Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Overcoming My Fear of Becoming A Zumba Instructor

Janice with Jani Roberts ZUMBA Basic Level 1 Instructor Training October 13 2011
Janice with Jani Roberts ZUMBA Basic Level 1 Instructor Training October 13 2011

Jani Roberts asks participants to share their weight loss success stories. The lady to the far right lost 185 lbs.
Jani Roberts asks participants to share their weight loss success stories. The lady to the far right lost 185 lbs.

SCW Fitness Education Midwest Mania ZUMBA Basic Skills Level 1 Instructor Training with Jani Roberts and Tony Witt Thursday October 13 2011
SCW Fitness Education Midwest Mania ZUMBA Basic Skills Level 1 Instructor Training with Jani Roberts and Tony Witt Thursday October 13 2011



My ZUMBA journey began in 2010 when I started taking Zumba classes at KS Wholistic Training & Development Center .  E'a Williams of Be Fit TriWellness and Tasha Maya Gibson inspired me to become a ZUMBA Instructor.

I became certified at SCW Fitness Education Midwest Mania ZUMBA Basic Skills Level 1 Instructor Training with Jani Roberts and Tony Witt on Thursday October 13, 2011. The training was held at the Hyatt Regency Rosemont as part of a fitness conference with hundreds of participants. I was a flight attendant who had traveled quite a bit that year professionally and personally. So I was not in the best of health. Anyway, I injured my shoulder and lower back doing a ZUMBA moves after receiving my certification. My body was structurally weak from working as a flight attendant with all the standing and pulling luggage. Flying and the forces of gravity are very hard of the body. I allowed my certification to lapse and never really taught a class despite my love for ZUMBA dancing.

This has been an incomplete in my life since 2011. One of those goals I never achieved but talked about for past four years. I had taken ZUMBA dance off and on over the past four years always wishing in the back of mind that I had become an instructor. I don't know what stopped me other than myself and negative self-talk.



My daughter moved back to Chicago and decided that as a bonding ritual we would go to ZUMBA dance on Saturdays on KS Wholistic Training & Development at 10338 South Western Avenue in the Beverly Area of Chicago. I love this place. It has some of the best ZUMBA Instructors with great music and dance moves they way sistas like to move. 

I didn't realize it but my psychologist daughter secretly counseled me with this  ZUMBA bonding ritual idea. She helped me overcome my roadblocks to becoming a ZUMBA instructor. She realized that ZUMBA dance is something that I really love.  I am very passionate about it. I just had an aha moment that within one year of her moving back to Chicago I am now ZUMBA Certified Instructor. She accomplished her mission of helping her Mom to overcome her roadblock. I am so grateful for her. Sometimes the parent needs help from their children. It's okay. We all need help sometimes.

Now I am overcoming my fear of leading the ZUMBA class. It is a different experience to be in the front of room leading a group of people. It was unsettling for me at first to see people move when I move. Now I just turn on the music and start having fun. I don't have to be perfect. My routine doesn't have to be perfect. I just share with the class that I am overcoming a fear. I let them know that I am new to teaching ZUMBA. The instructors and class participants have been very supportive. Then I go home listen to music and practice the routines. I can only get better. I can only improve. There is no where to go but up. I just have to stay in action. It will come. Right now I am just doing the Warm-Up of a class but I know that I will learn to teach a one hour class. It will happen with practice and just getting out there. Doing it!

If you have been thinking about becoming a ZUMBA Instructor, I encourage you to sign today.
GO AHEAD AND DO IT NOW!


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

wow, so proud of you1 I haven't done zumba in about a year. Might be time to pick it up again.

pat