Thread: Teaching in gyms

I've been approached by my local Y to teach at their fitness facility. I've taught at Ys before, as well as many dance studios, but have usually taught dance technique and movement, not belly dance for fitness. I know that there are many bhuzzers who teach "belly-aerobics" so I'm hoping for some advice here. How do you deal with new comers in you class each week who don't know the movements but want a cardio workout? I'm used to breaking down steps but don't know how to do this while keeping everyone moving so their heart rate stays up.

Help! WWBD??

I keep the tempo fast, some basic steps and some traveling steps. I start with a grapevine, then a grapevine with a hip bump, then a grape vine with the arms (in hands touching, out arms extended, L shape at the hip bump).

I take my basic beginner choreo and teach it add on style, like above. W/ new people coming in all the time, I don't teach as if I were teaching a dance class, I teach basic posture, here is how you can improve, give people practice if they want it, and make sure people have fun. If they express interest in improving, I can funnel them to my beginner classes.

Beats per minute should be about 128 - 133 per minute to give you time to teach the steps, but still fast enough the heart rate is elevated.

If you don't want to do a cardio class, you can always bill it as a core workout and concentrate on the benefits of the movements to the body.

Great input. Thanks Kina!!