Have you ever walked into class and just known it was going to be one of those days? At the front of the room sit the fitness warriors, donning serious faces as they set their heart rate monitors and fine-tune their bike setup. At the back of the room a small riot brews. There is tons of chatter, laughter, and a couple of folks whose voices project more than is tolerable. The front row is noticeably annoyed.Read more…
Just because we’ve gotten away with it doesn’t mean it is legal or right. Are we as instructors using purchased videos (DVDs, downloaded, or streaming) or videos freely downloaded from the web legally? As the popularity of video and virtual rides in cycling studios increases across the country, what do we need to know to avoid legal repercussions as instructors and for the clubs we teach?Read more…
It is 5 minutes before class begins. The last few riders scurry to their bikes. I’m nervous and uncomfortable about my ride, and more specifically, the playlist. As the class starts and the music unfolds, I feel self-conscious and not myself. Only the cool-down can save me now.Read more…
There was an interesting discussion this week on one of the Facebook indoor cycling forums about teaching without music. I thought it could be fun to have a discussion here about teaching without music. Have you ever had a music emergency in which you had to teach your class with no music at all? How did you initially react? How did your riders respond?Read more…
So far in the Coaching Series, we have looked at the concept of coaching in an indoor cycling class and we’ve examined ways to shift from being a technically adequate instructor toward being a more intuitive and inspirational coach. Now we look at the rider, who is, in a rider-centered environment, the single most important aspect of the class.Read more…
Like many things in the fitness industry, the mantra “no pain, no gain” has been misused and misrepresented. Has the mantra provided trainers and instructors with a license to kill? Has it become a means to an unknowledgeable end? Has the mantra set an unrealistic and unhealthy expectation for its victims?Read more…
In part 1 of the Coaching Series, we considered the various uses of the word “coach” in different professions. A common thread through corporate, life, financial, athletic, etc. coaching is an alliance between the coach and coachee for enhanced performance. At the heart of the coaching relationship is an understanding that the person who is being coached is responsible for the bulk of the work. The role of the coach is to clarify, explore options with the client and provide accountability.Read more…
Parts 4, 5, and 6 of Prepping for a Reset provided samples of aerobic conditioning, muscle conditioning, and leg speed class profiles. There are numerous variations, but these three profiles comprise the key foundational elements of cycling fitness. Now it is time for a test…or review.Read more…
Every instructor has their own style and preference for when to teach on or off the bike. We’ve published a number of articles to this effect with general guidelines and suggestions for effective approaches. A few members asked specifically about the effectiveness of teaching Tabata, and other high-intensity intervals, on and off the bike. Here is my approach.Read more…
If you haven’t seen Simon Sinek’s TED Talk yet, it’s a must-watch. Sinek’s central message, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it,” holds profound implications for those of us in the fitness industry. This principle encourages us to reflect on our motivations and infuse our teaching with a deeper purpose.Read more…