$75 an hour

“I earn up to

teaching Zumba”

“I was taking Zumba classes at my gym a few years ago and I loved how fun the workout was. After a few months, some of the instructors suggested I start teaching, even though I had never taught before. It seemed like a great way to make money and stay fit, so I decided to go for it.

“It was surprisingly easy to become an instructor. I took a $199 one-day basic certification and I got certified in First Aid/CPR/ AED, which cost $50. Not all gyms require this certification, but many encourage it. I also bought a $35 DVD from Zumba.com, which gave me a ton of music and routines that I could use or tweak.

“I mostly teach at Youfit Health Clubs (Youfit.com), but I’ve taught at 2-hour fundraising events called “Zumbathons.” I’m also often asked to design classes and teach at public and private schools. I lead at least six classes a week, and although the pay varies depending on the client, I can earn as much as $75 a class.

“I love teaching Zumba because I get to inspire people to get healthy and fit. Plus, Zumba helped me get into the best physical shape I’ve ever been in: I went from a size 10 to a size 2! Teaching Zumba has improved my energy by leaps and bounds and I feel so much younger—my friends call me the ‘jumping bean!’ The money I make has allowed me to pay for my daughter’s college dorm and books, movies with my family and of course, Zumba conventions!”