Being a Zumba instructor and part of the ZIN community is an amazing experience and there is a wealth of knowledge right at our fingertips. The resources out there are packed with great information: exactly-what-you-need precisely when you need it! It can also be overwhelming; with everything available to us around the clock it's easy to spend hours upon hours reading posts, getting and giving advice and crafting countless choreographies for new music!
Personally,
I love reading the message boards and perusing the Zumba Facebook groups for
helpful conversations, advice and, let’s face it, sometimes a good laugh! It is
nice to know that there is someone in the same boat that you are in.
...Yes, the entire class has dropped to the floor when I went to
tie my shoes too.
...Yes, I have tripped and slipped over my own pants just like
you.
...And yes, my music has also stopped right in the middle of a song, paralyzing me to the point of having to start all over.
The
other day I saw this hysterical video in a ZIN Facebook group referencing the
dynamic facial expressions that we portray when
we teach (much like this post about the faces we make!). This duo captured
on film the excitement and passion that we exude and OMG it was SO
funny (I watched it several times and laughed each and every time)!
I could totally relate - when I was recently captured on film I saw how my students view me, and it
looks just like what I saw on Facebook!
Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/ZumbaPowerHour |
I sort of
felt better after watching the video as I realized that I can’t be the only
over-the-top-bursting-with-joy and excitement type of Zumba instructor out there!
What it boils down to is that our ZIN community and camaraderie is really
something special and there are resources out there for everyone to use for support and guidance (and a chuckle).
It's important to get involved in the
community whether it’s through social media, utilization of resources on
Zumba.com, reading The Z Beat or just showing up and engaging with other instructors
at local events. Check out a few of the
ZIN resources below that are available to help you navigate through the Zumba
world, enhance your career and, most importantly, network!
Facebook Groups
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Zumba.com
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Other Resources
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ZumbaTube
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Forums (Message boards)
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Attend Local Master Classes
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ZIN
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Education Tools
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Attend Local Jam Sessions
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Zumba Chat Room (ZCR)
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ZIN TV
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Frequent other instructors’ classes
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ZIN Tech Tips & Tricks
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Specialty Trainings
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Go to local events (Zumba-thons, Fund
raisers)
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ZIN Warm-Up and Cool-Down
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E-Learning
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Like & Support other instructor’s
Zumba pages
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Zumba Fitness
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And don’t forget your website (a great
marketing tool): Manage my Website
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Connect with other instructors!
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We’d love to hear about your Zumba gems. What resources have you used that have helped you grow as an instructor? And what is that one piece of advice you would give someone else?