Bigger Woman wanting to becoming a Zumba instructor

TallGlassOfQuirky

I used to belong to an awesome fitness studio and there was a young woman who was at the front of the room for every Zumba class. She was a big girl but danced with incredible grace and energy.

She now teaches at that fitness studio and is one of the most popular instructors.

See, she is still overweight, but she's committed to getting healthier. Veterans love her because they adore being able to see her progress and transformation. Newbies love her because she is relatable.

Don't let your weight stop you from doing something you love, but also use your love of Zumba motivate you to keep working on getting fit and healthy.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

DO IT. If you can do the moves, DO IT. Don't listen to ANYONE who is saying "People will walk in and wonder 'how did that overweight person get to be an instructor'?" Will some people think that? Yes. Those people need to stop assuming the being over weight means you lack knowledge or skill. That's like saying all thin people have a clue about about healthy weight management. Um, no.

I wouldn't think twice about taking a class from an overweight instructor -- what the heck do I know about booty-shaking dance? Nothing.

LaurenAOK

My zumba instructor is a bigger girl, my hip hop cardio instructor is as well. I love them both. I have a super tiny instructor for kickboxing and she mainly just intimidates me. It's not as fun :P

Capt_Apollo

My zumba instructor is a bigger girl, my hip hop cardio instructor is as well. I love them both. I have a super tiny instructor for kickboxing and she mainly just intimidates me. It's not as fun :P

you allow yourself to be intimidated for whatever reason.

i took some muay thai classes. they were beginner classes, but i knew there would be people there of greater skill. the instructor was 5' 5" skinny indian guy, with 8% body fat. and he could totally kick my *kitten* three times before i hit the ground.

was i intimidated? no.

i was alert, mindful, attentive, and eager. i was not intimidate. of what? of a martial arts class? of people that know more then me, or have more experience then me?

that is going to exist every where. i am like most people, and will never achieve a level of understanding where i know everything about any particular subject. to feel intimidated just because i go to a class with others.

hell, i even went up to a student that was obviously more advanced than me, and introduced myself and asked him to show me how to properly wrap my wrists. guess what? new friend.

get over what ever intimidates you about some "fitter" instructor teaching a class. you don't know that she wasn't once overweight herself. maybe she was always afraid of speaking in public. maybe she over came some physical ailment and is know teaching classes after not being ever able to.

whierd

I do not see what weight has to do with being a Zumba instructor. As long as you can gyrate (I assume that is what you do) then no problem. Yes, you will get some jerks that think it is BS that you are an instructor, but those kind of people are nasty anyway. **** 'em.

Lyerin

For me, I don't care what size my Zumba instructor is. It only matters if she is a good dancer. If you have rhythm and can really dance, then do it. I have taken a class from a very large woman, but she was a really good dancer, so I enjoyed the class. I have also taken a class from a very thin and fit woman who was not a very good dancer, and I never went back to one of her classes.

cleaneatingkaren

I love (most) of these replies! Yes, if you've got the passion and energy for Zumba then do it! I am an avid Zumba-er and I could care less who my instructor is just as long as he/she has some good moves and positive energy. Go for it!

mmddwechanged

I've had many aerobics instructors all different shapes and sizes. They have all motivated me because they can teach several classes a day while I'm proud to just be there!!!

Barbellerella

I did an at home Zumba video once, and although I was home alone I was still embarrassed for myself~lol. If you're good at it and love it, go for it girl!

maggs155

I think being bigger and losing a long with them is awesome some people feel uncomfortable around little skinny people and embarrassed. It will show them that it doesnt matter about size that anyone can do the exercise and give them hope:)

upgetupgetup

Just the other day I saw a class happening (not Zumba) near the weights area at my gym. The instructor was overweight. People in the class looked really into it. She had a really great, motivating energy.

I think doing it now would be awesome. Might make the class feel more accessible to people who might shy away otherwise. Do it!

BadOneEarMonkey

I do Zumba lots!
It's a passion and I am super excited now that I seem all these responses.
I have done a form of dance since I was little to early teens which might explain why I like Zumba so much.
Zumba makes me happier and more motivated.

PattiBear85

I just went to Zumba tonight and my gym instructor said (whether its true or not) that her gym instructor was a rather round girl and she made her first day hurt.

BinaryPulsar

I do Zumba lots!
It's a passion and I am super excited now that I seem all these responses.
I have done a form of dance since I was little to early teens which might explain why I like Zumba so much.
Zumba makes me happier and more motivated.

Yay!! :drinker:

rainbowbow

I PERSONALLY wouldn't take fitness advice or training from someone I didn't think was in better shape than me.. Even if they were certified, studied for years, etc. I just couldn't. =|

My opinion is that if you are going to be any kind of fitness instructor you should be physically fit.

Just my thoughts, nothing personal.

BinaryPulsar

I PERSONALLY wouldn't take fitness advice or training from someone I didn't think was in better shape than me.. Even if they were certified, studied for years, etc. I just couldn't. =|

My opinion is that if you are going to be any kind of fitness instructor you should be physically fit.

Just my thoughts, nothing personal.

Zumba instructors are not there to give out fitness advice, they are just there to lead you in some fun, shake your booty dancing. If they have rhythm, style, and grace, I'm happy. I weigh 100 pounds, and I am a dancer. Being a good dancer is much more important to me than anything else in a zumba instructor. I find it intolerable when they are not good dancers and do not have grace and rhythm and oomph. I dislike stiff, jazz, cookie cutter dancing that lacks real grace and rhythm and is fake "sexy" instead of actually sensual. I prefer the Brazilian and African inspired styles. But, I guess I know I am in charge of my own fitness and if I go to zumba it's to dance and move. The weight of the instructor does not influence my fitness improvement as long as she is doing it right.

But, I also don't understand why people are saying that slender instructors intimidate them. Being fit does lead to slimness for some people, as does dancing. Slender people are not judging you. We are all just people, of all different shapes and sizes. And everyone has faced many challenges in life.

ChristyRunStarr

Go for it! You love it so go have fun. Honestly, it might help you get some clients-kind of the "if I can do it, you can do it" type of thought.

Melissa22G

Go for it!

My Zumba instructor is over 200 lbs. I'm 179 and going through training in July- Zumba is a fun class, as long as you're able to keep up with the class (or the class with you:) ) GO FOR IT.

The training for me is my 30 down fitness reward for me.

LaurenAOK

My zumba instructor is a bigger girl, my hip hop cardio instructor is as well. I love them both. I have a super tiny instructor for kickboxing and she mainly just intimidates me. It's not as fun :P

you allow yourself to be intimidated for whatever reason.

i took some muay thai classes. they were beginner classes, but i knew there would be people there of greater skill. the instructor was 5' 5" skinny indian guy, with 8% body fat. and he could totally kick my *kitten* three times before i hit the ground.

was i intimidated? no.

i was alert, mindful, attentive, and eager. i was not intimidate. of what? of a martial arts class? of people that know more then me, or have more experience then me?

that is going to exist every where. i am like most people, and will never achieve a level of understanding where i know everything about any particular subject. to feel intimidated just because i go to a class with others.

hell, i even went up to a student that was obviously more advanced than me, and introduced myself and asked him to show me how to properly wrap my wrists. guess what? new friend.

get over what ever intimidates you about some "fitter" instructor teaching a class. you don't know that she wasn't once overweight herself. maybe she was always afraid of speaking in public. maybe she over came some physical ailment and is know teaching classes after not being ever able to.

It's more her personality that intimidates me than the fact that she's fit. I was making a joke I consider myself pretty fit, I'm not intimidated by fit people and I love classes that challenge me.

dixiewhiskey

I think some people may find it difficult to relate to a instructor who is lean and cut.. just thinking of myself as an example, I'm not sure how to relate to someone who hasn't had children OR an instructor who has had children but no sagging skin/stretch marks across her belly. Just a thought. I go to a variety of different types of non-Zumba classes and always go back to the teachers who are able to lead me regardless of age, size, etc, though.

LavenderBouquet

It's all in your head!! Do your research and go for it!!!

:drinker:

iBreatheMusic88

I actually attened a Zuma class before and the instructor actuallys started out really big (As the instructor...) I had no clue until someone told me that she lost over 100 pounds and decided to do this full time to keep it off. So I say go for it!!!

midwesternwind

I would feel more comfortable having a fuller figurer instructer. Just my opinion.

So_Much_Fab

I'm not a bigger woman - and I would never entertain becoming a Zumba instructor.

Why?

Because I don't have the requisite rhythm!!! :sad:

If you have the moves, go for it!!

sabbrown40

I am so glad that you are getting positive feedback on this matter. I love zumba myself. And though I have a lot of weight to lose, it is sitll something that I enjoy doing and can hang with. I wish you the best in your endeavor. Put your mind over the matter and the rest won't matter. You can do anything you believe you can do. Go get it.

Cr01502

DON'T LET ANYBODY TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T!





^^ Look at this guy.

laarae

Just go for it-if you have the passion then let it carry you to your dreams. I too have lost 100+ lbs with Zumba and a change in eating. Keep the faith and to H w/those who say you can't because inside you know you can.

karenyg

Please don't let size distract you from doing what you feel in your heart you want to do. My Zumba instructor did weigh over 300+ pounds, but through Zumba she has brought her weight down tremendously. Her love for zumba and what it has done and still doing for her incourages others to do the same. :happy:

emmymcq

I used to teach spin class 3 times per week. I'm 5'3" and at the time I was around 180ish lbs. knowledge is way more important than size. I say go for it!

Raynne413

One of the instructors I had that I enjoyed the most was heavy. Go for it and have fun!