Any Zumba Instructors out there...???

Bump!! I love the classes so much I've wondered the same thing!

Hi Selena!!! I am certified to teach Zumba...I got it in May of this year. First as far as being in shape...do not worry!! At my training session, there were all different shapes and sizes there!! The biggest thing is it is a LONG day...haha. It is from I think 9-6...lol...I cannot even remember now . But about 6 hours or so is actual dancing. There is some classroom instruction as well but the majority is dancing. The first hour or so is a masters class which is INTENSE!!! Then you start getting into the steps. Bring your lunch with you, you will not have much time to go out and eat.
Now, I am currently teaching (1st class was last night) at my church. I am simply doing a "small group" so I am not charging at all for the class. I am doing this simply to get experience. So I am no help on the payment side of the house, our Zumba instructor for the class I regularly attend I believe is paid about $12/hr...not a lot for an hour long class. She may get a portion for how many students attend but not sure. Other classes I have attended, there is a $5 charge, I am guessing the instructor gets about 50% of that.
I decided to get certified because I really love Zumba. I started in January and have never had so much fun exercising before! I just think that everyone should be able to fall in love with it too!

I've become an instructor 4 months ago. =^_^=
I don't really know how it is in the States, since I live in Germany. So I can only tell you about it here, but I guess it's pretty much the same everywhere.
I started Zumba a year ago in my living room ... in terrible shape. LOL Got better with time, had some great results with it. And one day a woman from our community center asked me if I'd like to start teaching a class. It was actually not an official thing. But it got pretty big in a short time. So I decided to go for my instructor certificate.
Here in Germany you have to take an instructor class, that goes for a weekend (around 350$), after that you will get your certificate. You can do more workshops do get your certificate for Zumba Gold or other versions.
The workshop is tough, 9 hours straight for two days. You will feel every bone after it. But it's worth it, because you don't only learn the steps from a professional, you also learn how to TEACH them, which is a big difference. And you'll get a lot of material that will help you.
Currently I'm giving 3 classes a week. I don't do it for a living, it's simply fun to me. I'll start a fourth class Augut, 10th and I was already asked to do a fifth (but that's not sure, since I don't know if I'll have the time for it with my regular business running next to it).
I have usually 30-40 people in my classes, which is a lot. Most classes are smaller here (guess I have talent to torture people and they come freely to me ROFL).
How much money you'll make depends on who pays you. But it's a nice extra income.
I'm not in perfect shape and I'm still far away from my goal weight. But I guess that's a plus, because people here get motivated this way. They see me, see the results I have had with it and think "if she did it, I can do too". I know that some get discouraged, if they see a perfect in shape gym bunny in front of them. I'm not, so they are okay with me.
What you have to take into consideration is that you need more than just the shape to finish an hour of doing Zumba yourself. You will talk, while doing it, you will have to explain steps. You will need a certain knowledge about anatomy to tell people to pay attention to certain muscles and body parts, so they don't injure themselves. And you have to know what you are doing. But it is a lot of fun. And, seriously, if I can become an instructor, then probably everybody can. =^_^=

I am obtaining my instructors license on this Saturday! I am super excited. I work a full time job that I love, so I hope to only teach a few days a week. I have an interview at the Y on Monday!! I love Zumba and taking my instructors class only helps me push myself to the next level in my Zumba workout.

Great post.... I too am a licensed Zumba instructor. I personally lost 80 pounds in a two year period of time. I decided to become an became an instructor over a year ago so my local YMCA would not cancel the classes I enjoy participating in so much!. I decided to start my own Zumba studio in December of last year because I wanted to reach out to other people other than through the YMCA. My stuido currently holds classes 5 days a week with the assistance of four other instructors. For me, I teach for the joy of helping others... it is a labor of love and not for the money. LOL ~ as a small business owner I can honestly say I am not making a dime at this time, again, a true labor of love!

I encourage anyone to pursue their passion. Zumba is my passion... I feel that it helped in the process of regaining my life back when loosing weight. I can say the passion will continue to live even if my business would fail for whatever the reasons.

As I tell my students... "It's not exercise, just dance!"

Hope this helps. Message me if you need any additional information about how to go about getting your licensed. LOL ~ feel free to visit my studio and come dance with us if you are ever in the Albemarle, NC area!

I absolutely love this post!! I am getting ready to go for my Zumba certification! Reading this post had me teary eyed! Not for the money (although making money will be a bonus) but for the Zumba love!! Thank you so much!

Although I am not the one who actually asked the question I do appreciated all the imput given. I just got certified as a Zumba instructor myself in July 2013 and I am in the process of looking for a place that will accept me as an instructor. I am not your regular 90-60-90 instructor either and I was concern about my weight and be a barrier to become a Zumba instructor, but I was told by a very wised person that God made us all unique and beautiful and on his eyes we are all valuable and loved, but in order to be accepted by others, we have to start by accepting us the way we are and give our 100% as soon we get that opportunity, the rest should become easier.
As an instructor we would be able to loose more and more because we would be forced to do our best in order to teach others, we become an example of "Yes we Can and Yes I did IT"

I just got certified also! I would not worry about your physique just make sure you rock that class! Not all my instructors were skinny and some were still on their weightloss journey. So just bring it and you will be fine! Heck I envy some of my bigger instructors booties! They can shake it in ways that no one else can! Use your physique to your advantage!

Hey from Seattle! I'm a licensed instructor and love it. Been teaching for about 3 years, lost 70+lbs teaching and taking classes as well as weight training. I teach Zumba, Zumba Gold as well as Bollywood Fitness and I absolutely love the kind of impact I can make on someone's day and also how teaching holds me accountable for completing my own goals. Currently I teach at least 5 classes if not more a week.

I've still got 40+ lbs of me to lose so I'm working on it, adding strength training, yoga and stepping out of my comfort zone, "dance." I like the extra cash, but I def don't do it for the money. It's how it makes me feel.

Z !