Does this sound like you? You are a Zumba instructor, you love the Zumba concept and
choreography, your classes are busy but could be busier, however you have two hundred plus other
Zumba instructors teaching in your area. How do I stand out from the rest?
If you are an avid reader as I am of Rachel’s weekly newsletter, then you will have read the article
by Chris Brown about bootcamps and the ‘purple cow’ methodology. This is so true and relevant in
our industry and to stay on top of the game and ahead of the rest then we need to almost make our
Zumba classes niche to us!
Knowing the Zumba ethos of teaching non verbal and visual cues your teaching style will therefore
be similar to the other instructors in your area, so here are some ideas and pointers of how you can
achieve the purple cow method and stand out in the crowd.
You may already be practicing these techniques, please do feedback and let me know:
1. Introduce your own Zumba tracks – look at your captive audience, ask for song requests!
2. Know your material inside out so you can give everything in your classes, be professional
3. Work on your own fitness allowing you to motivate and energise your classes to the max!
4. Look the part, clothing, trainers etc.. whether you wear Zumba kit or bright colours
5. Up your intensity in your class on certain weeks – I add an 80’s aerobics Hi Impact track
6. Make some weeks more dance orientated – less intensity, more dance technique
7. Add some vocal cue’s, teaching techniques and banter! (as you may do already)
8. Choose songs with audience participation – everyone loves a bit of Karaoke
9. Make time for new comers, offer them alternatives in your routines
10. Give class discount s on group bookings – 10 class passes, etc…
11. Offer referral schemes for bringing friends
12. Arrange Zumba events , evenings, Christmas Parties
13. Create the community/team feel within your classes to encourage loyalty back
14. Capture data from all your members and send regular newsletters to build your tribe
15. Perfect your cool downs, make them effective whilst being creative, finish on a high!
16. Make time for your classes, arrive early and have time at the end to speak with people
17. Introduce new songs every few weeks, keep your class fresh, people need routine but they
also need to be challenged and increase their motor skills
18. Work with other local Zumba instructors in your area for events and team teaches
19. Always have fun in class and work to their level, read your class, this is so important
20. Keep educating yourself in Zumba workshops/Freetsyle workshops & events
Teaching has to be one of the best jobs in the world and to be a good, professional, safe, effective
and fun teacher is hard. Experience, knowledge, additional education is key to bettering yourself and
your delivery of group exercise classes. A good teacher will always stand head and shoulders above
a bad teacher or non experienced teacher. This is your selling power as well. The amount of people
that have attended my Zumba class as they left a pervious class as they said the teacher looked as if
they were making it up on the spot, did not know what they were doing, unorganised.
Never stop increasing your knowledge base and always challenger yourself by participating in other
peoples classes. Often this can be a very grounding experience. If you are struggling in someone
else’s class to pick up the choreography and you are a teacher then what do you think is going
through a brand new exercisers mind, apart from sheer terror!
Think about the experience you are giving people and what rewards you would like them to gain
from it, just as if you were a participant. Lastly, as instructors we wear our emotions across our
faces so remember when you are on stage or at the front of the class, all eyes are on you. They will
see the odd look you give a friend, or the eyes to heaven look, or the yawn, or the aggravation look.
Be the best you can and enjoy being the best and pulling the numbers in. Please remember to
always work to your strengths. Happy teaching.
Thank you, Jo xxx
You can follow me on www.twitter.com/joparryleeds or visit my website www.joparry.com Please
do let me know your thoughts.
