Do you want to become a Zumba instructor but have no idea where to start? We get it, breaking into a new field can be challenging, so to help OriGym has created this definitive guide covering topics such as:

• About the Zumba Instructor Job Role
• How Much Do Zumba Instructors Earn?
• How to Become a Zumba Instructor: Step by Step Guide
• The Best Fitness Career to Consider if You Want to Become a Zumba Instructor
• How to Start Running Your Own Zumba Classes
• FAQ

But before we begin, if you want to explore similar career opportunities and become an exercise to music instructor, you can do this with our Level 2 Exercise to Music Course. Enquire today and discover how you can deliver freestyle and choreographed classes for clients of all ages!

About the Zumba Instructor Job Role

When you become a Zumba instructor your main responsibility will be to plan classes and guide attendees through aerobic style dance workouts, combining the brand’s signature choreography and music.

Using moves and routines approved by the Zumba® brand, instructors will choreograph both low and high intensity workouts to help students lose weight, build muscle, and improve their overall health.

Typically, when becoming a Zumba instructor you’ll work on a freelance or self-employed basis. An example of a job ad can be found below, in which Virgin Active clearly states they are looking for a candidate who can teach both branded Zumba® classes, as well as general dance workouts:

There are many benefits to working freelance, the primary one being that your earning potential is completely uncapped in this capacity. Without the restrictions of set working hours, you could earn a significantly higher salary than those in fixed contracts!

Similarly, working freelance allows you to earn money around other commitments. For example, if you’re a full-time student you could still work as a Zumba instructor in your free time!  

With all these benefits in mind, let’s now discuss the average Zumba instructor salary in the UK, to give you a better idea of what you could earn in this role!

How Much Do Zumba Instructors Earn?

According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a Zumba instructor is listed as £27,519 based on nearly 300 examples provided by the site’s users.

When looking at these figures, be aware that many Zumba instructors increase their income by taking other fitness classes, especially when starting out and growing their classes.

Additionally, when using sites such as Glassdoor and Indeed you should consider that the statistics they provide are calculated from data collected from their users. Therefore, they are reflective of the site and not the industry. 

In truth, the average salary of a Zumba instructor isn’t as easy to summarise as a person’s earnings could be affected by several factors, such as the amount of experience they have. For example, someone who is newly qualified won’t be earning as much as those who have worked in the industry for years. 

Likewise, location can also influence a Zumba instructor’s salary in the UK. For example, those who work in London will likely earn a higher wage than anyone else as they will often charge more for each class.

Therefore,  Zumba instructor salary per class will be higher in London than other parts of the UJ. This is exemplified below where you can see instructors in the capital charge anywhere between £10 – £20, where as those in Liverpool charge an average of £5:

This ‘increased’ salary typically happens to offset the higher cost of living in London, as outgoings such as rent and electricity are typically more expensive than anywhere else in the UK.

How Does a Zumba Instructor’s Salary Compare to Other Jobs in the Fitness Industry?

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a Zumba Instructor role is estimated to be £27,519:

Keep in mind the stat given above is an average, but the chart clearly shows how a Zumba instructor salary in the UK can range between £21,000 and £36,000.

Let’s compare the salary of a Zumba instructor with some other fitness roles below:

Even if someone is employed as a fitness instructor and is on a salary of £28,560, this can be enhanced even further by working as a freelance Zumba instructor and taking on more hours outside of other fitness classes.

However, each of these roles is a highly lucrative career option, especially if you choose to work freelance. By doing this, you could be earning a significant income working in different capacities throughout the fitness industry. 

For example, you could work predominantly as a fitness instructor and teach Zumba classes in your free time to enhance your income.

How to Become a Zumba Instructor: Step-by-Step Guide

#1 – Attend Zumba® Classes

If you’re wondering how to become an instructor in Zumba, the best place to start is to actually attend classes yourself! Here you can build your own passion for the exercise class, as your own enjoyment will be reflected in your teaching style. 

Your attendance will also allow you to understand the basic styles and exercises used during the sessions, helping to familiarise you with the different choreography. 

In short, if you have in-depth knowledge and first hand practical experience to draw from, planning and delivering Zumba® will come naturally to you. For example, you will be able to improve your own classes and teaching techniques as you’ll know what students struggle with and what they enjoy! 

In addition to this, through attending classes you will also be able to regularly interact with your own instructors. These individuals can provide you with key insight into everything from the qualification process to finding jobs!

#2 – Get Qualified with a Trademarked Zumba Qualification

To become a Zumba instructor in the UK you need to complete the company’s trademarked qualifications. Without this, you will not be legally able to teach the practice and could be held liable should the company make a copyright claim against you.

At a minimum, aspiring instructors will need to complete a Zumba® Basic Level 1 Instructor Training

Those wondering ‘how long does it take to become a Zumba instructor?’ should note the course takes a day to complete. 

Basic Level 1 Training prepares you with the necessary foundation to successfully teach a Zumba® class, as students learn:

• Steps to four basic rhythms (Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton).
• How to put these steps together into a song.
• How to create their first Zumba class.

Once you’ve completed the programme, you will earn your Zumba Basic 1 Certificate of Completion, along with your licence to instruct Zumba.

However, if you’re looking to become a Zumba instructor for older age groups, you will need to undergo additional qualifications such as the Zumba® Jump Start Gold course.

#3 – Get Zumba Instructor Insurance

Once qualified it’s crucial you purchase Zumba instructor insurance as you’ll regularly be dealing with the public. 

This will protect you against possible claims that may arise from class members who injure themselves after following incorrect advice and guidance or if your property is damaged. 

Having Zumba insurance for instructors will essentially provide you with reassurance to provide advice and support to your class attendees, knowing that all parties are protected. 

As provided by companies such as Insure4Sport, the main types of Zumba instructor insurance in the UK are:

• Public Liability & Professional Indemnity Insurance
• Sports Equipment Insurance

Professional indemnity and public liability insurance for Zumba instructors are similar. The former will cover your legal liability if you’re found to have given negligent advice. 

For Zumba liability insurance, you will be covered if you injure someone while instructing a class. 

After you qualify to become a Zumba instructor, we’d also recommend investing in equipment insurance too! This will protect the likes of your speaker and LED lights if they are broken, stolen or damaged! 

#4 – How to Find Work as a Zumba Instructor

If you’ve been questioning ‘how do I become a Zumba instructor’ we’d recommend gaining initial experience working with an employer at the likes of a gym or fitness/community centre – 

Remember, these roles will likely be freelance opportunities!

In doing so, you can build your confidence in leading classes and hone your teaching style. Other aspects such as marketing and registering attendees will be left to the employer! 

You can find roles such as these on sites such as Indeed or Glassdoor, such as the example from Virgin Active below: 

Many employers will also be lenient when it comes to their ‘desirable’ qualifications, and will typically also consider applicants who have completed a general Level 2 Exercise to Music Course. 

This means job opportunities aren’t exclusive to just Zumba instructors who have completed the trademarked qualification as you can see below:

In fact, most employers are looking to employ candidates who are adaptable and can teach many different classes rather than just one niche. For this reason, it will benefit your career to hold both a trademark Zumba and a more general Level 2 ETM qualification.

In doing so, you won’t be limiting yourself when it comes to applying for certain employment opportunities! 

The Best Fitness Career to Consider if You Want to Become a Zumba Instructor

After learning how to become a Zumba dance instructor you don’t have to solely operate in this job role. This will allow you to explore other employment opportunities in addition to teaching your regular classes. 

If you have a passion for dance based exercise classes, you can even apply for similar positions. Typically, in order to teach these sessions employers will ask applicants to hold either a Level 2 Exercise to Music or a Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification! 

This is evident from the following example below, from David Lloyd Clubs:

Having a range of general fitness qualifications means you will be able to pursue these opportunities alongside your general Zumba duties. 

As a result, you will be able to earn a significantly higher wage as your working hours won’t be restricted to Zumba classes specifically!

– – – – –

To get your career started in the best way, check out these articles to learn more about this area of the fitness industry:

• How to Become an Exercise to Music Instructor (ETM) Instructor
• 9 Key Tips for Zumba Instructors
• Free Exercise to Music Courses: Are They Worth It?

How to Start Running Your Own Zumba Classes

As previously mentioned, we recommend gaining experience with contracted work after you become a Zumba instructor in the UK. However, following this you may decide to take your career to the next level and begin running your own classes. 

But before we break this down, be sure to check out our article ‘How to Start a Fitness Class Business’ to find out more about how you can do this.

Step One: Organise the Legalities of Your Business 

One of the first things you should do when you want to start running your own classes is to register your business through the gov.uk website.

You can register your business in two ways: 

• Sole trader – This means you’re self employed and can keep all your business’s profits after you’ve paid tax on them. However, you’re personally responsible for any losses your business makes.
• Limited company – The finances of this business are separate from your personal finances. However, there are more reporting and management responsibilities. Business owners who register this way will often seek help from an accountant.

Next, you should look into a Disclose and Barring Service (DBS) Check. While this is often requested by employers, those who are self-employed can request a basic disclosure to get a copy of their criminal record – This costs £18 and is available to those in England and Wales.

Although a first aid qualification isn’t mandatory to become a Zumba instructor and run your own classes, it’s important to gain one. If an unfortunate situation arises during your class, attendees will look to you for guidance.

 

This means not only will you provide yourself with the knowledge to help but will also put class attendees at ease if they know you can help them.

One last thing to keep in mind is that any pre-recorded classes should only use cleared music so as to not create music licensing issues. However, Zumba has a large list of original music and negotiated with music partners to create a library of other songs to use!

Step Two: Conduct Market Research 

This is where you can identify competitors in your area and see what kind of services are being offered. This research can help determine your class prices and the creative direction of your business.

For example, if you’re based in Liverpool, you could check out other Zumba classes in your area like ZumbaByJennie:

These classes are exclusively for women and are reasonably priced. Similarly, About This Girl, a campaign developed by Sports England for active women, also run Zumba classes for £5:

This is why market research is important when you become a Zumba instructor looking to start your own classes as you need to offer something that sets you apart from the competition. 

You may find a gap in your area for what’s being offered, such as Zumba classes for the elderly. With your Jump Start Gold certification, you can hold classes for this specific demographic and adjust your choreography accordingly.

Step Three: Find a Location to Run You Classes 

The next thing you need to do is find a location to host your classes. Most gyms or community centres will offer their space for a set fee, the cost of which will be influenced by a variety of factors such as how large or popular the space is. 

For example, FireFit in Liverpool offers their fitness studio and sports hall for those who wish to hold classes:

As you can see, it’s cheaper to rent their smaller studio – ideal for when you’re starting out. As your classes grow, you could then rent out half their sports hall as your number of attendees increases.

When you first become a Zumba instructor, you can even hold your classes outdoors. To do this, you will need to file for an outdoor business permit. This is for the local council to certify you’re conducting business safely.

You can do this by contacting the local council or private owner in charge of the park you want to use for a class. However, each park will have specific requirements. For small groups in certain areas, you may not even require a permit.

Step Four: Create and Set Your Prices Packages 

When deciding on your own prices, you should consider what competitors in your area are charging and adjust your prices accordingly.

For example, here are a couple of Zumba classes currently being held in Liverpool. These are priced at £6 for a 45-minute class and £4 for a 60-minute class:

The ideal pricing is one that reflects the quality of your service but is slightly cheaper than your competitors. Using this example above, you might decide to price your class between these two at £5.

Using this tool on the Zumba website, you can see that by charging just £5 and having 5 classes per week made up of 10 students, you can earn around £1000 a month!

While your Zumba salary per class may not be enough to cover your monthly expenses, you can still supplement this income by taking on other roles and fitness classes alongside your Zumba classes.

When setting your prices, keep in mind you’ll want to make sure you aren’t undercharging yourself when starting out, but you also don’t want to charge too much to put people off attending when there are cheaper classes in your area.

Step Five: Market Your Zumba® Classes Across Various Platforms 

To run your own classes successfully, an effective marketing strategy is crucial! This will attract more people to your Zumba classes, allowing you to grow your business.

Ways you can market yourself both online and off include:

• Social media – This allows you to interact with class attendees and advertise your services.
• Creating your own website – It’s important you have a platform with all the necessary information about your business in one place.
• Promote your services in the gym – Speak to people who regularly attend your gym, especially if they’re part of your target demographic.
• Create a Referral Scheme – This is where you can ask clients to recommend your classes to people they know and reward them for doing so. For example, you may offer a discounted session for those who bring someone new to your class.

When you become a Zumba instructor, you can also register with the ZIN network. This allows you to create a profile on the official Zumba website where people can see the classes you offer, your credentials, and reviews left by other class attendees:

Creating your profile means people who are searching for local classes will find it a lot easier to locate you. Asking class attendees to leave reviews is also a great way to market yourself if people come across your profile.

However, you do have to pay for this membership. This costs around £35.93, but will be more if you choose a prepayment plan.

Step Six: Plan Your Zumba® Classes!

Now everything has been put in place, it’s time actually to plan your classes. As mentioned earlier, this is why it’s important you attend other Zumba classes to help improve your own.

When you become a Zumba instructor running your own classes, it’s your responsibility to ensure your choreography is planned, you have the right music, and any equipment such as speakers or lights are working properly.

You should also practise your routines on your own or ask friends and family to take part to see if the class flows smoothly and the choreography works well.

FAQ

How Much Does Zumba Training Cost?

As of writing this article, the cost of both the Zumba Basic Level 1 and Jump Start Gold is £366.23 respectively. 

However, you can ensure your licence is continually renewed when you become a Zumba instructor in the UK by purchasing Zumba Instructor Network Membership (ZIN).

The membership costs around £35.93 a month but will be even more expensive if you choose a prepayment option of either 6 or 12 months.

Can I Teach Zumba Without a Certification?

The simple answer to ‘Can I teach Zumba without a certification?’ is no, you can’t. For legal reasons, you cannot teach under the Zumba trademark without an official licence from the company.

However, if you have completed the likes of a Level 2 Exercise to Music you will still be able to teach holistic dance workout classes. 

Do I Need to Renew My Zumba Qualification?

As soon as you complete your Zumba training, you’ll be licensed to start teaching these classes immediately. This licence is only valid for six months, from the date of your training. This is so Zumba instructors are equipped with the most recent practices, choreography, and teaching methods.

As mentioned earlier, Zumba Instructor Network Membership (ZIN) gives you an unlimited licence to teach Zumba classes as a member. This membership costs around £35.93 a month but without it, you will have to continue to renew your licence.

Before You Go!

If you can see yourself instructing your own classes and joining this exciting career, get started by enquiring about our Level 2 Exercise to Music Course. 

To see how you can begin or advance your career, download our course prospectus to find out more.

Many aspiring fitness professionals believe that completing an Exercise To Music course for free will help them to enter the fitness industry at a faster, more cost-effective rate. 

But this is far from the truth! If you want to teach classes like aerobics, dance fit and step, free ETM courses will not give you what you need to pursue your career goals. To explain why this is the case, this article will cover:

• Why You Should Avoid Free Exercise to Music Courses
• Can You Get Insurance With a Free Exercise to Music Qualification
• What Are Better Alternatives to Free Exercise to Music Courses?

To kickstart a career and set yourself up for future success, enquire about OriGym’s industry-leading Level 2 Exercise To Music course today! Alternatively, you can download our free course prospectus to learn more about this qualification! 

Why You Should Avoid Free Exercise to Music Courses

If you’re looking to become an exercise to music instructor, it’s crucial you know while ‘free’ courses may sound appealing, ‘free’ or even very cheap Exercise To Music courses aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

Whilst they may bolster your general knowledge free exercise to music qualifications are not suitable for those looking to find employment in the fitness industry. This is because they lack both regulation and accreditation.

As a result, employers cannot check the validity of these qualifications and will not consider applicants who hold them.

Therefore, when looking for an ETM qualification you should look for providers that are regulated by Ofqual, and endorsed by CIMSPA.

Ofqual is the government body responsible for setting the frameworks for vocational courses, including ETM courses. Similarly, CIMSPA provides endorsement acts as a stamp of approval that a course meets the set industry standards. 

With this in mind, choosing an ETM course that is both Ofqual and CIMSPA-regulated is important because:

• It makes you employable. Most employers will require you to hold a qualification from a reputable and accredited course provider as part of the job entry requirements. This shows employers that you are a legitimate and legally-operating instructor. So without it, you won’t find a job as an ETM instructor! 
• You can get insured. Most reputable fitness insurance providers require you to hold an Ofqual-regulated Level 2 qualification in order to get the relevant insurance. We will discuss this further below!
• It gives you confidence. It guarantees that you will qualify with all the skills, knowledge and experience to enter the industry with confidence and to teach high-quality ETM classes!  

So, how can you make sure that you avoid an unregulated free Exercise To Music course?

A key thing to look out for when choosing an ETM course is that it is labelled by a ‘level’, as only courses that are Ofqual-regulated can do this. 

For example, here at OriGym, our course is clearly labelled as a Level 2 Exercise To Music course. 

Many free Exercise To Music courses do not have this ‘level’ attached to them. This immediately indicates that it is not Ofqual-regulated and therefore not worth your time!

Plus, most employers will specify that your qualification must have Ofqual regulation and will therefore look for a ‘level’ on your certificate. This is evident in the following example below, from a David Lloyd’s job advertisement:

Another factor to consider is that if an exercise to music course is free, it likely won’t be recognised by an awarding body either.

For reference, awarding bodies act as a bridge between the regulator (Ofqual) and the training provider.

Seeing the following logos on a course provider’s website also acts as a further ‘stamp of approval’ that the course is regulated by Ofqual. 

These are all Ofqual-approved awarding bodies, indicating that a course meets the highest industry standards. 

This is fairly obvious, but since free exercise to music qualifications are unregulated, they won’t be partnered with any of these awarding bodies either. Essentially, you may as well just write your name on a blank piece of paper and claim to be ‘qualified’. 

On the other hand, free Exercise To Music courses will not be associated with these awarding bodies, and therefore won’t meet these same standards!

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Enjoying this article so far? Here’s 3 more that we think you’ll love:

• How To Become A Clubbercise® Instructor
• 9 Key Tips For Zumba Instructors
• How to Become a Zumba Instructor

Can You Get Insurance With a Free Exercise to Music Qualification?

In short, no, you cannot get insurance with a free Exercise To Music qualification. 

This is because insurance companies require you to submit your certificate when applying for a policy with them. This is to ensure that you are a legally-operating ETM instructor. 

But more importantly, they will want to see that your certificate is from a regulated course provider, which further indicates that you are trained to the highest industry standards. 

For example, Insure4Sport states that you must hold a qualification ‘recognised by the UK National Governing Body for the Sport’. 

In the case of Exercise To Music, this governing body is CIMSPA! 

So if you have taken a free or unregulated ETM course, your certificate will not meet this requirement, and you won’t be able to get an insurance policy. 

With OriGym’s Level 2 Exercise To Music course, however, you will be able to easily obtain insurance from any major insurance provider, since you will be able to provide an Ofqual and CIMSPA-endorsed certificate. 

But why is getting insured so important? If you want to work as an ETM instructor, getting insurance is essential because:

• It is required by employers. Although some may, not every gym or studio will cover you on their insurance policy- some will require you to show that you have your own. It is therefore important to get your own insurance so that you have it ready to show to employers should you need it. 
• It protects you from the law. In the event of one of your class attendees having an accident or injury in your classes, without insurance, you would be liable to cover the cost of any legal fees, or even face fines or imprisonment!
• It protects your equipment. If you get equipment insurance, you will be protected in the event of your equipment (such as speakers, props etc) being lost, stolen or damaged.

What Are Better Alternatives to Free Exercise to Music Courses?

We have established that free Exercise To Music courses are to be avoided. 

However, we understand that many people may not be able to financially commit to paying for a course in full upfront.

But don’t worry! Here are 2 alternatives to free ETM courses that will still help you save money, without sacrificing the quality of the course and your future employability: 

Apply For A Funded Exercise To Music Course 

One way to ease the cost of an ETM course is to apply for funding to help pay for your course.

This could be through a loan from the government, which works a lot like a student loan. You could also apply for external funding from companies such as the Open Bursary, which will also give you a loan to help pay for your ETM course. 

However, whichever funding option you choose, there are some things you should consider before applying for funding for your ETM course:

• Funded courses are still just loans, meaning that you will ultimately have to pay them back eventually!
• Many course providers will not accept funding, so you should check this with the course provider before applying. 
• Funded Exercise To Music courses are generally more expensive overall, meaning that you will actually be spending more money in the long run.
• There are rarely special offers, discounts or flexible payment plans with funded courses.
• Funded Exercise To Music courses will charge interest on your repayments. 
• There are typically more entry requirements for funded ETM courses. 
• The application process is typically longer for funded Exercise To Music courses.

With these things in mind, you might want to consider another way to ease the cost of your course, which we will discuss next. 

Spread The Cost Of Your ETM Course

Instead of applying for a loan that you will eventually have to pay back, another way to ease the cost of Exercise To Music Courses is to spread the cost.

Here at OriGym, we allow students to spread the cost of their Level 2 Exercise To Music course into monthly instalments. 

In this instance, we will help you create a flexible payment plan to suit your personal financial situation, making a career in fitness accessible to any budget.

Plus, unlike most funded Exercise To Music courses, we offer 0% interest on our payment plans, meaning you’ll only be paying for your qualification, without unwanted hidden fees. 

This is a great option if you cannot afford an upfront payment, but don’t want to have a loan to pay back at the start of your new career, or be hit with any nasty surprises from interest fees! 

Ready To Start A Career In Exercise To Music? 

Now that you know just how pointless free exercise to music courses actually are, what can you do about it? The most logical answer is to pursue training with a provider that is both regulated and accredited, such as OriGym.

Our Level 2 Exercise To Music course will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge required to find success within the fitness industry. Even better yet, following the completion of your training we will also organise for you to attend a job interview with one of our corporate partners. 

If you’d like to learn more about this or any of our industry-leading health & fitness qualifications be sure to download our FREE course prospectus.

If you want to motivate group fitness classes through choreographed routines, you’ll want to learn how to become an Exercise to Music Instructor. 

In this guide we’ll teach you how to do just that, as we discuss:

• How Much Can You Earn As An ETM Instructor?
• The Qualifications You Need To Become An ETM Instructor
• Working As An ETM Instructor In A Gym Vs Self-employed
• Will You Need Insurance Once Qualified As An Exercise To Music Instructor?
• The Skills You Need To Be A Successful ETM Instructor
• Career Progressions Available For Exercise To Music Instructors  

Before we dive in, if this is a career you’re interested in exploring, get started today and enquire about our Level 2 Exercise to Music Course or download our free course prospectus to learn more! 

How Much Can You Earn As An ETM Instructor? 

Before you become an ETM Instructor, you’ll naturally question how much you could earn in this role. The answer to this will be determined by whether you work in a contracted position or on a self-employed basis. 

For example, should you decide to work at a gym you’ll likely be employed as a freelancer, in a similar capacity to the following example from Cranford Sports Club. Here, you can see that ETM instructors will earn £20 per hour:

To give you an idea of how lucrative this form of employment could be, if you worked just 20 hours per week, you could earn up to £19,200 annually:

Alternatively, you could work as a self-employed ETM Instructor, setting your prices and working hours.

Whilst working in this capacity, you could run specialist classes that target a specific demographic in society. Mum Dance in London for example, offer music fitness classes to help mums stay in shape:

If you took inspiration from their services, you could earn £140 per class when 12 people purchase a ‘3 Class Pass’.

This means if you run 3 classes per week, you could earn £20,160 yearly as a self-employed ETM Instructor.

The Qualifications You Need To Become An ETM Instructor

To become an ETM instructor you will need to complete a Level 2 Exercise to Music Instructor course. 

This entry-level qualification will train you to deliver engaging and effective music fitness classes, teaching you vital skills such as how to: 

• Write fitness programmes to help improve your classes’ fitness levels
• Adapt your teaching style and routine to assist different class members
• Motivate clients to help them achieve their fitness goals

At OriGym, our Exercise to Music qualification is Ofqual-regulated and endorsed by CIMSPA. This guarantees you’ll be trained to the highest industry standards.

Our course is delivered via blended learning, meaning you’ll study online through our fantastic e-learning platform, whilst also attending practical workshops and assessments where you can put your skills into practice.

Within 6 weeks, you can become a professionally recognised Exercise to Music Instructor, allowing you to apply for job roles, such as this one at MoveYourFrame:

From reading this job description, you can see that having a Level 2 Fitness qualification of some kind is absolutely essential! 

The employers then elaborate their preference for for candidates to hold a Level 2 ETM Course, but you could also complete a Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification.

It also states you need to be able to choreograph to music and motivate clients which you can only learn by completing the qualification. 

Working As An ETM Instructor In A Gym Vs Self-employed

We previously discussed how, if you decide to become an ETM instructor you can pursue various forms of employment, both in contracted and self-employed capacities. 

But how do these two roles differ from one another? Let’s take a look at the responsibilities you’ll be required to perform in each position.

#1 Working At A Gym

As an employed ETM instructor you will be able to work at a variety of gyms, studios and sports centres.

The role is beneficial, particularly if you’re looking for a regular working pattern and economic stability. This is because you will likely be employed on either a full or part-time basis.

When employed in this manner, you’ll be expected to perform a range of duties including: 

• Supervising and leading classes
• Creating exercise to music sessions
• Follow health and safety regulations
• Build a strong rapport with clients and staff

Many of these responsibilities appear in the following example from Talent UK:

Job responsibilities can differ between employers, some might ask you to write your choreography whilst others might want you to deliver pre-designed routines. 

Whilst an employed position can offer job security and financial stability, it’s important to remember that you’ll have to work hours determined by your employer. 

So if you want to become an ETM Instructor who has greater flexibility in their working week, you might want to consider becoming a self-employed/freelance ETM Instructor.

– – – –

Before we move on, why not find out more about other fitness careers by checking out these articles below:

• How To Become A Clubbercise® Instructor
• How to Become a Zumba Instructor: Courses, Salary & Insurance
• How to Become a Group Fitness Instructor

#2 – Self-Employed/Freelance ETM instructor

If the idea of becoming an ETM Instructor at a gym feels professionally and personally confining, don’t worry you’re not the first to feel this way.

Many ETM instructors choose to pursue freelance and self-employed opportunities, to have more control over when and where they work. 

Another added benefit of becoming an ETM instructor on a self-employed basis is that you will have more control over what kind of classes you teach. This will provide you with the opportunity to expand your existing repertoire or develop a specialism in one specific area. 

For example, you could decide to just focus on teaching aerobics class or alternate between the likes of kettlebell sessions and Zumba®!

Keep in mind, as a self-employed ETM Instructor, you won’t be directly contracted by a gym. This means that you won’t receive a monthly wage like an employed staff member! 

Instead, you will likely be paid for every class you teach, which can be seen below in the job ad for  MoveyourFrame. Here, you can see that the successful applicant will be offered £30 per hour, and will be required to teach a minimum of 9 hours per week:

If you were employed in this capacity and worked a minimum of 9 hours per week, you could earn up to £1,080 every month! This could increase even further, should you work at different locations too!

However, whilst self-employed roles offer greater professional freedom, there are also some downsides to the role. For example, some individuals may not feel secure working irregular shift patterns. 

Likewise, due to this irregular working environment, your salary won’t be fixed and could fluctuate from one month to another. This requires self-employed individuals to plan their finances accordingly, to avoid periods of instability. 

Remember, there is no ‘right way’ to become an exercise to music instructor. When deciding what form of employment is right for you, it’s important to assess both the positive and negative aspects of each role. 

Will You Need Insurance Once Qualified As An Exercise To Music Instructor?

When learning how to become an Exercise to Music Instructor, you’ll need to understand the importance of insurance. 

Whilst this may seem like an insignificant detail, without the proper coverage you could face legal issues such as financial loss and even jail time in severe cases.

Insure4Sport is a company that provides coverage for as little as £31.99 a month, with pricing varying depending on what classes you intend on teaching. 

With this particular provider, you will receive coverage for up to £10 million, covering areas such as public liability, personal accident, and personal income insurance. 

These policies will protect you financially and legally in the instance of: 

• A specific action is brought into question following a client’s injury
• You are personally injured during a session and will miss work
• You require physio treatment for an injury suffered at work
• Your equipment is damaged or stolen
• An employee is injured during a session and claims compensation

Remember, insurance coverage varies between providers, so be sure to read your insurance quote thoroughly to make sure you’re receiving the right protection.

The Skills You Need To Be A Successful ETM Instructor

To become a successful ETM instructor, there are several skills you need to possess, including:

• Communication – By directing large groups, giving them clear instructions on how to perform movements correctly
• Creativity – To develop choreographed routines for specific classes and music genres, this will keep classes engaging for clients as it limits repetition
• Observant – Offer appropriate feedback to struggling class members, so they can make corrections or keep class members motivated with praise
• Broad Musical Knowledge – Understanding the tempos of different music genres will help you create routines that complement the rhythm of the music
• Rhythm – Know how to use the speed and tempo of the music to help improve your class’ overall fitness levels

By completing an Exercise to Music Instructor Course with OriGym, you’ll learn how to incorporate these skills into every class you teach. Discovering how to deliver freestyle and choreographed sessions, suitable for different age groups and demographics.

Career Progressions Available For Exercise To Music Instructors  

After you become an ETM instructor it’s only natural to have the desire to progress in your career.

Holding a Level 2 Exercise to Music Qualification serves as the perfect platform for you to explore other career paths and potentially increase your earning potential.

Below are a couple of examples of the careers you can pursue:   

#1 – Personal Training

Becoming a personal trainer is a natural progression after you’ve been working as an ETM instructor! 

Compared to being an ETM instructor, personal trainers predominantly work with clients on a 1-1 basis, creating bespoke workout programmes to help them achieve their individual goals. 

To pursue this professional milestone, you must complete a Level 3 Personal Training course. 

At OriGym our personal training course is Ofqual-regulated, ensuring all our students are trained to the highest possible industry standards.

Completing a Level 3 PT qualification is a natural next step in your professional career, as you will already meet the prerequisites required to enrol on this course – For reference, we ask all applicants to be aged 16+ and to already hold a Level 2 ETM qualification.

After becoming a qualified Personal Trainer you will be able to pursue new job opportunities and generate a higher income, with an expected salary of £29,105 per year. 

#2 Start Your Own Class Business

Alternatively, you may decide to become an ETM instructor who runs their classes, rather than going through an employer.

One of the biggest advantages of pursuing this role is that you will have limitless earning potential. This is because you will be in charge of setting the prices for your classes. 

In addition to this, you could also decide to pursue a specific demographic, tailoring your ETM classes directly to this audience. For example, this could include classes suitable for pregnancy or elderly individuals with mobility issues.  

#3 – Zumba® Instructor

After completing your Exercise to Music Level 2 course, you may think you can instantly teach Zumba® classes.

What you may not know is that officially certified Zumba® instructors hold branded certificates. Meaning individuals who hold holistic qualifications will not be able to teach Zumba®.

If you’re interested in pursuing this branded certificate, there are several things you will need to be aware of.

First and foremost, those with branded Zumba qualifications will only be qualified to teach approved Zumba classes! You won’t be able to become an ETM instructor with this certification alone. 

Additionally, this qualification will cost £336.50 and will take 1 day to complete, covering topics such as:

• Basic Movements
• Choreography 
• Queuing

The course only takes one day to complete, allowing you to pursue new career opportunities instantaneously. However, keep in mind that Zumba requires its instructors to renew their qualifications every 6 months. 

For this reason, becoming a Zumba instructor will provide you with an additional stream of revenue, but should not be considered as an equivalent to becoming an ETM instructor.

#4 Gain CPDs To Teach Different ETM Classes

Following your work as an ETM Instructor the role will feel like second nature to you, which means you can start looking for new variations of fitness classes to deliver.

You could achieve this by completing additional CPD courses to expand your skill set. For example, during the CPD kettlebell course you’ll learn:

• How to incorporate the equipment into workouts
• Exact movements & modifications for clients
• How they can benefit your client’s health and fitness goals

This will complement your work as an ETM instructor, allowing you to teach classes that combine music with this engaging piece of equipment.

The skills acquired during your ETM course will help you lead these classes, as you can create choreographed routines focused on lifting and movements that will match the rhythm of the music.

Before You Go!

Remember, completing a Level 2 ETM course is a vital first step in this process and will help to set you up for future success. Alternatively, you check out all the other qualifications we offer at OriGym by downloading our FREE course prospectus.

Are you looking for tips for Zumba instructors to implement in your next class? Well, you’re in the right place! Whether you’re an experienced Zumba instructor, or are newly qualified, our list of tips will help you run your class successfully whilst having fun too.

Before we get started, if you want to learn how to deliver a range of fun freestyle and choreographed classes with our Level 2 Exercise to Music. Enquire today, or download our free course prospectus to browse the full range of courses we offer.

Tips for Zumba Instructors #1- Pick Songs That are Appropriate for Your Level of Experience

Our first recommendation is to choose songs that are suitable for your level of experience as an instructor.

For instance, one of the best tips for new Zumba instructors is to choose simple songs that have a predictable, repetitive beat, and don’t have many complex parts to the rhythm.

Whilst you’re still getting used to teaching Zumba, you’ll be concentrating on cueing your class effectively, and so you shouldn’t add the extra element of complicated music!

Songs with a simpler rhythm are easier to choreograph and teach, meaning that you’re less likely to get out of time or forget what you’re doing. This will prevent your students from becoming confused too!

Some examples of songs that new Zumba instructors could include in their classes are:

• Don’t Let me Down- Zumba Fitness
• Krazy- Pitbull
• Waka Waka- Shakira
• Let’s Get Loud- Jennifer Lopez

Once you’ve built some experience, you can then try teaching some slightly more complex songs. These are songs that may have different parts with more difficult sequences and rhythms that may take more time to memorise. 

As well as helping you to build on your Zumba expertise, this will also benefit your students, as changing up the music helps to keep things fresh.

This means that students will want to keep coming back and learning more!

Here are some more complex song choices that you could include in your Zumba class:

• Bring it On- Zumba Fitness
• Lo Que Paso, Paso- Daddy Yankee
• Con El Pomp Pa’rriba- Mala Fe

Ultimately, we’d recommend picking songs that you love. This is because you’re likely to listen to these songs more, so you’ll become familiar with them more quickly! You’ll also get more enjoyment from dancing to them, and your enthusiasm will be picked up on by students too.

If you’re struggling to find new Zumba songs, the Zumba Instructor Network has a membership option that gives you unlimited access to their top music picks.

Tips for Zumba Instructors #2- Know Your Chosen Tracks Well

As the leader of the class, students will be looking to you for instruction, so you must know what you’re doing at all times.

If you don’t know your music and choreography well, students will find it hard to follow you. This will result in them getting confused, disheartened, and even demotivated to continue your class!

To avoid this scenario, one of our dance teacher tips is to ensure that you know the music inside and out, until you know the rhythms and pauses without even having to think!

As well as making teaching easier for you, this will make the class much more enjoyable for your students too.

Some important elements to consider when learning your tracks include:

• If the sequence varies or repeats throughout the song
• Are there any unique quirks or pauses where you need to change the choreography to suit the rhythm?
• Do you know exactly when the track will end?

To help you know the track inside and out, we’d suggest choosing two or three songs to memorise, and then listen to each of your chosen tracks repeatedly. This could be in the car on the way to work or in the kitchen while you’re cooking!

As well as being familiar with your music, ensure that you know the choreography well too.

When you’re comfortable with every step, you’ll make students feel comfortable too. 

However, don’t worry if you make the occasional mistake, as this will happen with even the most experienced of instructors.

In this situation, don’t stop dancing- keep going and style it out with confidence. It’s unlikely that anyone will even notice or remember!

If major mistakes do keep occurring, such as forgetting large portions of choreography, this can disrupt the class and have a negative impact on the workout. So, make sure that you know it like the back of your hand!

Tips for Zumba Instructors #3- Create a Playlist for Your Classes

Once you have selected the appropriate tracks and learnt them, our next Zumba tip is to make a playlist for your classes!

Having a playlist prevents long pauses in between songs, or students waiting while you find the next song. Being left standing around can be demotivating for class members, as it disrupts the rhythm that they’ve built up throughout the previous song.

This also wastes a lot of class time, meaning that you’ll fit less in and offer a below average Zumba experience!

To prevent this from happening and ensure that the class flows from start to end, create your playlist and have it ready to go before the class begins.

This also helps when planning the class, as it’s good to have songs that flow into each other.

However, you don’t want all of your songs to have the exact same rhythm and feel, as this can be boring for both yourself and your students. Planning your playlist beforehand therefore ensures that you are adding some variety into your class.

For example, playing 3 super-fast songs in a row may be an effective workout, but this could leave students too tired to complete the whole class! 

One of our tips for Zumba instructors who are looking to create a playlist is to use the ZIN Play app.

Available on the Apple app store and Google Play, it offers you an easy way to build and personalise playlists for your Zumba class.

ZIN Play also allows you to:

• Search for tracks by keywords or BPM
• Crossfade between songs to ensure smooth transitions
• Adjust the volume on tracks from different music sources
• Customise tracks so that they fit in with your class

Although you should always have a playlist prepared and ready to go, you should be ready to adapt it on the day of your class.

For example, you may find that some beginners turn up to your class who have never done Zumba before. In this case, you may therefore need to swap out some of the harder tracks in your playlist. 

Alternatively, you could be teaching a group that can handle a higher level of class, so read the energy of the room and include some faster-paced tracks if needed! 

A great dance teacher tip is to use the warm-up and first track to assess whether or not you think that your current playlist will work. Then you can adapt and change the songs when needed! 

– – – – –

Enjoying this article so far? Here’s 3 more that we think you’ll love:

• How To Become An Exercise to Music (ETM) Instructor: Ultimate Guide
• How To Become A Zumba Instructor
• Free Exercise To Music Courses: Are They Worth It?

Tips for Zumba Instructors #4- Practice Teaching Your Class Beforehand

As we’ve discussed, it’s important that you are as prepared as possible for teaching a Zumba class.

Another of the best Zumba cueing tips that we can give is therefore to practice teaching your class before you arrive at the gym or studio. 

Practising beforehand will allow you to develop some teaching cues for particularly important points of your class, to ensure that your instructions are easy for students to follow.

Knowing what you’re doing on the day means that you’ll feel more relaxed, which will rub off on the students in the class.

If you’re practising alone, you could record yourself teaching on a camera or mobile phone. 

This allows you to see yourself from a student’s perspective, so you can review what went well, and find areas for improvement.

You could also ask your friends to watch you teach, or even run a trial class with them. Not only would this be fun, but it also gives you the chance to gain and implement some honest feedback.

Tips for Zumba Instructors #5- Make All of Your Students Feel Included

From those whose first class it is, to those who are Zumba pros, you’re likely to attract a mixture of students to your class.

This means that it’s important for you to tailor your class to suit a range of abilities and experiences.

At the beginning of the class, ask if there are any new students, and if anyone has any injuries you need to be aware of.

You should then explain how the class works, and remind students that there’s no pressure to pick up the choreography straight away. You could say something along the lines of:

‘Zumba is for everyone, no matter your size, age, or ability, so don’t worry if you can’t get the hang of everything straight away. Just move your body, dance to some great tunes, and have fun!’

Throughout the class, take note of those who are new and may need some extra help. You can then ensure that you continue to encourage them throughout the class.

Be sure to explain and demonstrate all new choreography clearly, and offer regressions for more complex movements. Keep checking that your students understand throughout the class too!

Just like teaching a Spin class, one of the most important Zumba tips is to avoid teaching only to the front row. Make your class accessible to all by exaggerating cues, so that even students right at the back can see your moves.

We’d also advise you to speak loudly and clearly, and use a microphone if necessary to reach all students.

Tips for Zumba Instructors #6- Wear Appropriate Clothing to Teach Your Zumba Class

An often overlooked tip for Zumba instructors is to make sure that you wear appropriate and professional clothing when teaching.

We’d suggest choosing comfortable fitness clothing that allows you to move about freely and easily. 

Here are some top tips for choosing what to wear as a Zumba instructor:

• Choose t-shirts and workout leggings that are fitted, but are not so tight that they restrict your movement. If your clothes are too oversized and loose, they will get in the way whilst you’re dancing!
• Choose clothing made of a moisture-wicking material, as Zumba can get quite sweaty! Cotton tends to retain moisture, so avoid clothing made from this material.
• For women, invest in a moderate to high impact sports bra that provides support, but doesn’t feel too tight as you move.
• Bright colours are always a good choice for Zumba, to help you get into the dance spirit and stand out as the leader of your class.
• Choose footwear that you can move comfortably in, such as supportive cross-trainers or dance-specific shoes. They shouldn’t have much tread on the bottom, and should be supportive of lateral, medial, and twisting motions. 

Here are some of our product recommendations for Zumba clothing:

• Zumba Fitness Racer Back Tank Top
• Zumba Wide Waistband Compression Leggings
• Sweaty Betty Power Medium Impact Sports Bra
• Zumba Women’s Dance Shoes
• RYKA Women’s Vida RZX Cross Trainer Shoes

Tips for Zumba Instructors #7- Continue to Educate Yourself After Qualifying

You’ll have learnt a lot on your Zumba Basic 1 course, including the basic steps to Zumba, the music itself, and how to create your own Zumba classes.

To become a Zumba instructor, you will have had to have taken a ‘Zumba Basic 1 course’. This will have taught you the basics needed to teach Zumba. 

Whilst this is a good start, one of the best tips for new Zumba instructors we can give you is to keep learning by taking further qualifications. 

As with any part of the fitness industry, keeping your knowledge up to date is crucial for providing your class members with the best experience possible.

For instance, the Zumba Rhythms 2 Instructor Training covers steps for 6 more rhythms, including:

• Belly dance
• Flamenco
• Tango
• Samba
• Soca
• Quebradita

This course will qualify you to learn new techniques that will then help you deliver even better classes for your students, which will keep them wanting to come back for more!

Another tip is to attend other classes with more experienced instructors. Take note of how they teach, the cues that they use, and decide on the elements that you like.

You could then use these elements as inspiration for your own class!

Tips for Zumba Instructors #8 – Get an ETM Qualification

As well as further Zumba qualifications, one of our best dance teacher tips is to consider getting a Level 2 Exercise To Music (ETM) qualification. 

Many gyms may require you to have an ETM qualification to teach Zumba anyway. 

But even if they don’t, it is one of the best things you can do for your career in the fitness industry, as it allows you to teach other dance-based fitness classes as well as Zumba, such as:

• Legs, bums, and tums
• Body conditioning
• Aerobics
• SH’BAM
• Spin

An ETM can therefore help to expand your horizons as a fitness instructor, as it opens up more teaching avenues.

This allows you to accept more employment opportunities if working on a freelance basis.

It can therefore allow you to gain more clients, which will boost your overall earnings. Plus, the more qualified you are, the more desirable you are for employers! 

Here at OriGym, our Level 2 ETM course covers the following areas:

• How to deliver freestyle and choreographed routines
• How to teach specialist populations
• Human anatomy and physiology
• The principles of exercise and fitness
• Health, safety, and welfare during classes

Having an Exercise to Music qualification therefore helps you to gain more expertise, more experience, and contributes to your own self-development!

Tips for Zumba Instructors #9- Make Your Classes Fun and Exciting

One of the main benefits of Zumba is that it is a fun form of exercise that sometimes doesn’t even feel like exercise! So as a Zumba instructor, it is your job to give this kind of experience to your students. 

When a student sees you having fun and giving your maximum energy, it will inspire them to go all out too. They’re therefore likely to have more fun, and will want to return to your class next time!

One of our favourite Zumba tips is therefore to show your excitement and happiness through things such as your facial expressions- for example by smiling and laughing as you teach!

This will make your students feel comfortable enough to express themselves freely through the movements, open up, and enjoy the class to the maximum.

Another way to do this is to introduce some variety into your class.

Whilst it’s important to give your regular students a chance to learn the choreography and improve week on week, it can be boring going to the same exact class with no changes.

You should therefore integrate a new song one at a time, to keep your classes fresh and exciting- which will keep students interested and challenged.

Before You Go!

Feeling inspired to take the next step in your career? Get started with our Level 2 Exercise to Music Course where you will learn how to deliver freestyle and choreographed classes as well as how to keep clients of all ages motivated during classes.

Enquire today, or check out our free course prospectus here to browse the full range of courses we offer. 

If nothing gets you moving more than a great energetic playlist, you may be wondering how to become a Clubbercise® instructor. If you love to workout to dance music, then you’ll be pleased to know that you can get paid to do just that, and even better, teach a whole class to do the same.

Within this article, we will cover everything you need to know about getting qualified to teach Clubbercise®, including:

• What Is Clubbercise®?
• What Qualifications do I Need To Become A Clubbercise® Instructor?
• How Much Does A Clubbercise® Instructor Earn?
• Is Being a Clubbercise® Instructor a Profitable Career?
• Fitness Instructor Vs Clubbercise® Instructor
• How To Progress As A Clubbercise® Instructor
• FAQs

Before we get started, get your career off to the best possible start by enquiring about our Level 2 Exercise to Music Course. Or, look through the range of fitness courses that you can study with us by downloading our course prospectus.

What is Clubbercise®?

First off, let’s get more familiar with what exactly Clubbercise® is. Clubbercise® is a full-body workout class that combines popular dance music and exercising, all in an environment that replicates that of a nightclub.

We should remind you that Clubbercise® is a trademarked brand and so, when working as a Clubbercise® instructor, you have to go by their rules – meaning that you will have to teach their routines, use their music playlist, and only sell their branded merchandise in every class as standard.

Clubbercise® say that their classes bring a night out to your workout, and we totally agree. Performed in a dark setting lit up with glow sticks and luminous clothing, you can burn upto 600 calories a session by just dancing with your friends!

The phenomenon started with three friends back in 2013, from there, it has only gotten bigger and better. The ultimate goal when taking part in these classes is to help people get fit and stay that way by taking part in consistent fun and uplifting classes.

The reason that Clubbercise® is so effective at achieving this goal is that those attending classes are actually enjoying themselves, which makes it much easier to be motivated and consistent when it comes to exercising.

The benefits of Clubbercise® are not limited to particing in classes either, as you can have just as much fun and keep equally as fit by getting qualified and running your own Clubbercise® classes. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, keep reading as we’re about to show you how to do just that.

But before we get to that, if teaching group exercises sounds like your ideal job, be sure to read our article on how to become a fitness instructor here!

What Qualifications do I Need To Become A Clubbercise® Instructor?

With over 2,000 classes worldwide, becoming an instructor of your own Clubbercise® class has the potential to be a lucrative and exciting venture into the field of fitness, but where do you start?

Pursuing this career may be easier than you think as Clubbercise® have a clear framework detailing what it is exactly that you need to do in order to be eligible to complete an instructor course with them. First and foremost, you should prioritise getting your Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing as this will then enable you to take the Clubbercise® training course.

A Level 2 Fitness Instructing course will grant you access to the qualifications necessary to get started, more specifically, the most important module within this course for Clubbercise® is Anatomy and Physiology. This module will teach you about the vital mechanics of the body, which is a minimum requirement to be eligible for the Clubbercise® training course.

This section of the course provides you with the knowledge that keeps your future clients and classes safe, covering the heart and circulatory system, the respiratory and digestive systems. This is particularly important in a class such as Clubbercise® due to its intensity.

Once you have achieved your level 2 certificate in gym instructing you are then eligible to take part in Clubbercise® training, which is essential to run a class of your own. If you want to take it one step further and become the best candidate for the job at hand, you can take a Diploma in Personal Training. A personal training diploma covers both your level 2 fitness instructor qualification and a Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification.

This will not only make your knowledge stronger so you feel more confident in being an instructor, but also maximise your profits as a fitness professional by allowing you to run 1-1 sessions alongside group classes.

By becoming a general fitness instructor rather than a Clubbercise® instructor, you would have the freedom to perform whichever class you desire. You wouldn’t be simply limited to a licenced class that requires you to do the same moves and use the same playlist as every class up and down the country, instead you would be able to design something that you find effective and change things up every now and then to keep clients returning.

Plus, you wouldn’t need to complete any training beyond your Level 2 certificate in fitness instructing. Stick with us because we’ll discuss more about the pros and cons of becoming a Clubbercise® instructor vs a career as a fitness instructor very soon.

If you’re interested in a career in the fitness industry generally, we would recommend completing a personal training diploma for the best start and a wider plethora of knowledge, plus the personal training salary is generally much higher than that of a group class instructor.

How Much Does A Clubbercise® Instructor Earn?

If you’re looking to become a Clubbercise® instructor, it’s likely that you want to know more about how much they earn. You might have the desire of being a fitness professional but, to turn it into a career that you can make a stable income from, there must be a demand for the classes in the first place.

So, we looked at some of the most popular Clubbercise® classes in the UK to see how much you could charge for your own class. As you might expect, costs typically vary up and down the country so be wary of this before you decide where to hold your classes.

We did some digging and found that the average price of a Clubbercise® class in the UK is £5 per class – so this is what you can expect to be earning per person per class. However they do vary from location to location, as you can see below, this class in Central London costs £9 a class:

Some instructors offer class bundles to encourage clients to commit to a length of time. For example, one instructor in the UK offered a price of £25 for 5 classes or £50 for 10 classes, when their usual class rate is £6 per class. This is great for client retention but it will of course reduce your profits.

Say 20 people show up to your class, each paying £5 each. That gives you a gross profit of £100 – not bad for an hour’s work! However, you need to think about your outgoings, as well as how sustainable that income is.

What we’re trying to say is that whilst £100 seems great, chances are you won’t always have 20 people in every class, every day, so it could be tough to make a full-time wage. Plus, you need to remember that you will have to spend some of that money on the expenses associated with setting up the correct environment, hiring out a space, and getting insured.

Is Being a Clubbercise® Instructor a Profitable Career?

Some Things to Consider…

#1 Creating The Right Environment Can Be Costly

Clubbercise® has a particular set-up and dance club environment which is something that is highly anticipated. To provide this service, you’re going to need some disco lights and merchandise. This includes things such as glow sticks, which are popular props for these classes.

Whilst these make for a great atmosphere, they are arguably unnecessary purchases that put you at a loss financially, especially when you’re first starting.

It’s worth thinking about the fact that if you weren’t running a licenced class, you would not need to pay out for such props – but we will get into more of that a little later.

#2 Is There Sufficient Demand for Clubbercise® Classes?

One of the key things to question when wondering whether being a Clubbercise® instructor is a lucrative career, is the level of demand in your area. For example, you’ll want to refrain from setting up your club near another established or popular one as this will only create competition.

Whilst competition is inevitable when starting a business, the fact that Clubbercise® classes are branded and therefore very similar to each other means it’s unlikely that there’ll be room for two in your local area!

What has this got to do with your earnings you may ask? Well, without demand for your classes, you won’t get clients through the door, and won’t make any money!

To avoid this, look for areas that have demand or where Clubbercise® classes aren’t currently running – you can do this by heading onto the find a class page.

#3 Ways to Make Additional Income

With the above in mind, one way to make additional money as a Clubbercise® instructor is by capitalising on the branded merchandise that we mentioned earlier. How so? Well, if you sell merchandise you can earn approximately £2.50 per pair of glow sticks and 15% profit on clothing and accessories. You can have these for people to buy before or after classes so that people can get involved and feel like a part of the club.

Stick with us because in the following section, we will explain how you can earn more profit and benefit from fewer losses by operating as a fitness instructor and selling your own merchandise!

Fitness instructing Vs Clubbercise® Instructor

Since you need to take a Fitness Instructing course before taking part in Clubbercise® training, it’s worth considering whether working as a general group fitness instructor could be a better option. Not only would this mean you can save time and money by not completing Clubbercise® training, but it is arguably a more sustainable career.

So, lets see the benefits of becoming a fitness instructor and how this can differ from a Clubbercise® instructor.

#1 Creative Freedom Over Your Classes

Being a fitness instructor allows you to run a much larger scope of classes and in turn, gives you a lot more creative freedom over the kind of classes you run, the environment they’re in, and the choreography you use.

For example, there is nothing stopping you from creating your own version of a dance and exercise combination class that you can design from start to finish. Of course, you wouldn’t have the licencing to use the name “Clubbercise®”, nor would you be able to advertise on their page.

That said, there are plenty of benefits to balance out these minor cons! For example, if you want to create a dance-style class with your own twist, you could still create a similar environment with your own choice of music and props. Plus you’ll have complete freedom to change your playlist, props, and choreography every so often to keep your clients interested.

This will get clients excited and keep them coming back, as while some may find it comforting to know what they are walking into each week, many people eventually find this boring. Being able to regularly switch up your routine means you can keep a buzz around the class and gives you the option of using client feedback to alter your choreography.

#2 Sell Your Own Merchandise & Keep The Profits!

There is also nothing stopping you from creating your own merchandise.

Selling branded items such as t-shirts or water bottles will not only act as an extra source of income, but if your clients then go on to use or wear that item out and about, it also gets the name of your class seen by more potential clients.

You can create your own brand and have a close knit community of clients that are willing to purchase your merchandise. Unlike if you were to sell merchandise as a Clubbercise® instructor, you can keep 100% of these profits!

#3 Set Your Own Prices

Whatsmore, if you’re a fitness instructor creating your own class, you have the freedom to choose your own pricing structure.

As we established earlier, up and down the UK there is an average price of around £5 per Clubbercise® class. This means that if you were to price your class a little higher, you might struggle for clients since it’s unlikely that people will choose your Clubbercise® class if there is one for a cheaper price nearby.

The reason Clubbercise® classes are pretty consistently priced is due to them being licenced and choreographed. However, by choreographing your own class and making it unique you can charge what you think it is worth, rather than the approximate base price.

#4 You Can Offer A Range of Classes

With a gym instructing qualification, you are not simply limited to one choreographed class that you are trained in. Instead, you can teach a range of classes that vary up not only your clients’ sessions, but yours too.

You can take some CPD courses in specific classes that would ensure you are properly trained and qualified to deliver the classes safely and efficiently – these could include:

• Body Weight Training
• Kettlebell Training
• Medicine Ball Training 

These kinds of courses can give you the tools to create your own fun and exciting classes that will keep clients coming back every week!

#5 Multiple Career Options

By getting started as a fitness instructor, you are not limited to one form of work. You can take advantage of having multiple options for the way you choose to direct your career. For example, you are not limited to a contract that is capped at X amount of hours with a restriction on income.

Instead, freelance work can see you having multiple revenue streams, you will not be tied to one form of income. You can teach multiple classes in multiple different areas and all the while, if you have a personal training qualification, you can be training 1-2-1.

So, you should weigh up your options when choosing what kind of class you want to teach and what will give you the biggest return on investment.

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For more information and useful resources on becoming a fitness professional, read our articles below to kick-start your career:

• How to Become an Exercise to Music (ETM) Instructor: Ultimate Guide
• How to Become a Zumba Instructor: Courses, Salary & Insurance
• Free Exercise To Music Courses: Are They Worth It?

How To Progress As A Clubbercise® Instructor

As you now know, to teach Clubbercise® you will need a Level 2 in gym instructing qualification, the Clubbercise® training course, and if you want to take it one step further, a Diploma in personal training. These courses are a great foundation to build a career in the fitness sector.

If you choose to work solely as a fitness instructor, many more doors will open to a bigger and better work life. So let’s see how exactly you can do this.

Level 2 Exercise To Music

You could take further fitness courses such as a Level 2 Exercise to music which is especially valuable when putting it to use in a class like Clubbercise®. You can find out more about every step on how to become an exercise to music instructor here, but in a nutshell this is what you can expect.

• Entry-level qualification, so long as you’re 16+.
• Key modules covered such as: Delivering Freestyle & Choreographed Classes, Teaching Special Population Classes, Principles of Exercise and Fitness, Health, Safety and Welfare and the all important Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Though you can enter the ETM course with no prior qualifications, if you did opt for the Level 2 in Gym Instructing or that of the Personal Training Diploma, you would actually be exempt from some theory papers on the ETM course. This is because they are featured in the level 2 in gym instructing course and therefore, we know you don’t need to repeat this!

Level 3 Personal Training Course

Ofcourse, there are a range of benefits of completing a level 3 personal training course. You can either do this as part of our personal training diploma or as a seperate course after you’ve completed your level 2 in fitness instructing.

It is on this level 3 course that you will learn advancements from the level 2 gym instructing course, going into modules such as anatomy and physiology in more detail. In addition to this, you will also learn about nutritional principles and how to actually deliver a successful training session. This qualification is the key to a stable career in the fitness industry, particularly if you’re going to be self-employed.

Personal trainers are always in demand, clients will be looking for their fit and you could be just that. As we mentioned earlier, the combination of a personal training qualification along with your gym instructing is perfect to ensure you can conduct classes but also fill in your spare time with valuable business by running 1-1 sessions.

Level 4 Advanced Sports Nutrition 

Further education in areas such as nutrition can be a great addition to your forte if you’re looking to generate more than one revenue stream from your fitness business.

This course can help you to learn the requirements to help your clients follow a healthy and balanced diet, particularly how their exercise habits work hand in hand with what is on their plate.

With this level 4 certification behind you, you can have a distinct advantage over other fitness professionals, as it is one of the highest awards in the industry and presents you as a reliable and knowledgeable instructor.

If you want some more information on the benefits of introducing a nutritionist qualification to your repertoire and want to see an example meal plan, read our article on the pros and cons of being a nutritionist.

Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy

Finally, another way that you can make yourself the best fitness professional that you can be, is to get become a qualified sports massage therapist and offer Smt services.

A good way to utilise and advertise your services is in conjunction with your unique class, so long as you have your level 2 in fitness instructing of course. You could conduct your class and afterwards, hold a couple of hours for sports massage appointments, chances are, after a strenuous class people just may want your service to feel limber for the next day!

You can expand your knowledge by completing a Level 4 Personal Trainer course, as well as CPD courses which only make you progress further into your career as a fitness professional and become more valuable.

Ultimately, a wider range of abilities when it comes to your work is always a good thing, you can’t be too educated! So, the more you can get under your belt, the better.

FAQs

Can I Take Clubbercise® Worldwide?

Technically yes, however actually taking the course and finding out the information of what you need is a little less straightforward. On their website, they disclose the entry requirements to their course for UK and Australian citizens, however not for other countries.

Instead, if you are from a country other than the UK or Australia, you are prompted to contact Clubbercise® directly on team@clubbercise.com by email for further information on getting qualified.

How Much Does A Clubbercise® Course Cost?

After you have taken your examination in Anatomy and Physiology, you should head over to the Clubbercise® website and take a look at the prices that best suit your needs. There are three different prices that increase by £20 each time.

This includes 3 kinds of course cost, an Early, Regular, and Last Min. This is of course based on the proximity of you actually purchasing the course, and the course beginning date.

These courses are online currently (as of 2023) and an original Clubbercise® course Early ticket costs £219.00 and lasts from 09:30 to 15:30. The prices then steadily rise, with the Regular ticket at £219.00 and the Last Minute ticket at £249.00.

Simply head over to the website and press sign up to get started with the processing of your course.

Do I Need To Prove I Am Certified?

Yes!

You must show certification of completing the required courses before registering for a course, you can tick which boxes are applicable to you in terms of what qualifications you hold just before you proceed to payment.

It is here that they specifically ask if you do hold an exercise to music qualification, so it is certainly valued within the class and we would definitely recommend checking it out. For more details on how to become an exercise to music instructor, click here.

Before You Go…

Clubbercise® is perfect for those who love to combine their love for dance and music with exercise and health – so why not take the dive and get qualified.

So now that you have all of the information you need to become a clubbercise® instructor, get off to the best start by enquiring about our Level 2 Exercise to Music Course. Or, browse through all of our fitness courses that can help you become the best Clubbercise® instructor in our downloadable course prospectus.