I recently got certified licensed to teach Zumba. I have a draft on that, so more details coming up, but I’ve been going back and forth with a fellow instructor about what draws men to take classes. This last thread felt post-worthy, so here you go.
Q: What made you walk into your first Zumba class?
The GeekFit podcast (of which I’m a co-host – I don’t know why I assume everyone knows this) was created in part to answer the question (publicly) that I’d been asked over and over as I started losing weight – “how do you do it?!” The other reason was accountability.
Change is terrifying, but it made it easier to give things a try if I thought I was doing it for someone else. I’ve always been eager to help other people, so I guess it was a little psychological judo on my part. It worked.
Q: Were you nervous, overwhelmed, excited, comfortable?
I was terrified, but I remember what kept me from walking out of my first class. Jennifer Shaw walked up to me before her class started, gave me a hug, and told me how excited she was that *I* was there. I was a nobody, but for the next 60 minutes I felt like I belonged and having that need filled overpowered any anxiety I had about being out of my element.
Q: Is there anything that would have made you more comfortable (more of a class introduction, less/more attention, more modifications)?
I think “don’t worry about doing it right, start with the feet and figure out the arms later, and let’s have fun” is a great message to start each class. Some instructors have an entire spiel which I think is overboard. Staring down the noobs throughout the class might be too much, but occassional eye contact and a smile would go a long way especially with your male students. I know how much of a turn-off a class can be for me if there’s absolutely no connection with the instructor.
Q: Have you ever been in a class that just felt too girlie?
I go a long way with the “girly” dance moves. The only one I don’t like because I really haven’t found my own groove yet is the strike-a-pose maneuver. I think I just need 2 or 3 go-to moves where I look like I’m on a Backstreet Boys poster.
Q: Do you prefer for female teachers to show more manly modifications or do you prefer to just adjust moves yourself?
I really don’t mind any of the moves and I would never expect a teacher to modify anything. In fact, the “manly” moves just look silly to me. I’m not Fabio. I don’t need to kiss my biceps in place of salsa arms. The only time I’ll make a change is when I think I can make something look a little more energetic but it’s so close to what the instructor is doing that I wouldn’t even consider it a modification.
Q: I have been curious about this. I had the parade of men on Thursday at LAC that would come and stand in the doorway until I tried to wave them in and then they would scurry away. What is the secret to bringing in the men and helping them to feel comfortable?
I’m still working on this one. I have ideas.
