Instructor communication and social interaction in Zumba class adherence

¶ … student participants and their relationship with their instructors', as well as their behaviors and attitudes at the Zumba class in order to investigate the participants' motivation for the exercise program adherence to the exercises. In order to determine this research question, a qualitative observational method was conducted with consisted of a total of over six hours of data collection. Observations were conducted in two separate observational time periods. One was at the Irvine Anteater Recreation Center (ARC) and the other was at LA Fitness gymnasium in Huntington Beach. During these observations, the focus was on the instructors' communication methods and how they engaged and supported the participants. The study also investigated how the participants interacted with the instructors and their teammates. Additionally, three semi-structured interviews from students at the University of California, Irvine were collected. These interviews were conducted to explore the motivation and attitudes towards the exercise classes and provide insights into their adherence to the exercise programs. From the data collection, there were three themes identified: the behaviors and interactions of the instructor and participants, the challenges they encounter, and the motivations behind attending the Zumba classes (friends, health benefits, and time).

Behaviors of the Instructors and Students

During the Zumba session, instructors and the students displayed a range of different behaviors however many of the behaviors were similar. This was likely due to the fact that the participants largely mirrored the instructors' actions. The most common behaviors were consistent with maintaining a positive attitude, such as displayed by enthusiasm for the exercises, as well as moments of deep concentration during the exercise routine.

Social Interactions

At the Arc, most of the participants did not interact with each other unless specified by the instructor to pair up with someone. The majority of the people were independent, focusing on themselves during the Zumba moves. Participants entered the Zumba class and left the class quietly without any conversation noticeable with others. In contrast, a participant at LA Fitness frequently interacted with each other by greeting each other with a simple hello or wave. Additionally, participants would come into the Zumba studio about 10 minutes earlier and they would chat with each other during this time. Most of the people seemed to know each other well, likely from multiple encounters in the classes.

Challenges

Keeping the participants fully engaged seemed to be a challenge for both of the instructors. For example, a group of friends was observed at the ARC. They stood by themselves in the back row. During the Zumba routine, they were frequently giggling and chatting. Because most of the other participants are doing there best and concentrating on the Zumba routine, those groups especially stood out. The instructor would occasionally observe this group from the mirrors but did not say or do something to get their attention; rather she continued dancing. Comparable to the ARC, participants in the back row at the LA fitness Zumba seemed to struggle to follow the steps and had hard time focusing on the instructor. For instance, there was an Asian woman in her 40s in the back row during one class who suddenly turned her body in the opposite direction of the instructor and the rest of the class. It later became clear as to her intentions as she pulled her iPad out and placed it along the back mirror wall so that she could video camera herself dancing.

Motivation and Adherence

Many research findings emphasize the instructors' behaviors as a crucial factor for keeping participants in exercise programs motivated and to create adherence to the exercise program (Lippke et al.). However, in the interviews, this factor was not mentioned. The most frequently mentioned reasons give as to why people chose to participate in the exercise program became evident through the interview process. Interviewees commonly mentioned that they wanted to be healthy, because the class suited their schedules, or that friends encouraged them to go. Participants who participated in the exercise classes also seemed to be engaged in other healthy activities and routinely exercise. For example, not only do they attend the Zumba exercise class, but they also go to the gym and use the exercise machines as well which indicates an overall dedication to health and fitness.

Friends

The most common response as to why participants attended the physical exercise class was because their friend encouraged them to take the class together. All of the interview participants mentioned that when utilizing exercise classes or even the gym in general, the most common response was that they came with a friend.

Interviewee Jenny said she will not go to the exercise class unless a friend asks because she feels self-conscious of her ability to follow the routine. She stated, "I don't want to be embarrassed when I can't follow the steps. It feels more comfortable if a friend was there so I'm not left alone embarrassing myself. I prefer yoga classes that are more relaxing." Interviewee Esther mentioned that she and her friend motivate each other to go to the gym. For example, when she felt too lazy to go to the gym, her friend would encourage her to go and vice versa.

Health Benefits

The participants of the exercise classes also seemed to be exercising regularly in other forms. From the interview with Silvia, she mentioned that she goes to the gym at least 4 times a week. When she does not visit the exercise classes, she is usually at the gym on the treadmill or bicycle machines. Furthermore, during the interviews many of the students stated that they were commonly using the treadmills before they participated in the Zumba class. Because the group exercise classes at the ARC are held continuously, some participants also attended the earlier fitness classes that precede Zumba class. Still others would use the gym facilities to perform cardio exercises before participating in the Zumba class. I observed several people trying harder than the instructor.

Time

Besides the social and health benefits associated with the class, the specific time of the classes seemed to effect whether the participants would attend the class. Interviewee AD mentioned that she would not do any exercise in the morning because she feels lazy after she wakes up. Moreover, interviewee S. says that she prefers to go to the gym in the evenings because she has classes during the day time. All the interviewees mentioned that they check the specific time of the classes and go to the class if it fits their schedule. When I asked if they checked which instructor was teaching the class, they all mentioned that time was more important than the instructor; unless there is a specific instructor they liked and wanted to take a class with.