07/12/2025
This is an emotional post that I was nearly not going to post. This was filmed in the bathroom after my second last Zumba class at Hendra Healthworks. I had an emotional class because it hit me that I won’t see these beautiful faces on a regular basis anymore.
I made the decision to leave because the pay was so bad. I knew I had to leave a long time ago but I had put it off because I had formed such strong connections with the women there. It was also my first paid job as a Zumba instructor so I was sentimental about this particular gym.
However, $50 for the hour does not justify the following considerations.
*Travel time
*Petrol costs
*Practise time
*Class preparation
* Insurance
*ZIN membership
* Zumba clothing
* Social Media time
*High cost of living
*Unique service which you can’t do hour after hour.
*Bringers of joy, endorphin & serotonin release, stress relief, sense of connection and community. And multiple other physical and mental well being benefits - too many to list!!!!!
How can $50/hour justify the above considerations. It appears this pay rate has not changed for over a decade 😱 This is a serious issue in the industry as a whole. I know of an instructor who asked for a pay rise after being with them for over 10 years working but they rejected her request to go from $50 to $60. Needless to say she left, unwillingly. This is how I feel. I feel angry that our work is under valued by gyms when we provide so much. I don’t want to leave my job at Hendra Healthworks but I know I will make more money working for myself.
For me personally, my new base rate is $120/hour which I have currently charged to a school and charge to another service provider I work for. I am negotiable from $80 when covering for others but seriously something needs to drastically change. How do people survive during these tough economical times?
Is there aUnion? Who is advocating for us? Please let me know if anyone has asked for a pay rise before with success? I’m keen to know other people’s experiences around this issue. Is it the same overseas?