Zumba Fitness – The Bedford

It takes a special kind of soul to teach ZOOM-​buh!
Through trying various classes and instructors, I’ve learned that being highly skilled in something doesn’t automatically make you a suitable teacher. I’ve been in one too many sessions where the instructor gets so carried away with how good they are at dancing, they momentarily forget that there’s a class of 30 wheezing, sweaty novices struggling to keep up. My love for Zumba has blown hot and cold over the years, as I’m a strong believer that it’s really the instructor that makes the class.
I was pleasantly surprised by my session at the Bedford Pub in Balham. Held in a private function room on the top floor, it’s a good way to meet the locals if you’re new to an area. Ashley is a darling. He took us through the motions and ran a session challenging enough for a good workout, but easy enough to follow and get the absolute most out of the hour. (He even had one of those hands-​free mics, which is when I knew he meant business!)
I would say it was a tad steep at £8, so to really get your money’s worth I would suggest getting there early and bagging a spot at the front. There is a lot of foot-​work, which is easy to miss when it’s packed. Overall, it’s a rather decent way to spend a Wednesday evening, or any other, as the Bedford hosts 4 Zumba classes a week. Not that I need to remind you for a workout, but a large, ice cold bottle water is highly recommended, as it gets quite hot and sweaty. But hey, you might like that… whatever floats your boat ;)