Sand, Sun, and Salsa: Tips for Zumba Instructors Planning A Teaching Vacation

My husband and I just returned from a week long stay at two amazing resorts in Punta Cana - Breathless and Secrets Royal Beach. The trip was coordinated through Fit Bodies, a company that organizes teaching vacations for a variety of group fitness instructors including (you guessed it) LICENSED ZUMBA FITNESS INSTRUCTORS! 

Typically instructors stay at one resort for the entire week, but because of a scheduling conflict (a.k.a. the Dominican Holidaze concert), we had the opportunity to split the week between both resorts. 

I had an AMAZING experience, and I learned so much! If you are a licensed Zumba instructor interested in planning your own teaching vacation (highly recommended!), I hope these tips are helpful to you!

Secrets Royal Beach

1. Get comfortable with ambiguity. You won't know the where's, when's, why's, and how's until you arrive at your resort. Fit Bodies will give you general information before your departure, but consider it as more of a guideline. You won't know the specifics until you arrive and talk to the resort's Entertainment Team. For example, I knew I'd be teaching Monday through Saturday. But the resort determined class time, format, and location after check-in.  

2. Prep your playlists, but plan for changes. I initially expected to do two 45-minute classes a day (one Zumba and one Aqua Zumba). Instead, my classes were much shorter and all on land. Thankfully I had all of Zumba music on my iPhone, and I was able to make changes as needed (and I made LOTS of them). I would encourage you to make multiple playlists, multiple lengths (anything from 25-45 minutes), and still be ready to change 'em up as needed. 

Two of my fave students at Breathless
from Belgium and Romania!

3. Follow the formula. I was continually shown that the Zumba formula WORKS! Pick fun, interactive songs; use simple, repetitive moves; cue so that your students can be successful! At both resorts I had students from all over the world. Some spoke English. Many did not. Yet we all were able to dance and have fun. Why? Because Zumba (and Zumba love) is universal. 

4. No shoes, no shirt, just Zumba. For my first class, I hit the beach in sneakers with an intense playlist. I was determined to help burn off those frozen Banana Mamas! In contrast, my students arrived barefoot and in swimwear. It was much easier (on both my back and my spirit) when I ditched the kicks, lightened the intensity, and allowed myself to relax and enjoy dancing on the beach with my students!

5. Mentally prepare yourself to dance solo for the first minute of every class. This is intimidating! But after the first time it happened, I knew to pick my opening song accordingly - it had to be something that allowed me to walk around, engage with the guests around me, and try to get them up and dancing. Once that first minute is over, I promise you that people WILL come join you (just sweat it out for the first 60 seconds, and have a blast after that!)

Fidel, Entertainment Manager
at Secrets Royal Beach and
my boss for the week!

6. Be open-minded. When I first arrived at Secrets, it was rainy. I was asked to teach an afternoon class by the pool bar, and when I arrived it had just started to drizzle. I could have tried to convince the Entertainment Manager, Fidel, to let me pass on the class. But instead we gave it a try. And guess what... between the raindrops against my face and the booty-shaking battles, it ended up being one of my most memorable classes!

7. Show 'em some Zumba love. After a day or two on each resort, I had "regulars" that I looked forward to seeing at most of my classes. We exchanged names, snapped selfies, and talked when we saw each other outside of class. I had a blast getting to know people from all of the world who shared my love for Zumba (I also passed out plenty of business cards to keep the connection going and encouraged them to find classes near them on Zumba.com)! 

Want to learn more about booking a teaching vacation? Check out Fit Bodies or login to Zumba.com and view the discounts page.  

The opinions and views expressed by this ZCOM Volunteer on this website are solely those of the ZCOM Volunteer and do not reflect the opinions or views of Zumba Fitness, LLC, its subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees and agents.