Teaching Zumba while on medication

For privacy reasons I won’t mention the name of the medication but it was certainly the kind that gets you to experience a side effect of ‘fatigue’. I was really worried if I would be able to teach a 2 hr class being on these meds and if I would actually be able to pull through.   In the end I did but I never really knew what ‘fatigue’ meant until now.   Basically after every song i have to have a drink of water and take a 20 second breather until we begin again. I’d be huffing and puffing trying to catch my breath a bit.   Certainly did feel way more winded than usual.   But what kept me going is my passion for teaching Zumba fitness classes and wanting to be there.   I had to keep self-talking saying “I want to be here…I want to be here”.   Also what really helped was God’s creation of the most amazing drink called “Coconut water”.  You can get it from the chinese store, or from a hastey market made by ‘Grace’ or some other international name ‘OKo’ er something like that.   That stuff put life in me! It really helped me to pull along and aleviate the lightheadedness and low energy feeling I had.   So what I did was take a 1.5 litre of water and mix a can of coconut water in there and drink that during class.   Apparently Coconut water contains 5 electrolytes compared to gatorade or powerade which contains only 2.

Grace Coconut water – Here’s to the sunshine in you!

but p.s. What’s up with the preservative Sodium Metabusulite ..or something like that???????

Need MORE Power! I got need for speed for Zumba Class:)

heyyyy wazaaaaaaa.   So what’s the significance of the title for today’s posting?  It is what it is…i want more power, more energy that will have me bouncing off the walls so I can give all the energy i WANT to have when teaching any format of a Zumba Class.  I work for Wynn fitness and my boss is very pleased and commends me on my energy level.   Also after teaching Zumba Toning just this past friday at Premier Fitness a participant came up to me and told me that she is very impressed by my energy level and that this weeks class was more challenging than last weeks’ class because it had her feeling more tired sooner. Yayyyeee! Now that’s a compliment!  I want them to walk out of my class feelin’ bruk! (translation: pooped out or aka very exhausted)  So when she commended me I thanked her and said “It’s really not enough for me and I want MORE energy.” She replied with a surprised look on her face asking me if i was serious:)) lol! 

Like I said, I want to have the kind of energy that can have me bouncing off the walls from beginning till the end.   With every song I teach too, I want to dance it full out with no feet dragging, and not having any doubt that I’m going to make it till the end of the song. I also don’t want to feel ‘winded out’ at any point.  Now that I think of it..maybe that’s unrealistic because at the same time I want to feel that I’m challenging myself..so that I can challenge the class at the same time hopefully.   I’m not in tip top shape either so I feel I have to push myself for my class to feel as though they are giving their bodies a good workout.

I also admire more and more teaching Zumba Toning because of the fitness moves I can encorporate into the class.  I’m trying to add more core muscle action by using plyometric squat jumps, and that move where you look like a speed skater and moves that require you to use your balance to engage your abs and your core.  I like to use fitness moves because they do burn more calories and it’s very important for me to find ways for my participants to use more calories.

I love to dance and I love zumba music so I always make that a part of each of my classes. If I’m going to encorporate fitness moves in a Zumba class I try to make it fun by mixing up the song with some fitness and dance.  You can do merengue with fast arms and legs and burn calories but that’s all you’re doing.   What about doing merengue moves, and encorporating plyometric moves and fitness moves to engage your muscles  and your core for a better balanced work out.  You can do all the cardio in the world…but the body is more attractive IMHO with muscle tone as well.  I may be on the thicker sign but I do have curves from muscle and I feel good about that.  It’s important to me that my participants get a good dance out, a good caloric burn, and that their muscles and core are engaged in the Zumba Classes I teach.   I really want them to feel something the next day and to feel challenged by that hour of doing a Zumba Class.   This year I’m going to get my can fit pro done for FIS so I can excel at being a better Zumba Fitness instructor.  I also need to learn about nutrition so I can take care of my diet …certainly something to be reconned with. Spring is coming and summer most of all and I would love to shed another 15 lbs for summer.   I teach a combination of Zumba fitness classes which total 8 times a week so if i get my nutritional discipline in check, I’ll get there. I really think I should get on that this week…Monday being day one.

Thanx for listening

Zumba Love;)

A good Zumba Instructor – Get the truth!

Hey … I was wondering one day how do you really know if you’re a good Zumba Instructor and that your participants like your style?  How do you know when a participant says “your class is good” that they really mean it? 

I went to sub at one location one day and the manager told me ” we’re looking for someone that is exciting and has energy..because our partipants tell us that our zumba class sucks”. I couldn’t believe it…she said it out right just like that.   The instructor that teaches it has all the credentials of a fitness instructors from FIT, Zumba Licencing, a Zin member..and I think even PTS too by Can-Fit-Pro.  But even with all this, there is negative feedback. 

If i go to a zumba class and I don’t like the instructor’s style, because every one has their taste…I just won’t ever come back. But I would never have the guts to tell to their face because people are human and have feelings.

I know the subject of this post is “get the truth”…but is there any way to actually get it?

Here are some ideas I have:

Feel the energy in the class room, are they looking like they enjoy it – are they moving? – do they return to your class again – is your class busy on a night where the fitness club is generally busy? – have you received negative feedback and not followed up on it or try to improve? – are you staying true to the zumba formula – are you changing your music at most every 2 months? – are you using zin music? – are you using the 30% 70% split to keep outta da foomba zone? – are you picky on participants getting the moves right when they just wanna dance?

I did a class at wynn fitness two weeks ago and a member said to me, “can you do some reggaeton”. I was a little confused because there is reggaeton interludes throughout my song list. Then i figured..maybe she wants more full songs with reggaeton. So hey..i’m doing exactly that. I find that people like “she’s hot” on zin 28..and then I’m adding a couple more.

Well i know i haven’t written in a while because i just haven’t gotten to it but i got several topics written in my notebook as a reminder to touch on. This was one of them;)

Hey so keep dancin and keep exercising con ZUMBA!!!

www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com

So you think you can ‘Become a Zumba Instructor’?

Sure you can!  for cool stuff for your new Zumba zumbawear visit www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com

Let me first set the record straight that when you begin to think of becomming an instructor and joining the ZIN network it’s not just about that. You gotta go into it with a positive and ‘I can do this’ attitude. Being a part of a Zumba family is one of the best things about it too. Respecting other instructors, treating them with kindness and being helpful …because we’re all family. This is one of the reasons I share information on my blog – to help my Zumba family or to help others thinking of becomming a part of it;)

So what is the training like. Well when you say nitty gritty there’s really none. When I took my basic training with the infamous Tanya Beardsley it was the day I realized how one human being can be so inpirational to the point extreme awesomeness. The entire day was positive…fun…your eyes are open and keen for information and to be inspired by helpful advice. To get rid of the worry that ‘you’re not good enough to teach Zumba’. They tell you when is the best time to start, how to be prepared, how to get rid of your inhibitions. It’s a day filled with HOT Zumba exercise moves, with great music, water breaks, advice, reading material, freebies, and even getting a chance to be on stage. But go in front okay? That’s how I got to samba with Tanya B. If there is a move that you’ve mastered..then go with that..and give it your all.

Rule number 1.  hydrate hydrate hydrate or the charlie horses will come a gallopin’ to your legs and pull them right out from under you. Bring a change of workout clothes coz you’re gonna sweat unlike no other day.

A few words of advice I’ve kept in my heart from Tanya Beardsley ZES:

• Doubt kills, because if you doubt yourself your students will smell it!  Make a decision to NOT doubt yourself and do what you gotta do. U know you know how to do that salsa step, merenge step and reggaeton bounce, so do it like there’s no tomorrow. Smile and have fun and make some noise!
• Everybody has their own style and way of interpreting Rhythem.  Each Zumba instructor is different in their own way. So there is room for all of us in this Zumba Family.
• Dance is Talent
• Throw your ego out the window.
• Get CPR training
• The Zumba Formula is what makes Zumba unique – Follow it and believe in the program
• Add FIS Group fitness training so that you can offer better Zumba Fitness Classes – CAN FIT PRO OFFERS THIS
• Report unlicenced Zumba instructors – Suggest that they take basic training, join zin to remain licenced to teach Zumba fitness classes

CON ZUMBA!

You hear me say Heyyyy…! What’s goin’ On! Con Zumba

Remember that song? Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Heyyyyyyy aaayyyyyy aaayyyyyyy I said HEYyyyyy! What’s gowiiinnnn on!  That lady with the Janis Joplin voice. That’s the song that came to my head right now just right before writing this post.

What’s going on is …is that it’s clear how much I enjoy teaching Zumba Fitness Classes and Aqua Zumba Fitness Classes.   I swear for that entire hour I’m teaching…I don’t think of any problems or things going on in my life that stress me out for that entire hour. It’s really a great feeling. I’m smiling, I’m laughing…i’m whooooing..and feeling..ofcsouse    sexxxxxaaaayyyyyyy! and the ladies feel sexy too and I can see it the look in their eyes when they roll their hips in the water!  It gives me a work satisfaction unlike no other job I’ve had.   Soooooooo… that’s why I’m trying to get more jobs teaching now.

Now I’m officially teaching 3 times a week and soon to be 4 starting january. There will be 2 Zumba classes and 2 Aqua zumba classes a week. I can sure teach more Aqua zumba classes during the week because it’s easier on the body. The members at Premier Fitness in Mississauga…u know the burnhamthorpe and erin dale station location…yeah that one…they’re really embrasing it. Last week there were 14 people.   According to a successful Aqua fit program that used to be taught there but is no longer..there were 20 members every class…but for whatever reason the instructor no longer teaches there.   Maybe he got bored or something… but

CON ZUMBA!  There is just no room for boredom.  The Zumba Fitness Programs are fresh..as long as the ZIN’s…instructors who are members of the zumba instructor network are embrasing the new choreography and music…it will be kept forever fresh ..and here’s the plus …YEAH WITH LICENCED MUSIC!  Instructors who are embrasing too much of the Top 40 hits or oldies and incorporating them in their classes forget that SOCAN is gonna come out to get us soon unless we stick to ZIN music only. You pay 30 a month for the licence to use the music along with many other benefits. Need I list them again..okay I’ll list a few:

• the right to use licenced Zumba Fitness Music
• The right to advertise your class on a flyer
• The right to call your class ‘Zumba’
• The right to clothing discounts
• The right to advertise Zumba on your website
• The right to use the trademark ‘ Zumba’ in your website name like www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com
• The right to teach classes indefinately without having to recertify after one year is up. yes that’s right..if you’re not a zin member you can only teach zumba classes at your place of employment or business for 1 YEAR then you gotta stop. Take a B1 course again..and join the Zin network baby and embrace the freshness and sexiness of the Zumba Fitness Program.
• The right to stay confident and true to the zumba formula so your class doesn’t evolve in to a foomba or fumba variation. need i not translate:P

Can you tell I’m a happy ZIN member? hell yeah baby!

So! My next step in my CON ZUMBA career is to get more Zumba related jobs and work in more fitness centres. Lose 30 more pounds and look super hot for next Summer.  And if I play my cards right…Meet my girl Tanya Beardsley again and dance and punch the sky with her again in New York Citayyy  or at the Zumba Convention 2011.   Take a nice photo with the Zumba God Beto Perez and Identify what colone he wears and tell my main squeeze to wear it till he dies. lol!  Hmmm..what else….  Who knows be in a taping with my new hotter body for a ZIN taping…maybe be on tv…host a Zumba Fitness Class in da Cluuuuuubbb.  This is gonna be a great next 12 months and that ma new year resolution

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm beeeetttoooooooooooooooo!

Peace out!

Farida B

http://86036.zumba.com

Dont’ forget to check out my website at www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com for Zumba Cargos, Tops n’ Stuff !

Zumbawear in Canada at www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com

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Farida meets Wynn Fitness – Subbed for a Zumba Class

Be sure to check out: www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com for Zumbawear;)

Wow! Yesterday was the funnest class teaching for yesterday because of all the people who attended. It was like 50+! Imagine, 2 rows, where 25+ are on one side and 25+ on the other side and me smack dab in the middle!

As a warm up song I used will I am’s song time of my life, and we beat that beat up like in jersey shore to get everyone all pumped up! It was HOT!  …no i mean literally. Even there were ceiling fans, it wasn’t really enough.  Im gonna try to make sure my water is icy icy cold with ice floating in it next time to keep cooler. 

You know and with all the songs and going strong for an hour..I almost doubted a little that I’d last because I had to amp up my moves to have that you know “Beto Factor”. When you exaggerate and put styling in your moves like a supasta (superstar).

No butterflies, but pure smiles and postive endorphins running through my body.

Most people followed the moves really well and I saw those smiles..but I’m thinking next time I gotta use a mic.   I like to put in my 2 cents to motivate a bit better so that everyone gets what they came for, a hot ass workout!

I emailed my interviewer to let them know how it went and to get back to me with the feedback he receives. I also suggested for him to put in something official for me. I don’t wanna be just a sub, I wanna have my own class where miles and miles of people will be lining up outside my class, speeding in traffic so they get a good spot in line;) 

I swear everytime I teach a Zumba class, and the bigger it is I forget about all my problems. Everything is where it should be…CON ZUMBA!

P.S. and gotta give credit to my girl Tanya Beardsley, and her shoes for giving me strength and remembering that “Doubt Kills”…so just quite the drama and believe in yourself because you are awesome.

pEACE OUT!