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| How to Become a Zumba Instructor |
So you've been taking a Zumba class or practicing with a Zumba DVD and one
day you think to yourself, hey, maybe I can teach this! To become a Zumba
Instructor you simply take the one-day (sometimes they offer it in 2 days)
Zumba Basic Instructor workshop. A list of workshop dates are listed on
zumba.com. Technically Zumba does not call this a certification, but simply that
you have completed the Zumba Basic workshop to be able to teach Zumba.
You can also take the Zumba Gold Instructor workshop to start
your zumba teaching career. Zumba Gold is a fitness program
geared towards the deconditioned or active older adult population.
It is also recommended that you get a certification in Group Fitness either
through AFAA or ACE. You can complete this even if you have already started
teaching zumba classes. Some health clubs will require you to be Group
Fitness certified already, but with the current demand for Zumba instructors
you will find that they don't really care, and if you start up your own classes
you won't need it either. To get the Group Fitness Instructor certification you
can simply get the book and study guide through either afaa.com or
acefitness.org and study at home. Then look for a test exam date and sign up.
The books will run you about $90 with shipping. The test is usually about
$200-$250. AFAA has $99 specials occasionally.
It is also highly recommended to be CPR/AED certified. You can do this
half-day class through the American Red Cross, American Heart Association,
or look for privately held classes at community centers or health clubs. The
cost is usually around $25.
day you think to yourself, hey, maybe I can teach this! To become a Zumba
Instructor you simply take the one-day (sometimes they offer it in 2 days)
Zumba Basic Instructor workshop. A list of workshop dates are listed on
zumba.com. Technically Zumba does not call this a certification, but simply that
you have completed the Zumba Basic workshop to be able to teach Zumba.
You can also take the Zumba Gold Instructor workshop to start
your zumba teaching career. Zumba Gold is a fitness program
geared towards the deconditioned or active older adult population.
It is also recommended that you get a certification in Group Fitness either
through AFAA or ACE. You can complete this even if you have already started
teaching zumba classes. Some health clubs will require you to be Group
Fitness certified already, but with the current demand for Zumba instructors
you will find that they don't really care, and if you start up your own classes
you won't need it either. To get the Group Fitness Instructor certification you
can simply get the book and study guide through either afaa.com or
acefitness.org and study at home. Then look for a test exam date and sign up.
The books will run you about $90 with shipping. The test is usually about
$200-$250. AFAA has $99 specials occasionally.
It is also highly recommended to be CPR/AED certified. You can do this
half-day class through the American Red Cross, American Heart Association,
or look for privately held classes at community centers or health clubs. The
cost is usually around $25.
| What skills do I need to become a Zumba Instructor? |
I think the most desireable skill to teach Zumba would be a love for it! If you love leading a class that makes people happy and that
you know is inspiring people to exercise then that is your greatest asset. You don't really need a dance background but it does help.
And you don't really need a background in teaching fitness but again it does help! There are excellent zumba instructors out there with
none of these things; they just have to practice a little harder! Even with my background in dance and teaching fitness I had to
practice many hours when I first started up my Zumba classes.
Zumba is taught mainly with visual cues because Zumba wants their program to be mostly about listening to the music, the music being
the part of the class that is really motivating you to move and shake! It is really easy to teach "visually" and the more you teach the
more you will get the hang of being able to "signal" your students that there is a new step coming up ahead of time! Of course some
teachers use microphones in health clubs as well. I use both methods depending on where I am teaching.
you know is inspiring people to exercise then that is your greatest asset. You don't really need a dance background but it does help.
And you don't really need a background in teaching fitness but again it does help! There are excellent zumba instructors out there with
none of these things; they just have to practice a little harder! Even with my background in dance and teaching fitness I had to
practice many hours when I first started up my Zumba classes.
Zumba is taught mainly with visual cues because Zumba wants their program to be mostly about listening to the music, the music being
the part of the class that is really motivating you to move and shake! It is really easy to teach "visually" and the more you teach the
more you will get the hang of being able to "signal" your students that there is a new step coming up ahead of time! Of course some
teachers use microphones in health clubs as well. I use both methods depending on where I am teaching.
| Zumba has a great support program for its instructors |
An excellent resource that Zumba has is a support program that Zumba provides for it's instructors called ZIN (Zumba Instructor
Network). Included in this monthly membership is a database of marketing materials, choreography DVD's and music CD's, discounts
on zumba wear, a listing in their "find a class" database, and access to the instructor message board. The message board is the most
valuable benefit. We all support each other and share information on just about everything. No other fitness program that I know of
has this kind of resource. It is a fee of $30 per month, but if you teach zumba alot it is well worth it. And since I teach fitness for a
living it is tax-deductible!
Network). Included in this monthly membership is a database of marketing materials, choreography DVD's and music CD's, discounts
on zumba wear, a listing in their "find a class" database, and access to the instructor message board. The message board is the most
valuable benefit. We all support each other and share information on just about everything. No other fitness program that I know of
has this kind of resource. It is a fee of $30 per month, but if you teach zumba alot it is well worth it. And since I teach fitness for a
living it is tax-deductible!
| How do you become a good Zumba instructor? Practice, practice, practice! |
So once your are ready to teach you need to put together a list of songs, listen to the music over and over, and then put together the
choreography. You see it is not that easy! As part of the Zin membership you do get some choreography and songs which is very
helpful. But not all of the songs and choreography are things I want to do. And because I teach several classes per week I change my
music often to keep it interesting. The beauty of Zumba is that you can create your own program. You can pick songs and dances that
you like to do. You can make up your own choreography. If you need creativity in your life this will fulfill it! Zumba is supposed to be
about 70% latin music and the rest is up to you. I use mostly latin and add an occasional swing, rock and roll, belly dance, country and
even broadway tune!
Zumba choreography is a mixture of fitness and dance moves. So you can mix salsa, merengue, cha-cha, etc., along with lunges,
squats, knee lifts, etc. The choreography is different than your typical aerobic class which uses a 32-count sequence. Instead zumba
emphasizes expressing the breaks and choruses in the songs, or expressing even the words in the songs.
choreography. You see it is not that easy! As part of the Zin membership you do get some choreography and songs which is very
helpful. But not all of the songs and choreography are things I want to do. And because I teach several classes per week I change my
music often to keep it interesting. The beauty of Zumba is that you can create your own program. You can pick songs and dances that
you like to do. You can make up your own choreography. If you need creativity in your life this will fulfill it! Zumba is supposed to be
about 70% latin music and the rest is up to you. I use mostly latin and add an occasional swing, rock and roll, belly dance, country and
even broadway tune!
Zumba choreography is a mixture of fitness and dance moves. So you can mix salsa, merengue, cha-cha, etc., along with lunges,
squats, knee lifts, etc. The choreography is different than your typical aerobic class which uses a 32-count sequence. Instead zumba
emphasizes expressing the breaks and choruses in the songs, or expressing even the words in the songs.
| So you're ready to teach - where do you find places to teach Zumba? |
Zumba instructors are currently very much in demand. Most health clubs, at least in Florida, have several zumba classes. You can start
off by signing up as an available sub if you can't get a permanent spot at first. The current pay for health clubs here is only around $25
per class.
If you want to earn more you need to start your own classes. Some common places to start classes at are recreation and community
centers, martial arts clubs, yacht clubs, dance/yoga studios, residential fitness centers, corporate fitness centers, auditoriums, or any
other space you can rent. One instructor rents a hall in a bowling alley! When you go out on your own, you have the freedom of setting
your own prices and most of all, being paid per person! Then your job is to market your class and get the people there. I haven't seen
any other fitness program where instructors have been so successful in branching out on their own.
If you live in a location where nobody has even heard of zumba yet, well then you have a great opportunity! You would need to present
zumba to your local facilities and perhaps do a demo class to create awareness.
off by signing up as an available sub if you can't get a permanent spot at first. The current pay for health clubs here is only around $25
per class.
If you want to earn more you need to start your own classes. Some common places to start classes at are recreation and community
centers, martial arts clubs, yacht clubs, dance/yoga studios, residential fitness centers, corporate fitness centers, auditoriums, or any
other space you can rent. One instructor rents a hall in a bowling alley! When you go out on your own, you have the freedom of setting
your own prices and most of all, being paid per person! Then your job is to market your class and get the people there. I haven't seen
any other fitness program where instructors have been so successful in branching out on their own.
If you live in a location where nobody has even heard of zumba yet, well then you have a great opportunity! You would need to present
zumba to your local facilities and perhaps do a demo class to create awareness.
| Teaching Zumba is rewarding for both you and your students! |
Zumba is motivating people who wouldn't otherwise exercise to move, get fit and lose weight. Instead of exercising they go to your Zumba
party and dance off the calories! At the same time, you as the instructor, will be getting a great workout. When I started teaching I was not
in the best shape "cardio-wise". I did alot of yoga but not alot of exercise that got my heart rate up. I was teaching one Zumba class a
week, and thought how in the world am I going to teach 2 times a week? Teaching Zumba can be exhausting and so instructors do have to
take care of themselves and be careful of burnout. Well my cardio stamina built up and after a few months I was teaching 4 to 6 classes a
week with no problem! Some teachers teach many more, but personally I find it to be too much if I teach more than that. Just make sure
you have the right shoes and drink lots of water!
I hope this gives you some ideas and helpful tips on becoming a Zumba Instructor. If you're in St. Petersburg, FL and you have completed
your workshop and would like to practice teaching a song or two, just come to one of my recreation classes and you can try it out! Contact
me at sue@dancenyoga.com.
party and dance off the calories! At the same time, you as the instructor, will be getting a great workout. When I started teaching I was not
in the best shape "cardio-wise". I did alot of yoga but not alot of exercise that got my heart rate up. I was teaching one Zumba class a
week, and thought how in the world am I going to teach 2 times a week? Teaching Zumba can be exhausting and so instructors do have to
take care of themselves and be careful of burnout. Well my cardio stamina built up and after a few months I was teaching 4 to 6 classes a
week with no problem! Some teachers teach many more, but personally I find it to be too much if I teach more than that. Just make sure
you have the right shoes and drink lots of water!
I hope this gives you some ideas and helpful tips on becoming a Zumba Instructor. If you're in St. Petersburg, FL and you have completed
your workshop and would like to practice teaching a song or two, just come to one of my recreation classes and you can try it out! Contact
me at sue@dancenyoga.com.
