Practice what you preach

ZumbawithSharon

hi I'm a newbie and I joined because I saw an old conversation about overweight fitness instructors and was keen to leave my opinion and find out what you guys think.
At my heaviest weight I was 69kg that was January 2010, I now weigh 53kg and became a Zumba instructor 1 year ago.
Zumba fitness allows anyone to become instructors, it's a franchise, you pay for a licence, but I know a lot of people including other instructors and class participants and myself who won't go to instructors that are heavier than them or don't at least look physically fit. I've worked hard to become fit and changed my body shape and have good definition and people say they are inspired by that as a lot of these people have known me since I started going to Zumba class and then became participants in my own class. So for me personally I wouldn't go to someone that I wasn't motivated by, I want to
Look at them and say that's what I want to achieve, I did that at the start of my journey, I was inspired by my then instructor, who is now my best friend, I still attend her classes and help out too and I still listen to her advice. So I would value your opinion, thanks

pastryari

So I would value your opinion, thanks

Are you asking a question? Because if you are, I have no clue what you're asking.

ZumbawithSharon

Ha ha sorry went off on a bit if a rant.
I want to know what people expect from class/fitness instructors, does their body shape, weight or fitness capabilities matter to you as a participant?

pastryari

In my head, I understand that the knowledge inside is what matters but I would be reluctant to have a trainer/instructor who is overweight. I guess I'd want someone who is so enthusiastic about that knowledge they have that they apply it to their own bodies and know first-hand the effort and hard work it takes. It would be more relatable and motivational.

Edit for typo.

DJTJ34

I wouldnt take a class from an instructor that wasnt in better shape than i am.
I wouldnt take financial advice from someone with less money than me!
and so on

mermx

I wouldnt take a class from an instructor that wasnt in better shape than i am.
I wouldnt take financial advice from someone with less money than me!
and so on

This...and would you get a haircut from someone that had awful hair...would you trust a vet with a limping dog??

EgglessKeto

Who cares as long as they run a great class?

ZumbawithSharon

Thanks for your opinions, It's a debate that I've had with people in class, and with other fitness professionals, most say the same but some have said it makes no difference. I guess you get from your exercise what you put in but I certainly would like the instructor to be able to keep up with participants in the class.

beattie1

I go to various Zumba classes and two of them have instructors I would call "cuddly" - they're carrying a few extra pounds. As I'm carrying a few DOZEN extra pounds and am twice the age of one and 50% older than the other, they easily outperform me. They're both dear people and I like their classes, so I continue go to them. I find that instructors who are "skinny minnies" in their teens & twenties have very little empathy with fat old hags like me!

As usual, it's horses for courses!

ZumbawithSharon

I would care because if they can't get themselves in shape what chance do they have of inspiring me, and that should be part of their job.

AZKristi

I don't give a crap what they look like if they can do the workout and build a workout that challenges my fitness level.

ZumbawithSharon

I'm probably what you would call a skinny Minnie but I'm not a young thing, I wish! But it is called Zumba fitness for a reason, now you can be a little heavier and be fit but I would expect the weight to be from muscle mass rather than fat. I know a couple of instructors one almost half the age of the other but more than twice her size, they work as a team but neither are fit and struggle through the hours class, the younger, heavier one being almost purple in the face during the class. They have been doing this for a few years but never improved fitness ability or gained any muscle definition themselves so how do they motivate others?

ZumbawithSharon

Well a lot can't do the class themselves, they start then walk around yelling and Only do small part of the class. I expect them to do the whole thing with me. I do with my class.