Teaching Zumba Toning

Hey all! Hope you’ve all had a happy new year. So far it’s going great. I’ve been teaching the Zumba Toning program for a little more than a year now and it really is an effective, fat burning gift for your body.   I have to give credit to the Amazing Amanda Grant ZES, out of Ontario/Canada who you probably know of from ZIN 30.   She’s a great dancer, energetic, and has a great Zumba booty!  From my personal experience, it was really when I began to lose more inches on my body. Since teaching it and without changing my eating habits I lost an extra 10 lbs and have kept it off.  I’ll tell ya…getting rid of those bye-bye arms can really be a challenge, but it’s really worth adding Zumba Toning to your workout regime if your body has gotten used to regular Zumba classes and you’ve run out of other instructors to try.   Zumba Toning is what your body needs to get it out of its plateau phase.

What’s great about teaching Zumba Toning is that each instructor has their own style and way of interpreting the rhythm and also to translate it into an effective way to use up to 5lb weights with it (not more).  For instructors who follow the Zumba DVD’s to the T, you’ll find that it’s at a slower pace and with some plyometric surprises in between.   For me I’ll take regular Zumba ZIN volumes and choose songs that I can apply to a Zumba Toning format. This is more fun because I’ll always have a variety of songs to use so my participants don’t get bored…hopefully.

So while teaching this program this question still remains…. How can I make this workout even more effective so that we’re engaging all muscle groups in an effective way. Here are some ideas so far:

Arms: Movements can be done at tempo of the song, but try to include movements that can be half tempo as well for added resistance.  Some movements include:

• Merengue arms to work, biceps, triceps so that your body is shaped like a lower cased T
• Arm Movement Idea: Open and close arms in a NW/SE, and a NE/SW formation to target accessory muscles in the arms and shoulder and upper back
• Arm Movement Idea: Arms at chest level and move them in stirring motion to target accessory muscles in the arms and chest and upper back
• General movements: tricep curls, bicep curls, side bicep curls, chest presses, shoulder presses. But those are movements that target mostly your major muscle groups instead of your accessory muscle groups.

Legs

• Quads: Back lunge but with your leg crossed behind the opposite leg instead of lunging it directly behind you. Targets major and secondary muscle groups.  Alternate them to the beat of a salsa song at tempo or half tempo.
• Inner Thigh and outer:  To a slow salsa, have most of your weight on one leg, and the other leg will cross as far over in front of that leg, then tap out to the side, and then cross it behind that leg and repeat several reps and switch to the other side.  To target the outer thigh, instead of tapping out to the side, lift your leg and then back down to cross behind you for several reps.
• Cross Squats: Squat down as far as you can with weights in your hand, and to the beat of a song, take the weight in your right hand and place it in front of your left leg. Then come back up, and then back down again to place the weight in your left hand down in front of your right leg. Repeat this sequence and pick them back up.

Abs

• Now this is where I will need your help. I still haven’t found an effective standing ab exercise that will have your feeling it the next day.
•   I am open to ideas from all you fitness professionals out there to share it with my class.

Plyometric Movements:

• I’m so intrigued to find out how we can incorporate challenging moves to better target the abdominal muscles and core strength to burn fat like a mean ..but cute zumba fighting machine!!

Don’t forget to checkout the Zumba clothing , especially those cargo pants which are currently on sale at www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com

To reach me…email me at http://86036.zumba.com

Who is Tanya Beardsley born from a boom box: The Interview

Farida Dancer:  So first question is when did you know you wanted “dance” to be a part of your full time career?

Tanya Beardsley:  Ummm…when did I know?  I think that kind of happened on accident.  I just know that dancing, for me, was always like the first form of communication for me. I’ve danced my whole life….I tried different things u know…but um words just kind a messed it up. Like I feel I’m super emotional and super passionate and dance kind of um allowed me to have an outlet…to let it out…instead of bottle it up.  I just kind a randomly like I heard about it but I was a competitive dancer u know and I was doing that professionally…yeah I was teaching dance and that was a whole different world. People told me about Zumba, and I googled it, and went to one of the first trainings u know and uh……….. 10 years later u know, it just like…it’s just important to….u know…expression man….empower people it’s important.
Farida Dancer: Yeah you totally have that ability naturally. Yeah and I just wanna know when did you realize a natural ability to motivate people because not everybody can do that? J

Tanya Beardsley:  No I didn’t and I think it just kind a happened through honesty…believe it or not. Most of us, like I was saying this morning …joking that I was having issues n’ stuff but we’re taught even in dance to keep it all in…don’t let it shake u ….u have to be a certain way…not to be verbal about your feelings. Yeah honesty man…because I think everybody holds it in…I think they’re not honest about how they feel and their insecurities n’ stuff like that…and I decided u know what…I’m never going to be able to connect with people if I have a constant front up…whether you like it or not…as long as I’m myself and I’m honest then I’m gonna be able to sleep at night.  Like it’s too much of a fasod that people try to put out or try to be something that they’re not and I think through going through everything that I deal with just as a human being and being open about it…have been able to connect with people…and maybe inspire them to open up about their stuff too.

Farida Dancer: Did you ever have issues with public speaking before or ….

Tanya Beardsley:  Yeah it always scared me.

Farida Dancer: Really????

Tanya Beardsley:  Yeah Always…like reports in school n’ stuff…

Farida Dancer: Yeah??

Tanya Beardsley: Yeah are you serious? I got sick n’ everything…..

Farida Dancer: What got you over that like what did you do to break that?

Tanya Beardsley: Being Honest. 

Farida Dancer: Yeah

Tanya Beardsley:  And having my certain material like you know …having that material that we teach with but fully believing in that material and being able to express it in different ways is what got me over it but um I’m always nervous before everything I do. And that’s why with teaching you can warm up to people like through the movement and then it’s easier to speak to them once you’ve already connected in that element. And yeah but none of this happened until I started to learn to try to accept myself man and not try to change it…yeah a life long process but. And plus I feed off of people like you who tell me that you actually feel it and you know that’s important.

Farida Dancer: YeahJ

Tanya Beardsley: Yeah (Tearing up a bit) Now you got me going’ dude…

Farida Dancer:  Cool! Noooooo!

Tanya Beardsley: Smiling and laughing

Farida Dancer:  You use the strong phrase “Keep your ego at the door” – What works for you to make sure that you yourself follow that?

Tanya Beardsley: Because I know nothing lasts forever and we may be in this position now to be trainers, to be in videos and to be able to do what we can do. And that’s what it is, and it is that we are able to do what we can now and we should try to live in the now.   When we get caught up in ‘ego’, it deludes everything man and it makes you insensitive to what’s really going on because you’re always putting up that front. But like I was saying today there is always going to be people better than you and if you have such a huge ego it hurts worse when someone walks into the room and they totally kick your butt.  But everyone has their niche man and everyone is beautiful and amazing in their own different way. They may not be a great dancer but maybe they are an amazing artist in another way like a great mom or dad u know.  When ego sets in that is when things start to crumble. Unfortunately a lot of the chaos in the world today stems from ego.

Farida Dancer: So you recognize those consequences and that’s what keeps you…

Tanya Beardsley : Yeah J And also I hate egos cause I came from …like first I was in Miami and I was trying to fit in there doing my Zumba thing and I’m not that Miami type. I’m not this beautiful Latin Goddess….like I just think that Latin women are beautiful and I tried to be that….

Farida Dancer: Really? You tried to be that??

Tanya Beardsley: yeah I tried to fit that mould for a long time…and that why that process got difficult for me…and that’s why evolving…coz I feel like…..

Farida Dancer: Was that why you were dressing kind of more like feminine, like you know and now you go with a hip hop look now?

Tanya Beardsley: Yeah I’m a lot more comfortable in baggy clothes

Farida Dancer: Yeah! J You totally work the baggy clothes J

Tanya Beardsley: You know I feel I don’t have to take my clothes off to be sexy. I don’t think women should feel like they have to do that….and we don’t have to do that because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You know like I said…we are evolving….we are what we choose to be confident…we have to be mindful about that…u know.   And ego and all that u know I just didn’t ….it’s energy! Everything is energy! You know when you’re in the room with the most arrogant people it’s just not a good feeling! They say perfection is an illusion dude.

Farida Dancer: Yeah…that’s true…Buzz kill….

Tanya Beardsley:  Yeah you shouldn’t have to look a certain way, if you have to go through the whole prep…the hair…the makeup….you know everything….to walk about and feel good about yourself.  It starts from within.  I think in that confidence…that’s what projects.  Coz you know you can meet physically beautiful people but they’re just ugly…like their personality and their energy is ugly. And then again you can see average people and they have a beautiful soul and light that u know makes something extra special. Did I even answer your question???

Farida Dancer: Yeahhh! It did!! Totally wow!

Tanya Beardsley: I’m just going off on you over here dude! (Laughing)

Farida Dancer: J That’s awesome!

Farida Dancer:   If you had three wishes for your life in particular, what would they be?

Tanya Beardsley: Oh Boy…….

Farida Dancer: Let’s start with the first J

Tanya Beardsley: Oh Jeez….. Feel like the tears are gonna come………Three wishes?

I think the first one would be for my family to be healthy, happy and balanced. Um ……………and safe.   And another would be happy, healthy, balanced and safe for myself and okay with myself even when all this stops. These are kind a not wishes for material things but u know that comes and goes. You’re born alone and you die alone and you don’t have all your material stuff with you. Yeah it would be for my family and loved ones to be okay. And I think another one not to be selfish but I’d want me to be okay man, and quiet the voices n’ stuff.  And we talked about evolving and being okay when I move into the different phases of my life with no regrets.  That’s a big thing…I don’t want to have any regrets.  And I know it’s important to me is to tell people like my mom and dad …I tell them I love them everyday…it doesn’t matter where I am in the world, I have to text them or call them to tell them I love them because you never know what tomorrow…u never know…u know what I’m saying…that scares me. It’s important to be verbal about that kind of stuff.  And another wish I guess is just……world peace!? (laughing)…I’ve always wanted to say that (laughing) Man I’m gonna think about this later and I’ll be like damn! U know…gimme your email just in case and I’ll be like here are my three wishes J (thinking….)

Farida Dancer: For you…something for you

Tanya Beardsley: We got to learn to give more to ourselves especially as women again…always trying to give to everybody else and we never make ourselves happy. My third wish is that I would love to find the absolute love of my life. For someone to love me in my sweatpants and zit cream, to be a wonderful mother and to have a family from that stem…from that seed of love…that book love…that fairytale stuff….I believe in that. I’m a hopeful romantic. But damn I want that so bad…so bad. So I think that would be number three. The never dying true love soul mate….If that’s out there I want it.

Farida Dancer: Wow, that’s beautiful.

Farida Dancer: What do you enjoy while not working?

Tanya Beardsley: Spending time with my family…when I get a chance to. I like to see live shows. I like to go to concerts. Like Sade…she’s like my favourite artist…amazing. I like good conversation…I like to learn stuff from people…whatever like still appreciate stuff…like

Farida Dancer:  So you’re not really into the party or the club scene?

Tanya Beardsley: No I used to be. I definitely feel like dancing…like salsa dancing, I will do that all night long. But you know I can’t hang like I used to hang. Plus you know I tried to fit into that too for a while and it’s hollow. U know what I’m saying…But here I like to be with people and you’re having a good time and you get the same buzz, but you’re not coming down afterwards…u know…  But you know spending time with my family…I’ve been reading a lot, like you know romantic realism books…go figure…like to learn…good conversation man, music, chill, yea u know I don’t mind silence. Because with everything it’s always so loud, we’re always travelling…music, people and talking so. I’ve learned to be okay just being by myself…it’s downtime I enjoy…and whatever

Farida Dancer: What do you do to stay away from negative emotion…because you know as Cancer’s we can be very emotional…?

Tanya Beardsley:  I’m very internal. But I have to remind myself um again also that I always say that the “doubt kills” man.  Our mind is a powerful machine. The more that we leak poisonous gas into it to feed that machine we create; every individual creates their own reality. We all live within our own reality. But most of that is all turmoil and negativity that we create for ourselves. That’s why we seek perfection in all that we do but that’s why there’s worry all the time.   There’s worry of people being better than you…u know.  There are people that wanna hate you just because they’re jealous. Jealousy sucks man…because it works in the exact opposite way that we want it to.  And I keep coming back to this….honesty….if you’re honest with yourself…and try to be honest with other people and not try to put up that front man…then I think that a lot of negative vibrations get away from you…can’t fight that honesty man.  But u know it can be hard to be honest, because people judge. People judge people every single day. It doesn’t matter what position you’re in.  You can have a guy roll into this room right now in a wheelchair and people will look at him and feel bad for him…u know…it’s like projection. U know…its like how do you know he doesn’t have a happy life even if he’s in a wheelchair.  A lot of life is avoiding other people’s projections.  We all have a blank screen. When he comes into the room people project what they want to on that. That’s why I say “it’s my screen”…don’t project your negativity on it.

Farida Dancer: What’s your background?

Tanya Beardsley: Italian/English (England).  The Beardsley name is big in England.  Actually a famous painter carries the last name Beardsley and we’re not related. I checked.

Farida Dancer: What’s your astrological sign and your birth month and day?

Tanya Beardsley: Cancer, July 4^th

Farida Dancer: Do you have a religious belief?

Tanya Beardsley: No I’m not religious but I am spiritual.

Farida Dancer: So you believe that there is a God.

Tanya Beardsley: Yes.

Reply with your comments of what other questions you think would allow us to get to know this amazing person a little better?

I got one: Are there any dancers that she looks up to?  Who in the Zumba industry does she look up to the most and why?  She identifies her interest in learning. Is there any thing in particular she really wants to learn more about? What do you eat to maintain your sexy and fit 6 pack abs?

P.S. I love you Tanya and you’re beautiful and you have a beautiful soul too.  I hope that with this interview the world can see that too and understand why you are truly an amazing person.  I wish for you and your family to be healthy and safe and for all your dreams in life to come true. If anyone deserves it …it’s you. BFF Farida Dancer from Canada;)

www.zumbaworkoustscanada.com

Finally More Zumba Classes at Wynn Fitness!

Heyyyy Zumba Fans! I just got offered an opportunity from Wynn Fitness …u know the one near Dundas and Dixie to offer another Zumba Class yayyyyeee!  They’re also adding another class for another fave instructor of Wynn named Sandra / aka Xandie – Which classes are always full but we do both have different styles.   I was definately intimidated thinking how am I going to really measure up to Xandie who’s been teaching Zumba for years and has really put herself out there entrepreneurily (hmmm is that a word..but u know what i mean eh’).  Well it turns out, they like me on Mondays…yayyeee. It’s by far my favorite place to teach all week! 

We’re still in the process of fine tuning the details but I’m finalizing offering Zumba Toning from 6-7..and then Zumba from 7-8.   I’m currently doing that at Premier in Milton on Tuesdays where Zumba toning and Zumba are 2 45min back to back classes…so an extra 30 min won’t kill me.

So yayyeee I not only get to teach at my favorite place to work but more often! ZUUUMMBAAAAA!

I feel like Chantel in The Bachelor right now

I have a confession to make – I’m feeling a bit bummed because it’s hard to measure up to such a great instructor who was working at Premier for like 3 years.   I feel like Chantel waiting to get that final rose of acceptance from my class but maybe my deep insecurity about the whole thing has me doubting myself.   Before I took over the class in Milton I was told that there were 50 or 60 people that take that class but the most I’ve ever seen was almost 30.  Always had me feeling did the other 30 jump ship because she doesn’t teach anymore?  Then when I asked someone last week who took her classes if there were ever 50 or 60 people there, she said no and that if there were they’d be like “sardines in a can” in there.  I also heard that members cried when she left. 

I have to say that it’s a quieter crowd than I’m used to. I feel so spoiled working at Wynn fitness as a Zumba instructor on Monday nights because they’re truly the best crowd.   There whooing and clappin and having a fab old time. I don’t even have to say anything after a song and they’re cheering and giving me thumbs up. It’s such a great feeling to see that members appreciate what you’re trying to give them…

But when you’re constantly being compared to previous instructor with years experience based on locker room gossip, I should be saying..u know it’s their right..and if it were me..I’d be making comparisons too.  I really wanted to take her last class but she didn’t show up and I ended up having to teach the class.   I know they really wanted to see “her”..so I was a little worried that they’d be bummed that they were left with “me”.   They even told me, they wanted me to teach them the zumba class that day so I did and gave it my best.  One member told me , that the members were afraid that they’d be stuck with someone they didn’t like.   I’m still trying to figure out if they ‘like me’.   The numbers are getting increasingly good which tells me ‘maybe the members are warming up to my technique’. 

What is my class like? Hmmm Definately a mixed playlist of most international sounds – There has to be some sexy moves in there, some hip hop, some belly dance, salsa, merengue…oh definately cumbia…recently some soca, bollywood, and a house warmup and batchata cooldown

Here’s a typical music type playlist for a class:

1. house warmup
2. merengue
3. salsa
4. latin pop
5. reggaeton
6. merengue
7. salsa
8. cumbia
9. reggaeton
10. latinpop
11. bellydance
12. soca
13. salsa
14. bollywood
15. cumbia
16. batchata cooldown

I like to have alot of songs and variety in a class so most songs are 3 minutes n’ something.

How can I expect to really measure up to someone who has 3 years Zumba teaching experience, with Can fit pro group fitness training to lil ol young me, with 6 months teaching experience and no can fit pro but are familiar with fitness since it’s something I’ve been doing since a late teenager?? – excuse the run on sentence please. 

I really have to give this more time u know – 6 months in and I’m so happy I have fans already. I can’t wait to see what having experience will evolve me into …maybe a Zumba Superhero! I really want to evolve into someone who is fit, and who has limitless energy and gleams with a Zumba glow from a far.  I’ll go as far as my knees will take me – Come on zumba knees! take me to where I need to go!

Did you add me on facebook yet? I’m Farida Dancer

Check out zumba wear on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zumba-fans-in-Canada/129461873742888?sk=app_189977524185

OMG Tanya Beardsley has new favorite shoes!

New Cut up Zumba T coming soon at http://www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com/zumbawear__clothing

Hey Tanya Beardsley fans..but hey..no bigger fan than me..her one and only BFF in Canada. Funny how she hasn’t answered any of my personal emails to her www.zumbafied.com email.  I’m just telling myself..she doesn’t mean to and i’m sure she’s really really busy and can’t spare 2 minutes to reply…no no scratch that……and ‘is unable to spare time at that specific moment’. I do really have a habit of catching people at the wrong time…. Anyway..I won’t give up and I’m sure I’ll get a good luck wish sometime. My training with her was on August 12th 2010, a pivital point in my life that I’ll never forget until I die, and feel it just as yesterday when I asked her in the bathroom if I can be her BFF. She said “Sure” in a believeable and sincere way so I’m gonna go with dat chica.

Anyway! back to the point of this blog entry. Well got my ZIN 30 DVD/CD in the mail today and as I opened it yelled “yaaaayyyyyeeee” and ran across the street to get some snacks as I’d come back home to watch and enjoy and dance to it. Amanda Grant, you beautiful woman and Zes and chica, you did an awesome job!  So in the intro of the DVD I saw Tanya Beardsley lookin’ fitter than eva in her cut up black n’ white Zumba Tank, layered with a red bra top underneath complimented with White Zumba cargos with a black band…hmmm..didn’t see those anywhere..but had no idea she’d choose White. Well that’s gonna be on my Tanya’s Closet shopping list along with that Zumba tank too. So I looked down seeing her dancing with dark colored shoes with yellow neon laces and automatically assumed “hey those are Tanyas favorite Nike Shoes….yup and I got’em”. But as the intro played a few times I noticed they weren’t the same ones. They were dark colored..I think black or dark purple or dark navy with Red air pumps at teh back, with a green accenting on the fabric or leather of the shoe with neon laces. Soooo! Those are not the regular ones she wears ..they’re new..and they look AMAAAZZING!

sO zUMBA ladies n’ gents…I’m gonna be on the search for Tanya’s NEW favorite Shoes and buy em when I get my hands on em;)  So here we go with the Where’s waldo game called Where’s Tanya B’s Shoes!

p.s. If you google about Tanya Beardsley’s favorite shoes you’re gonna find my site and blog posts coming up everywhere. I’m thinking those shoes were custom and ordered online to combine all three of those colors in one shoe coz so far found nothing on google yet. If custom is what I must do then i will. Man she has awesome taste in shoes. They’re something like the above kind but in different color but definately Nike!

Chao!

p.s. She uses a phrase “Make it your own”…..like when you’re learning zumba choreography.  I don’t think of myself as trying to bite her style but maybe I am a bit. Everyone has their own way of interpreting rhythem so If you put us side by side doing the same move, not only will she do it better, but there will be some similarities beause i really love her way of interpreting it.  I hope that doesn’t annoy her or something but I think we all inevitably make it our own because we naturally have our own way of interpreting rhythem.   I hope this phrase is not applicable to her shoes though…and gottem custom made to make the search for em just a weeeeee bit harder…  She’s a Zumba celeb anyway..shouldn’t she have a custom shoe anyway?? See yaa…I just wanna bee yaa lol!

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!

What I learned about my role as a Zumba Fitness Instructor

Don’t forget to check out www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com or join the facebook group: Zumba Fans in Canada

Remember that job interview I had a more than a month ago with that lady on lakeshore who said that “no one wants a dancing body with it’s head cut off”…basically implying that I had no personality. yeah ..that one who is also an unlicenced zumba instructor who actually never took zumba fitness training and who’s getting fumba routines from YOUTUBE.  But I don’t wanna be a rat because karma’s a bitch!  I still stand that she was harsh in the way she approached the situation.   She wanted me to talk more and not just instruct on direction of a move or how to do something..it was about motivation.   Since then I’ve definately learned more about how to be a better motivator in being a fitness instructor since I began teaching Aqua Zumba.

Here’s how..I actually googled “how to motivate as a fitness instructor” or something else along those lines and I learned quite a few things.

• Complimenting them when they are doing well
• Encouraging your class to give you more
• Pointing out those who are doing extremely well
• Taking on a role as a performer and getting them to let go of their inhibitions
• Smile and encourage them when they seem they’re giving up
• If they’re not getting the moves with all that..them simplify it

I used these techniques above in teaching my first Aqua Zumba class but it wasn’t enough to make it a success because the moves were not easy to do. So before the second class, I got in the water and found that they were right. You gotta get in the water to get a better feel for how to teach them the moves on land..and if they still can’t get it..then simplify or change the move all together.  The second class although it was only one member was a success and the member told me “This is better than just swimming”.   I’m about to go onto teaching class three for Aqua Zumba at Premiere on Sundays and hopefully with a bigger crowd that will say the same thing. CROSSIN MA FINGAZ.!!!

I also subbed my first Zumba fitness class one thursday in oakville and used all the motivation techniques above and got feedback from the manager today who said “they loved it, and they want to get me on the list!” Woo hoo! It’s great encouragement for the class I’ll be subbing tomorrow at Premiere fridays at Burnhamthorpe/Erindale station. I’m gonna have them ladies sweatin’ like never before and the music is gonna be SEXY HOT!!!

Oh yeah about that lady on lakeshore….they say when a door closes another door opens. She didn’t even want to give me a chance to demo a class and just went by what I did for her. Even she was smiling and giggling too and still turned around and said I had no personality. She was gonna offer me 20 and I’d have to wait for the rate I’m getting now which is 30. So i’m gonna say a few things.

Sionara! Astalawego! Astalavista! Areevadechi! Aurevoir! Masalama! Fil Me lengae! Baby!

Remember I was saying it’s foomba to talk in a Zumba fitness class, well I was wrong and I was very upset that day for really being insulted not that I didn’t get the job.   Since then I learned that it’s important as a Zumba Fitness instructor to be a motivator too because your participants want to feel good about taking your class too and so they get to the level of success that they seek in taking your class.

Chao baby!

p.s. I wanna say that Zin 29 is da bomb! and I already started using 3 of the songs in both my Zumba basic and Aqua Zumba classes. I believe in the Zumba Formula and do my best to stay true to it every single class…even if it’s my own choreography.

Aqua Zumba Training– Windsor, Ontario – with Tamara and Nile Said – October 3rd 2010 – STILL AVAILABLE

***dont’ forget to visit www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com for cool videos, music, Zumbawear & bellydance scarves

Meeting ZES Tamara Said – This sexy chica has lots of energy, she’s great at cueing, and great dancer and most of all she is hilarious!!! Great sense of humor that chica. Zumba Love Girl xxoxoo (btw. I believe only Tamara S. teaches the Aqua training in Canada)

Aqua Training in Guelph Sept 11 2010 – My Experience

I was really curious and excited to take Aqua Zumba Training. For one it was in Guelph, ON which is 1 hour away from Mississauga – from big city to boonieville. I got there an back in one piece. When I finally arrived I was relieved because I got a bit lost because I didn’t notice the huge brown YMCA building on my right that I zoomed by.

I really liked that we didn’t have to wear a traditional bathing suit. For Zumba you can wear a lycra zumba tank, or aqua zumba tank, zumba skorts, or zumba booty shorts.  Most of all, don’t forget aqua shoes, which are rubber soled shoes made for the water which can be found at Canadian Tire for about $15. I wouldn’t recommend wearing your regular runners in the water because you don’t want to ruin them right because the water has chlorine in it which can weaken certain fibres of certain kind of fabric especially cotton.  Aqua  shoes don’t have laces, but they fit snug just like a shoe.  Purchase a size that will fit your feet nice n’ snug. For a running shoe I’d go for a 7.5 but for an aqua shoe I fit nicely into a size 6 because you don’t wear socks with em.

I love the water first off which was a plus. You could just see me bouncing around in the water like a red buey.  The music began and we got excited and followed Tamara Said to the best of our ability. One thing you don’t realize until you get into the water that moving on land is so different than moving on land. On land you can do any tempo but where the slower you go it gets more difficult. But in the water, going fast is restrictive and more difficult, but the slower you move the easier it gets.  All the steps are modified, such as the cumbia step, machete step, merengue step. You can challenge yourself depending on how you have the palms of your hands placed, whether it is a fist, or open.

There are 3 things that I was surprised to find out about Aqua training

1. Because you’re moving slower on land, it requires a lot of core strength, and stamina so you get super hot and sweat like a pig while on deck teaching the class. Because it’s impossible to jump slow, you’re supposed to use the help of a chair which gives your body a rest period.

2.  Our training was for 2 hours. By about the first hour you began to feel a bit tired and about 2 hours you felt kinda exhausted. But the feeling of exhaustion doesn’t become apparent until you get out of the water. In the water you’re cooled off, you don’t feel any sweat because it’s going in the water and as light as a feather.  Get out of the water and you feel there is a ball n’ chain strapped to your ankle and you’re exhausted like a noodle.

3. Although you’re in the water, you gotta make sure you drink lots of water to avoid cramping. So bring your bottled water and put it at the side of the pool to keep handy during your class.

Teaching an Aqua class is hard work so trainers should be paid more than with a basic class.

Upcoming Training Aqua Zumba Training Classes: You can only take this once you’ve completed B1 Training

1. Aqua Zumba Training – Windsor, ON – Oct 3 2010 with Tamara & Nile Said

2. Aqua Zumba Training – Winnipeg, MB – Nov 13 2010 with Tamara & Nile Said

3. Aqua Zumba Training – Darmouth, NS – November 28 2010 with Tamara & Nile Said

Next Basic 1 Training – Basic 1 training is anything but basic soooo fun!!!

Sudbury, ON in October 2 2010 with Andrea Hamilton

Windsor, ON in October 2 2010 with Tamara & Nile Said

Register at www.zumba.com

Sorry I don’t teach F-umba – Unlicenced Zumba Instructors

Man I got a beef to pick eh’. I just went for an appointment for a job to teach Zumba in a dance studio and didn’t get the job because they wanted F-umba basically.  Although the Zumba Formula and the Zumba King himself promotes Non-Verbal cueing in a Zumba Basic Class, it was expected that I would.   I’m not just talking verbal cueing of the next step, but each and every step!  i.e. You make a booty shake and face in four directions like in La Patilla, she wanted me to not only point but say “This way”…”now that way”, “now this way”…maybe a giggle in between and say “that way” . I swear if I went to a F-umba class that had that much unnecessary verbal cuing I’d seriously consider shooting myself LOL! 

But hey I don’t blame her for expecting it because the previous instructor did that..and so did the instructors she experienced at other gyms such as Salsasize, and jazzercize, and all those Les Mills programs that probably promote tons of talking during class. Which is fine…but

This is Zumba – not F-umba – So it’s a party! – Do you talk at a party?  Why would you when you’re too busy feeling the music!

Anyway it was good to get the feedback because it only enforces the kind of instructor I wanna be..and that is one who sticks to the roots of the Zumba Formula, who follows the vision of what Beto Perez, the Zumba King wants for his Zumba Craze.   Only in Zumba Gold you use verbal cueing.  I saw a Zumba Queen perform, and that was Tanya, she did not speak a word during her performance, but she dance her fricken heart out and gave it her 130%.   She is a performer and a teacher, and talking has nothing to do with it.

If Tanya went to this interview…and yes she spoke to me through her shoes, beause I was wearing her Nike Air Max 90′s the yellow and purple ones…she said to me…Forget it Farida…you don’t teach F-umba. Peace out n’ Zumba Love to all xox!

P.S. I’ve seen Zumba taught at Goodlife Fitness and they don’t teach F-umba either and I fell in love with taking them.

P.S.2 And do you believe the owner said that she’d be teaching F-umba until she found another instructor to take her place. Gave her a friendly reminder that it’s not really legal and she corrected herself to say that she teaches salsa and balloom and renamed it to “Latin Funk” er som sht  – unlicenced zumba instructors can’t teach Zumba Classes

Was in the ZIN forums and got some awesome advice I’d like to share and it actually made me feel a bit better:

I have worked for Gyms who “dictated” how they wanted me to teach. You know what, I took the job at that time and SLOWLY changed the way the management saw Zumba.

I enjoy a challege. I see this as an OPPORTUNITY to get in there and MAKE A FEW IMPRESSIONS… by working with the facilty and management.

I see this as an even better way to share the Zumba way, by changing minds!

Just me. I believe that people are allowed to have their own ideas about things but if I know of a different or even better way, I might take the chance to MAKE THE ZUMBA MAGIC HAPPEN!

It is called evolution and professionalism

My reply:

thanx for your feedback I was waiting for it actually. I like the way you emphasized it as being a challenge and slowly changed the way management saw Zumba(i like that). I definately want to evolve and be more professional. Maybe next opportunity i’ll try to keep this in mind. Thanx

Purchased Tanya Beardsley’s Shoes – Nike Air Max 90′s

Hey..I’m so excited I just found and purchased Tanya Beardsleys shoes!

The purple and yellow nike air max 90′s. I vowe to sleep in them the first night I get em.

My memory of my experience with her on August 12th at the Can-fit-Pro conference is fresh like yesterday. She really left me with something so special I can’t describe. I’ve never been inspired by someone as much as I’ve been inspired by that chica right there.  I’ve never went crazy over a celeb really but get posters but nothing more than that really. But it didn’t really qualify me as a potential groupee or fan. But man If i could afford it I’d live in New york just get get access to her Zumba Fitness classes and experience her Zumba vibe every week. Man..she really makes me have hope for a future that I can have as an individual. Teaching Zumba classes is really a new thing for me and really got me out of my behind the scenes comfort zone. I was dying of nervousness before I met her and having doubt in my ability left right and center.   Meeting her has really inspired me to own and crush the doubt in myself. It’s encouraged me to seek information about how to be better at being a Zumba fitness instructor. For one is cueing. It’s really not as difficult as I expected. She also encourages to take FIT to be a better Zumba Fitness instructor. I’m looking into that too. All the courses are on the weekend and even if I didn’t take the test, taking part of the course will be beneficial to teaching anyway.

So one down and more to go. Got the shoes, now all I need is Tanya B in my closet hahha chao bellas!