¶ … 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.

Positive attitudes

The ARC Zumba instructor Amy and LA Fitness Instructor Bob both displayed positive attitudes during their classes. For example, they tried to interact with students frequently by first talking to the students before starting the dance movements. For example, they would greet the students with a friendly smile and ask how they are doing. On other days, instructor Amy comforted students by stating that it is okay to not be able to follow exact movements of the Zumba routines. She told students to move on their own pace, and most importantly, to enjoy the time there. Both of the instructors also exhibited smiles throughout the duration of the classes. Their enthusiasm could be identified from their voices; such as in shouting things like," Good Job! Don't stop! Keep moving!" Bob would occasionally blow a whistle to keep the class in high energy. Students also exhibited positive behaviors. For example, when Bob came in the classroom, students would cheer at him and welcome him for the arrival. They would mimic the instructors' steps and fully engage in the class. Each time the music shifts to a different song, participants in both ARC and LA fitness would either cheer or clap.

Social Interactions

At the Arc, most of the participants did not interact with each other unless specified...

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…