Zumba Fitness Exhilarate The Price Review

Amazon.Com Bigger, bolder, and edgier, the Zumba® strength Exhilarate DVD collection is revolutionizing the at home strength experience by combining raw energy with cutting edge design, lights, and sounds to take you on an unforgettable, exhilarating journey to a healthy and happy lifestyle.

The Activate DVD features a 45 minute workout sure to rev up your metabolism. As Jam packed with red hot dance steps, pulsating Latin and international rhythms, and feel it to the core routines, this invigorating dance fitness party will have you movin’, rockin’, and shakin’ the weight off to the exotic rhythms of salsa, cumbia, samba, reggaeton, merengue, and more. With music video style visuals and live musical accompaniment, these multisensory strength DVDs put you right in the center of a Zumba® Fitness Party. And thanks to its nonstop, easy to follow choreography and muscle engaging routines, you will torch hundreds of calories per hour and sculpt your body from head to toe without feeling like you’re working out. The seven disc DVD collection features seven total body workouts and each routine utilizes varying levels of intensity to deliver a body energizing workout that you will want to move to again and again. The set will include breakdowns of basic steps, a 20 minute “Rush” workout, a 45 minute “Activate” workout, the “Ripped” workout featuring the Zumba® Toning program and breakthrough Zumba Sentao program, a 60 minute “Exhilarate” dance fitness party, the “Mix” workout featuring rhythms from all over the world, and a big Zumbathon® Fitness Concert live class. About Zumba Fitness
The Zumba strength Total Body shift System will include four DVDs and two toning sticks. Zumba Fitness® is the only Latin inspired dance fitness program that blends red hot international music, produced by Grammy Award winning producers, and infectious steps to form a “fitness party” that’s downright addictive. Since its inception in 2001, Zumba strength has grown to become the world’s biggest and most successful dance fitness program with more than ten million people of all shapes, sizes, and ages taking weekly Zumba classes in over 90,000 places across more than 110 countries.A strength instructor in his native Cali, Colombia, the life of Zumba program’s founder, Alberto “Beto” Perez, took an unexpected turn one fateful day in the mid ’90s. He darted off to teach an aerobics class and forgot his conventional aerobics music, so he improvised using his own mix of music from tapes he had in his backpack (the salsa and merengue music he grew up with). Unexpectedly, he produced a new kind of dance fitness, one that focused on letting the music move you (instead of counting reps over the music). Energy electrified the room; people could not stop smiling. His class loved it! And on that day, a revolutionary new strength idea was born the Zumba Fitness Party.

The Exhilarate DVD features a 60 minute dance party workout that torches calories. In 2001, Beto brought his new dance fitness style to Miami, Florida, and, through a student (Alberto Perlman’s mom), met entrepreneurs Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion. All three hailed from Colombia and all three had a vision to bring this dynamic dance fitness class to the masses. The three Albertos made an alliance and produced a business, calling it Zumba strength. They trademarked the word Zumba® and set a goal to develop the brand all over the world. 1st came the DVDs, then the infomercial which presented the Zumba Fitness Party to the public on a wide scale base. That followed with the demand for Zumba classes and Zumba instructors , then the company took off and the Zumba program extended in a big way. By 2005, Zumba strength spawned a full fledged Zumba Academy to license Zumba Instructors to teach Zumba classes. More expansion followed with the launch of Zumbawear apparel and accessories, music CDs, and in 2008, one of the bestselling at home strength DVD series ever the Zumba Fitness® Total Body shift System which starred Beto and presented Zumba Fitness’ newest stars, Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant. In 2010, Zumba shook the ground by being the 1st branded strength program to launch a video game on all three big gaming platforms: Wii, Xbox, and PS3. Fast forward to today, the Zumba program is taught in gyms and studios all over the world to millions of Zumba fans. And as the program continues to evolve from its humble beginnings, to a world motion, to a way of life its growth has only deepened the company’s commitment to available strength, without the strain, without the sacrifice, just the pure delight of a party.

266 of 270 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars Addicted to Zumba!, May 14, 2011
By Rachel See all my reviews This review is from: Zumba strength Exhilarate: The final Experience DVD Set (Sports) Zumba certainly changed my life. I used to hate working out, but now it is my favorite part of the day. Till I had the courage to start attending a live Zumba class, I had been using Zumba strength Total Body shift System DVD Set. After three years, though, it was a bit boring with the same music and routines. When I saw that they released a new DVD set, I knew I had to purchase it.

The set comes with seven DVDs, a pair of toning sticks, and a program guide.


DVDs:

1. STEP BY STEP This DVD breaks down the basic Zumba rhythms: merengue, salsa, reggaeton, calypso, cumbia. Stomach dance. (Unlike with the older DVD set, there’s no step by step for samba, which kind of annoyed me because samba may be rather difficult. But, they do cover the basic samba step in the Mix DVD.) The steps are broken down by Gina and Tanya (from the last DVD set.) You have the choice of looking at the moves from both the front and back.

2. ACTIVATE features a 45 minute workout with Gina and Tanya that applies all the moves learned in the last DVD.

3. RUSH a high energy, 20 minute workout with two different instructors, Kass and Loretta, for when you don’t have much time.

4. EXHILARATE full length (60 minute) workout with Beto and another instructor, Melissa.

5. RIPPED 60 minute body sculpting workout that is split up in two sections. The 1st is Toning which uses the sticks, and is hosted by Beto and two other instructors, Jani and Melissa. The second is Sentao which features bench routines, and is hosted by Beto and another instructor, Marcie.

6. MIX features routines from different places and cultures. This DVD is supposed to be more advanced, and is hosted by Tanya and Beto, with experts from around the globe. You have the choice of seeing the routines broken down beforehand, which is really useful because many of the moves are really complicated!

7. Strength CONCERT 60 minute live concert starring Beto and some number of of the instructors shown in the other DVDs. The concert has been filmed in front of thousands of Zumba fans and has the same songs found in the Exhilarate DVD.


PROS:

The workouts are REALLY acute and high energy. I sweat buckets, in the 20 minute routine.

The production quality is AMAZING! I have never seen an at home workout DVD that comes close. I generally enjoyed the last DVD set due to colors. The new DVD set takes things to a whole other level. Everything is vibrant and colorful. There is a certain party feel.

The routines really appear like music videos. The new DVD set feels more like the experience of a live class. You have the choice of turning off the cueing and just listening to the music on each of the DVDs.

There is a slew of new music and different routines. You get to “meet” different instructors. Also to the Zumba staples (merengue, reggaeton, salsa, cumbia, etc.), there are routines that feature tango, swing, axé, hip hop, etc. The Mix DVD alone if great because it gives the chance to learn so various moves.

CONS:

I know the lighting is to help create a visual effect, but on occasion it makes it hard to see the steps.

There are many of routines that require many more floor space. Why are they as well as routines with an eight step? Typically I just move for four, then do the other four in place because there is no room. It looks like they produced these routines in the live classes in mind, which on one hand is nice because it gives the DVDs the feel of a live class, but on the other hand it is not really practical for someone doing this in small spaces, like an apartment or dorm room.

The Sentao section in specific requires many of floor space. You must be able to walk around a bench. You also need a tough bench since you must do lunges and other things with it.

To be honest, I favor the Toning DVD from the last set to this one. This Toning routine wasn’t efficient at all for me. They should included a full length toning workout instead of breaking it up between using the sticks and a bench, or at least make a Toning routine that is alike to one you’d find in a live class.

I liked the Abs workout in the last DVD set, and I had wished that they had included a new one in this set. One for arms could be really nice really.



The best part about Zumba is that anybody can do it. It does not matter if you’re in shape or not, as long as you’re moving, sweating, and having fun. Not only will you notice a difference in your body, but you’ll also feel better and more energized. When I started doing Zumba, I was over 200 pounds and had no energy. Zumba gave me a reason to be motivated and enjoy what life has to offer.

Overall, this DVD set has many of offer, so unlike with other workout DVDs, you will not get bored easily. The routines are many of fun, and you’ll certainly get a workout. I use this with Zumba strength Total Body shift System DVD Set whenever I can not go to a live class.

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200 of 203 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of five stars Average Person UPDATE, June 2, 2011
By Savvy Skeptic See all my reviews () This review is from: Zumba strength Exhilarate: The final Experience DVD Set (Sports) I was in my best form ever when I goed out dancing once or twice a week (in my late 20s) lots of salsa and belly dance moves that work the abs without crunches that put you on the floor and kill your neck and back. Times changed, and so has my figure since I quit dancing. I resisted purchasing into the Zumba fad for while, since I saw the commercial once at 3:00 a.M. For the original set. I hesitated, 1st because everything looks great on a three a.M. Infomercial; I figured it was the new infomercial strength fad. I have been disappointed by lots of work outs that promise “dance moves you may be able to take to the club” , then turn out to be nothing but club outfits, generic music, and aerobic exercise moves that could get you laughed out of a club. Then I read the reviews, and it seemed like everyone who had the set started out in the classes 1st. I have never been to a Zumba class and never wanted to work out in a room full of strangers thus my reason for purchasing a home workout set to start with. The price was frightening, and way more than I have ever paid for any of the other “dance party” workouts that found their way into a yard sale. Still, I want to get back into the form I was happy with, and there were many of positive reviews, so I went for it. I did my 1st workout last night, with the Activate disc, and sweated now. At 1st I saw a couple aerobics style moves and thought “here we go again.” But those were not many, and were incorporated well into the dance routine. Usually there was real, real, hip swinging, shimmying, dancing I really had a little trouble keeping up. I can see just how rusty I have gotten, and I will have to work up to going right through the whole disc. Still, time flew by way faster than it does on the treadmill, and this was many more fun. I was totally sweating more, and my whole body knew I’d been working, but I barely noticed because it felt like dancing and not working out. Many of the moves may be a little difficult, particularly when you are trying to keep up with pros. When I got tripped up trying to follow the instructors, I just looked away from them and moved with the music keeping hips and pelvis in motion. When I required to catch my breath I just stood front and did hip circles till I could pick up the rate again. I still think the price is a little steep especially since the little bubble plugs that hold the discs in place had popped off when I got it (it was new and sealed.) But they may be stuck back down with a dot of glue, so no big deal minus one star for price and packaging. The picture and sound quality is good, and the music is really enjoyable not like canned “exercise music” that comes with most workout DVDs. Many of the spoken exchange between the instructors comes off a little tacky, but in general the mood throughout the workouts is light and fun. I am not a strength guru, have been in a gym once in my life (hated it), and am not using Zumba as a warm up for, or fun addition to, any other exercise routine. Now, this new Zumba series is my ONLY workout since my treadmill needs maintenance. I have read many of reviews for strength DVDs, equipment, and supplements, and they frequently say things like “I use this every day, plus walk five miles and do free weights joint with my regular cardio, cut out all soda and junk food, and I have lost six pounds!” To me, those reviews are not helpful: 1st, a person who already does weights and cardio daily is most likely in pretty good form and has little to no weight to lose. Second, when you make that many lifestyle changes now, results of many kind are inevitable and can not be credited to anything particular. Did the workout do it, or the lack of candy bars and soda? To really find out how well this product works for me, I am going to do Zumba and not change another thing for now. (I already eat usually low carb, but I cheat on occasion.) I will update after some weeks for anybody interested who is not in their best form, but is looking for a way to shed some pounds and get into BETTER shape a way that is really do able and maybe enjoyable for the average person. A little time will tell if this is the answer for me and possibly others like me.

UPDATE 6/16/2011: it is been two weeks today since I tried Zumba for the 1st time. I have not changed my eating habits; I eat exactly as I did before (including six oz of mint cookie crunch ice cream nearly daily), and I am not taking any diet pills. I have done the Step by Step disc once, , then only the Activate disc so far. To date I have lost 7.5 pounds, and it is not water weight it does not change or pile right back on once I eat hard food(including mint cookie crunch ice cream.) The only explantation is that I am burning more calories than I am eating, and the only thing that I am doing different is Zumba. Any activity or workout that gets you moving fast and sweating hard will do the same thing. Pretty much all workouts work, I know that. I also know that it only works if you really do it, and if it is tedious, boring, painful or mainly inconvenient (like going to the gym) I will not do it, no matter how amazing the results could be. The difference with this is that it is fun enough that I will really do it more than once or twice , then give it up. You stay on your feet, not on the floor (like with crunches and pilates). There is no straining your neck, breaking your back, or losing your will to live ten minutes into the session. You are moving and working enough to burn fat and calories, but it is not so tiring that you can not make it past the 1st not many minutes. Do not get me wrong, I have times where I struggle with many of the steps, and on occasion I get irritated trying to keep up but I can keep moving, and better, I really want to. I do not work for the company and am not already sports model fit. I am an average 30 something female trying to get back in 20 something form (and take off many quit smoking weight). My reviews are honest because I rely on other people’s honest reviews to help me make my own decisions about merchandise here. I am going to keep doing Zumba and attempt to add many other changes (like giving up my ice cream so sad) and see how much my results increase then. For anybody interested, I will put a couple beginner survival info that helped me in the comments. Good luck.

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152 of 155 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars Great New choice, April 10, 2011
By C. Dukeshier “cherrisa” (Nashville, TN United States) See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) This review is from: Zumba strength Exhilarate: The final Experience DVD Set (Sports) I have been following Zumba for awhile and tried a class at the YMCA. I found the class a little frightening because it was not a beginner class and of course I fumbled along trying to figure out the steps. I decided I wanted to purchase the videos. I researched and found that 1st set and decided to go to the web site. They had this set for pre order. I decided on this one.

I am so happy I did. All of the complaints about the first set was adjusted in this one. The dance moves are clear on the intro DVD and you may be able to view from the front or the back. They have also adjusted the other DVDs so you may be able to either do the exercise with or without the dance ques from the instructors. I’m happy that I got this set and can not wait to go back to a class and know what I am doing.

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