I started teaching Zumba a little over a year ago, and since then I have taught over 100 classes. That’s over 100 times that I have had the privilege to do something I had wanted to do for a long time, but I thought was beyond my reach. It is over 100 times that students have come to me, given me their money and their trust, and allowed me to share with them something I am truly passionate about. I have always loved dancing, but am not “professional” by any stretch of the imagination. Standing in front of people was a giant leap outside my comfort zone and for the first few weeks, I felt sure the adrenaline would completely overwhelm me.
Gradually I relaxed in to it and began to enjoy it more and more. I love teaching and it never feels like work. No matter how tired and sore I am, or how much of a crappy day I have had, as soon as the music comes on, a new energy starts flowing through me. It has been such an amazing experience so far, and I have learned so much. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this and share with you a few of the lessons I have learned.
Expect The Unexpected: I am a classic over thinker. In the weeks leading up to my first class, I must have run through a million different scenarios in my mind, desperately trying to anticipate every eventuality. At one stage I had myself in a state worrying about not having enough €2 coins to give people their change. I mentioned this to my husband and he said “I can’t believe this is what you’re worrying about,” to which I replied “I think I have already worried about everything else!”
The truth of it is, as much anxiety as I caused myself, you simply cannot be prepared for everything life, or teaching, can throw at you. All you can do is be ready with your brightest smile if/when disaster strikes. Laugh it off, even if inside you’re screaming at the universe “why are you doing this to me?” Over the past year some crazy things have happened, none of which I had mentally run through, but I lived to tell the tale! I never did run out of €2. In fact, I am inundated with them and every time I bag them up I am reminded of my own silliness.
Ego is Not Your Amigo: I have read enough philosophy, both ancient and modern, to understand intellectually that Ego is The Enemy (thank you Ryan Holiday) however, that doesn’t stop me getting caught up with it in the heat of the moment.
I wasn’t teaching long when a new student came to my class. She was a German girl, and I asked her, like I ask all new students, if she had done Zumba before. I wasn’t at all prepared for her to say, “Yes, I’m a Zumba instructor.” I can’t begin to describe to you the level of panic I experienced in that moment. I was convinced she would judge me and worse yet, find me wanting. In reality, this lady just wanted to come and dance. She was very sweet and after a little while my nerves subsided.
A couple of weeks later, she was in class and we were dancing to Tip Toe by Jason Derulo. She was getting really into it and clearly enjoying herself. I found myself almost competing with her, as irrational as that is. The more energetic she got, the more intensity I put into my own moves. I ended up tweaking my calf and having to disguise my discomfort for the rest of the class. It was a painful reminder of the damage that ego can do!
Don’t Take It Personally: This particular lesson has been hard learned. Sometimes people come to class once and never return. In fact this happens quite a lot. In the beginning I was convinced that this was some failure on my part. Truthfully, it is still very tempting to think this way. When I look at it objectively though, it is easy to see that there are a million reasons people stop coming. They get busy. The time doesn’t suit them anymore. Their friend stops coming and they don’t want to come alone. Maybe they can’t afford it, or maybe Zumba just isn’t for them? None of these reasons have anything to do with me or any other instructor. Simply put, I am not that important! Ego, again! All I can do it create a safe environment so people know they are welcome to return anytime.
Some students find it easier to watch another student than the instructor. This can be because they have positioned themselves in such a way that they don’t have a clear view. It can also be because the instructor generally faces the class to teach and the students mirror him/her. Some people just have a hard time following this. Again, this is absolutely nothing to do with the teacher. The first time I noticed this happening, I was highly put out! But I quickly got a grip. Seriously Arwen, as long as the students are moving, sweating and having fun, it doesn’t matter if they are looking at you, each other or their own feet!
There’s No Way to Speed Up Experience: I am a very impatient person, especially with myself. I want to be an expert at everything I attempt straight away. I don’t have time for the whole learning thing! When I first began teaching, just remembering the steps was about all I could manage. Any little thing could distract me and throw me off. It didn’t matter if it was someone walking in late or people laughing (or grimacing,) it would immediately make me forget where I was. This frustrated me so much. I just wanted to get to the stage where it all at least appeared to be effortless, even if it really wasn’t.
As I got more experience under my belt, these interruptions fazed me less and less. I am now at the stage where I can dance, sing, smile, cue and count all at the same time. Just last night I had a lady straight up free styling in class, and I was able to appreciate how brilliant this was, and laugh with her, without missing a beat. I promise you, if you are struggling with something now, as long as it’s something you actually want to do it, stick with it. It will get easier. It will happen so gradually, you may not even notice it, but then one day you will be screaming “look Ma, no hands!
Mistakes are a Part of The Process: There’s a saying in our industry “There are no mistakes in Zumba, just unexpected solos,” and it’s very true. In the beginning of my teaching career, I was terrified of making mistakes. When I missed a step or lost my place, I would berate myself, convinced that the students would A. Notice and B. Care. When, in fact, most times, they do neither. When I look back on classes I attended as a student, I don’t remember the instructor making a mistake that anyone talked about.
I still don’t like making mistakes, obviously, and I do everything I can to avoid them. However, just like in all other aspects of life, they happen. The best thing to do is just to try to get over it as quickly as possible. Take whatever learnings there are from it and move on. Nobody is perfect in this world, and I think sometimes it can even help students to see their instructor make the odd mistake. It takes the pressure of them to try to be perfect.
I have learned so much about myself in the past year, I really can’t put it all into words. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me, either by attending a class or by giving advice and encouragement. It means the world to me. I have so much more to learn and I am still excited to see where this adventure will lead me. Be well xxx
