Zumba instructor: Emmaristha van Rooi
Emmaristha van Rooi is a full-time Zumba instructor on a mission to empower women through her unique blend of fitness classes.With a focus on Zumba and CIRCL Mobility, she aims to help her students find their inner strength and confidence.
"CIRCL Mobility is a combination of Pilates and yoga, and sometimes it even includes moves that help with things like jujitsu," she explained.
Her classes are structured similarly to yoga, with a warm-up, stretches, muscle-strengthening sessions, mobility exercises and a cool-down.
Van Rooi's classes vary in length, from 15 to 35 minutes, depending on the group and available time. "The primary responsibility of an instructor is to ensure that the students are taken care of, that they know they are not competing against anyone but themselves, and that they listen to their bodies," she emphasised.
She firmly believes that pain does not equate to gain, adding that discomfort should never reach the point where it hampers movement.
Despite the absence of in-house training for instructors, Van Rooi noted that Zumba offers training for CIRCL Mobility and Strong Nation classes, both under the Zumba umbrella.
"You don't need a Zumba certification to teach CIRCL Mobility or Strong Nation," she mentioned, adding that these courses are available online and face-to-face in South Africa.
Van Rooi's teaching schedule is tailored to her demographic, with classes held after hours to accommodate working women. "Most of my students are working people, so classes start after they knock off work," she said.
However, she does not conduct classes during winter due to safety concerns and the lower turnout. "I only start in September and go until March because that's when attendance is higher," she said.
As a mother of three, she understands the challenges faced by many of her students. "My aim with Zumba and CIRCL Mobility is to help ladies reconnect with their inner selves and find their radiance," she shared.
She recounted a success story of a shy student who gained immense self-confidence and transformed her appearance over time. "She started out in oversized clothes, but by the end of the course, she was vibrant and confident," Van Rooi said proudly.
In addition to her classes, she is proactive in promoting self-love and the Zumba community by participating in events and workshops. "I would gladly do it free of charge if it brings more awareness to self-love and Zumba," she mentioned. She enjoys working with beginners and plus-sized women, helping them evolve into confident individuals.
Van Rooi also collaborates with other instructors and engages in various events, including birthdays, corporate events and kids' fun days.
"I love collaborating and helping out with fundraising events," she said.
Her approach to teaching Zumba is to keep it fun and engaging, ensuring that her students focus on the instructor and not on each other.
"Dance like nobody's watching because nobody is watching," she advised, highlighting the importance of staying focused and enjoying the moment.