I decided to switch it up a little tonight and try out Les Mills’ new SH’BAM class.
What is SH’BAM? From the Les Mills website:
Set to a soundtrack of chart-topping popular hits, dance music that is heard in the hottest nightclubs around the world, familiar classics remixed and modernized Latin beats, SH’BAM™ is the ultimate fun and sociable way to exercise. Each 45-minute SH’BAM™ class is vibrant, unique and varied – and like all the LES MILLS™ programs, a new SH’BAM™ release is produced every three months with new music and choreography.
I thought it would be similar to BodyJam but it’s way easier, both in terms of choreography and intensity. Actually, it’s probably the easiest workout I’ve ever done. And I don’t say that as the fitness elitist I am now but as the out of shape couch potato I used to be… seriously, I could have easily done this class years ago when I could barely run to the end of my street.
Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I love that Les Mills offers classes for people of various fitness levels but I think they’ve marketed this class all wrong. If you look at the video clips on the SH’BAM site, it looks a lot more fast paced than it actually is. I don’t know what workout those ladies are doing, but it’s not the one I just came back from.
Plus, the poster claims this class burns 600 calories. Unless the instructor was really half assing all of the moves (and I don’t think that was the case – she was pretty enthusiastic, bless her), there is absolutely no way anyone could burn that many calories in this class. Especially when you consider the fact that they say BodyAttack burns around 750 calories and BodyAttack is effing hard.
In addition to the fact that I barely got my heart rate up, the whole experience was kind of cringe worthy. I can get down with a little cheesiness in my workouts but this mess was Richard Simmons cheesy.
And in case you’re wondering, my sister and I used to do Richard Simmons’ Sweating to the Oldies when we were little kids and it is a way better workout than SH’BAM.
Okay, I’ll lay off the haterade for now but if you’re looking for a fun and moderately challenging dance workout, skip this and go to BodyJam instead.
Have you tried SH’BAM? What did you think?
Have you ever participated in a fitness class that was way too easy for you?
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HAHAHA love the Richard Simmons piccy!
That sucks you didn’t enjoy it. I haven’t done it but I am such a terrible dancer I doubt I ever would. I’ve tried Body Jam before but I spent the whole time trying to figure which leg goes where that I didn’t break a sweat in the slightest!
Haha… sometimes I like complicated steps because they engage my brain, which makes the workout go by faster. But I agree there’s a point where it gets too confusing and just ruins your workout lol…
I’ve never tried SH’BAM but I LOVE BodyJam! I could see this class being a good workout after a run or something! Otherwise I know I usually want a more high intensity workout, just because I try to get an intense workout done quickly!
Yeah, it’d be fine as a recovery workout if that’s what you’re looking for. Unfortunately, I was looking for something a little more high intensity on Thursday so it kind of felt like a waste of time… oh well, it’s always good to try new things even if you don’t end up liking them
Way easier? My word. I tried it at the weekend:
http://www.siphilp.co.uk/archive/2012/03/06/edinburgh-altitude-sqw-super-workshop-edinburgh-2012.aspx
Think being a guy, I’ve not got moves like Jagger…Have done Jam a couple of times now, thought about cert’ing in it, but i think am away off lol. Will stick with Body combat
Not sure, I just remember BodyJam having more complicated choreography and providing a better workout. Then again, the one time I did BodyJam it was directly after BodyPump so it’s entirely possible that both my brain and body were just fatigued.
Thanks for sharing that link – I loved reading your recaps of all the upcoming releases. I think I’d die doing that many classes in a row but it looks like such a fun event (SH’BAM notwithstanding, I’m obsessed with les Mills classes).
I love Sh’Bam!
Well, to be honest I love all LM programs.. But regarding Sh’Bam, I have to say that it does burn calories! A lot 
I burnt 1000 calories, almost as much as doing Body Attack.. however, I also have to say that I’ve been doing BA for much longer and probably my body is getting a bit used to the moves, while Sh’Bam is quite new to me.. So, keep jumping and sweating.. It is worth it 
and it’s fun! 
Les Mills always is 
)
PS (Body Combat is still No1 in my heart
I actually did SH’BAM a second time after I posted this and it was a lot better – I think it was just the instructor the first time. The second time around, it was a different instructor and she brought a lot more energy to it, which made it a better workout and a lot more fun.
I’ve been doing BodyAttack for two years and it still kicks my butt every time. BodyCombat is quickly becoming one of my favourite Les Mills classes but No 1 for me will always be Pump
Thanks for stopping by!