Zumba Fitness (for Wii), Exercise/Game
The Gist:
Zumba Fitness basically combines international & Latin-inspired rhythms & music with aerobic exercise, for a fun workout.
There is a lot of hip-shaking, arm-flailing, and body-jumping.
An adjustable velcro belt goes around your waist & holds the Wii Remote. The pairing supposedly senses your hip/arms/body movements.
There are a number of different dances (Calypso, Salsa, Belly-Dancing, Rock ‘N Roll, Cumbia, etc.) that you can choose from.
Warm-up selections to get you started, and cool-down selections to end your work out. As well as, beginner, intermediate & expert settings attached to each dance selection.
Dance exercises are 4 to 20 minutes long, but there are “classes” available that run from 20 minutes to about 40.
First day I tried this, I thought, Man…this is hard!
I am not the best dancer, and keeping up with the instructor & music was rather sad. But, I felt the game was too fast-pace (especially during the introductory tutorials), for a Zumba beginner.
I’d never “Zumba’d” before!
My understanding is that the instructor would turn green, when you got the moves correct. She’d also tell you “Good Job!”
And, there’s a bar at the bottom of the screen that would fill up as you “increase energy” & progress through the routine.
Well…there were moments when I was definitely off in matching the moves (or, moments where I barely even moved at all, as I was trying to get back in-step with the instructor), and I still heard a ”Good Job!“. The bar would still progress too. So, I doubt the motion-reading is 100% accurate.
Still, even semi-keeping up, I worked up a sweat. And, found myself breathing fast & more deeply.
After 2 days of “playing” this on the easy character setting, I started to get the hang (having memorized some of the moves) & it did become a bit fun.
It was also a real deal workout. I had the reverted flat-ironed hair & next day body soreness to prove this.
Uh…it probably would’ve been a good idea to stretch before & after. 
Next time, for sure.
I would recommend this if you have trouble getting moving. Or, finding exercise that doesn’t initially fill you with dread at the thought of doing.
Though the sensing of your movements may not be accurately recognized, you definitely get out of it what you put into it.
Going all in, you’ll certainly be doing a ton of moving! And, possibly having a good time doing so. Which, I think is the point.
Plus, you can do this all within the comfort of your own dwelling.
Not bad.
I borrowed this from my sis-in-law, and now I’m thinking about purchasing my own. Maybe Zumba Fitness 2! The online reviews look interesting.
Have you ever “Zumba’d”?!
I did the wii zumba. I didn’t really like wearing the belt. I went to Zumba at my sis-n-laws gym. I was fun, hard, and craziness. The instructors gave no instructions and then turned off the lights and turn on black lights. It was bizarre because you could only see the parts of their bodies that got picked up by the black light. I would try it again but probably a different gym.
I think I’d like that gym…it sounds perfect!
I have been contemplating purchasing the zumba fitness for wii as well. Thanks for sharing.
No problem Shirley! I’d definitely consider the updated version that’s out. I am. The graphics are supposedly better, and it’s said to read movements more accurately.