We recognize that “you must do this to be healthy” is a poor motivator for most people. Our physical and emotional needs are too complex and too conflicted to respond to a simple “if, then” approach. Higher functions like these are addressed better by more intrinsic motivational factors, namely autonomy, mastery, and purpose.Read more…
Do you have riders who struggle to make it to class, despite their desire to become regular exercisers? Are they overwhelmed by short-term obstacles that get in their way? Here are three steps you can take to help your students (or clients if you are a personal trainer) stay even more committed to their fitness. Read more…
Part 3 of this series on effective coaching off the bike gives you the remainder of the 12 ways to make sure that you enjoy the process so that you can empower your students. Read more…
We have 12 ways to make sure that you enjoy the process of teaching off the bike and engage your riders so well that they hang on every word (or moments of silence). These tips are for when you have to be off the bike for an entire class, whether it be due to injury, giving up your bike for a member, teaching a large number of classes during the week, or any other reason. The first 6 are here in part 2 of this series, and the remainder in part 3.Read more…
This highly educational series on teaching off the bike first appeared in 2011. It’s a very popular topic, so we are bringing this new and improved version back to the forefront. Part 1 discusses why teaching the entire class off the bike can be effective. Part 2 will provide 11 specific tips and tricks for doing so. Parts 3 and 4 will give advice on getting off the bike occasionally in the most effective manner to provide motivation and correction. This series, worthy of CECs, will help launch your coaching to the next level.Read more…
Energy in science can neither be created nor destroyed. What about energy in your classroom? Energy is one of the primary things that distinguishes a good class from a poor one. A class with good energy is almost always a good class. A class without energy is, well, dead. Here are tips to keep the energy high.Read more…
Bill arrives at the studio to teach his class, but there is a construction team at the front of the room, just minutes before class starts. What does he do? Learn from Bill’s experience in effectively managing a challenging situation, and apply it to others that you might encounter. Your response will have an effect on how your riders respond!Read more…
Alisha Shulter is an indoor cycling instructor who recently taught her first class off the bike. But, she hadn’t planned on doing it that way. The results, however, were magical and taught her a lot about herself and her students. She wrote this blog post about it and gave me permission to share it with you here at ICA.Read more…
This article on managing a participant’s bad attitude by guest contributor Nancy Korf is very relevant to any type of group fitness class. It is a situation that many of us have encountered in our cycling classes so we wanted to share it with you. There are some real gems in the advice she gives here!Read more…
When I am taking a class, it kills me to hear the same cue over and over and over again. If you have ever been in a class in which the instructor only knows how to say “Turn it up” to tell you to add resistance, you know how uncreative and boringRead more…