How do I change the format of my classes from Kickboxing to Zumba and still have a full class?
I currently teach 3 classes a week, 1 Zumba class and 2 Kickboxing classes. I’m having trouble keeping up with changing the routine for both classes and just want to settle on 1 class 3x’s per week. I really like teaching Zumba and it’s easy for me to maintain. How do I change my class format to just Zumba and still keep my classes full.
If your goal is to keep your numbers the same you may want to re think that.
You could offer free ZUMBA for the month of January and see how your numbers go.
I would have to agree with Harris. If you want to not stress with choreography, interject both forms of exercise into your class unless of course ZUMBA won’t allow you to do this as it is a trademarked format
Or, you may want to drop the kickboxing and have someone else teach it and then you can do what you love best!
Hi Melissa,
Good for you for wanting to streamline your schedule. Teaching various classes requires more preparation than people think!
Keeping your classes full depends on many factors: You as an instructor, the format itself, convenience for participants to get to, and the time offered. I teach kickboxing (but not Zumba), and that crowd is different from the Zumba crowd. So, you may lose some just based on format alone. But, if it’s you they come for, then format will be less of an issue. It’s hard to say how your numbers will be impacted, but I do agree that the start of the year is a great time to try. My hesitation would be if you have three Zumba classes offered in the evenings or mornings at the same place and not enough variety on the schedule.
One thing that stands out to me is the fact that you enjoy teaching Zumba–that will go a long way and participants will see you having fun and enjoy themselves as well. A great way to build your numbers! Good luck!
Christine
Hi Melissa,
Have you thought or tried to do a fusion class? I know you said that Zumba is the type of class you prefer to teach, so maybe you could mix the two together. Maybe teach Zumba for 60-80% of the time and the rest could be dedicated to kickboxing. This way you might be able to keep participants from both classes and at the same time offer something new. Just a thought :-)!…
Best,
Harris
Ariadne, I live in a rual community and therefore I’m the only instructor offering classes at the local gym. I also have a full time job as a Project Administrator. I teach the Kickboxing class on Tue/Thurs 5:30pm to 6:30pm and Zumba on Sat. mornings. I have some crossover students, my class sizes are ok I average about 10 students per class, although during the holiday season most of my students are on vacation therefore my class size maybe 1 student or none at all. I’ve decided to suspend class until Jan.
Since I have a fulltime job it is hard for me do my own workout, and then work on changing the Kickboxing and Zumba routines. I thought Jan. would be a good time to change things up. I know some people will be disappointed and I hate that, but I also know that if I don’t take care of my self then I won’t be teaching at all.
Thanks for the advice. Melissa
Do you teach all 3 classes at the same gym? If so you are looking at a single pool of students, if not you have to consider the makeup of each possible pool. Are these the only classes offered of those formats? How are the numbers for each? At what time of day do you teach? In other words, if you teach at a largish facility with, say, six other teachers, two of whom teach zumba, and four of whom teach kickboxing, you will want to see how many students come to each format at what time and for which teachers. If you have crossover already (your students come to you no matter what format you teach) you will have an easier time with the transition. If your zumba people want zumba and do not do the kickboxing even if you are teaching (or vice versa) you will probably see more loss of students.
I think planning ahead is a good idea. Making the change next week when clubs tend to be more full, and when a lot of new people typically come to try few things could be a good strategy, because you will need to make up whatever students you loose with new ones, and picking the time of year you change can help with that.
Also, make a flow chart of places, teachers, class formats, times of day, and so on. In your market if zumba does better at 6 pm than noon, for example, you might want to shift the time of day. Shifting out of a format that is not working at a particular time is easier than shifting it in a time it does work.
Good luck, and stay warm.