); a 10-day
accelerated fat loss program (including tips on how to portion your meals and a weekly recipe plan); and a 10-day sculpt and toning plan.

The first DVD you should pop into your DVD player is the Zumba Basics and 20-minute Express workout (both workouts on the same
DVD).  The Zumba Basics instruction is very thorough. I was expecting a short introduction to frequently used Zumba steps. Instead it was
a full hour filled with 24 basic step variations to several rhythms including merenge, salsa, quebradita, cumbia, reggaeton, Carribean Island
and samba.  The instruction is well-organized into what they refer to as a three-level "easy beat system."  In the first level they show the
steps slowly without the arm or hip movements. In the second level they add the arms and hips but still do it to a half-tempo beat.  Then in
the third level you do the step at full tempo.  The full hour of basic instruction can be used as a workout in itself.  But if you still have some
energy, continue watching and do the 20-minute express which reinforces all the basic moves you've just learned.  This 20-minute workout
will get your heart rate up and is a nice alternative for when you don't have a full hour to spend in front of the DVD player.







The Cardio Party DVD is a 50-minute workout. Cardio Party uses the same rhythms that you learned in the basic instruction, reinforcing
all those moves that you learned and put into practice in the 20-minute express workout.  This DVD gives you two viewing options: one with
"rhythm refreshers" and one without. The "rhythm refreshers" are labels on the bottom of the screen during the workout.  The labels list the
names of the steps that were taught in the Basics workout. When you click on a rhythm refresher label, it takes you to the original
instruction of that particular step.  When you are done viewing it will take you right back to where you left off in the Cardio Party workout.  
This wasn't really explained anywhere in the guide or the DVD but I guess it was easy enough to figure out.  The Cardio Party also adds a
little more choreography that is characteristic of Zumba, playing to the musicality in the songs, but still very easy to follow.  Also, there is an
"American Mix" song in this workout which is a combination of country and rock and roll music.

The third DVD in the trio pack is the Sculpt and Tone which lasts 45 minutes. Here's where you will use the toning sticks that came with
the DVD kit. This is a very nice workout and you could very well do it without the weights. This Zumba workout will have you doing squats,
lunges, bicep curls, tricep curls and rows as well as some very fun choreography. Additional rhythms such as belly dance and flamenco are
represented on this DVD.  Although the basic steps of these rhythms were not broken down in the previous DVD, Beto and his crew make
it very easy to follow and learn.  This workout also includes a cardio section to an African Beats rhythm where they do not use the weights,
and then it finishes with a cool down.

A separate DVD is included that has two workouts: Zumba Fitness Live! and Flat Abs. In the Zumba Fitness Live you get to feel the
energy of being in a live class, moving and shaking with a crowd of 300 people!  In this 55-minute workout Beto really shows his personality
onstage along with his cast of Zumba dancers.  Several of the rhythms previously taught in the other DVD's are represented. One editing
error I noticed is that the "samba" section is mislabeled as "salsa."  The Flat Abs workout on the same DVD is more of a fitness-oriented
(than dance) workout but still more fun than a typical abs workout!  This 20-minute abs workout is done entirely standing (no sit-ups!) and
is quite a cardio workout as well.  You will do movements that will work the core such as twists, side arm reaches, knee lifts, oblique
crunches and hip circles to name a few. It is all mixed in with some Zumba dancing to more great music!

In summary, I think this is a nicely organized fitness program, especially compared to other fitness and exercise DVD's.  It is a great
introduction for the new Zumba fitness enthusiast, and if done on a regular basis, should be a very effective weight-loss and toning
exercise program.
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