Marci Palmer has discovered that the majority of her Zumba students prefer to study online.
Last year, the COVID-19 outbreak inspired the Leesburg resident to make the sessions she conducts as a certified Zumba teacher at Infinity Fitness in Fruitland Park available online.
The online program was an immediate hit, she claimed, with new people joining up all the time.
“I encourage people to come and try it,” Palmer said. “I hear a lot of people say, ‘I am not coordinated’ or ‘I cannot do Zumba.’ It doesn’t matter. All one has to know how to do is move. There is a lot of repetition in Zumba, which makes it easy to follow. You don’t have to be a dancer. You don’t have to have a background in dance. Anybody can do it.”
Palmer teaches from the comfort of her own home. She has an average of 15 students in her classes, although she constantly welcomes newcomers.
Pamela Hyde of Weirsdale found the internet option appealing. Hyde began taking Zumba lessons online but then switched to in-person courses.
“Marci is an amazing instructor, and she gives a good workout,” Hyde said. “She’s easy to follow and makes it fun. The music is upbeat and fun. And, when it is a holiday, she will throw in some holiday songs.”
According to Palmer, classes begin with a fast warm-up and then transition into Zumba routines. She performs routines to music by a range of well-known musicians.
Palmer employs visual cues rather than verbal signals to keep the pace moving as the routines develop.
Palmer cools down guests with exercises for key muscle groups before lessons conclude.
“Zumba is exercise in disguise,” Palmer said. “People find the classes are over before they even know it. They love it.”
Palmer was raised in Massachusetts and dreamed of being a professional dancer.
While in high school, she took a dance class, auditioned for many dance jobs and eventually got a job as a professional dancer with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in Florida.
Palmer teaches Zumba lessons at Infinity Fitness in Fruitland Park, located at 3200 US Highway 27/441.
Class schedules can be found at bestinfinity.com.
Palmer can be reached at dancinml@gmail.com for further information and to join up for an online lesson.
