Bill had two new riders in his class recently. They had taken many other classes, just not his. After class, they asked him some excellent questions, which reminded him of the importance of being equipped with excellent answers before you are asked. Their questions—and his answers—will open your eyes.Read more…
One of the many benefits to teaching indoor cycling is that it designed to be a multi-level class requiring little coordination and choreography. While we’re not looking for military precision in unified movement and intensity, there are often unspoken expectations that the instructor has for the riders. When a rider, or the entire group of riders, strays too far, it can become distracting. In this article, Cori Parks suggests a simple approach to classroom management.Read more…
Izabella relays a cautionary tale about one experience she had with a woman who came to her classes, and seemed like she didn’t want to do any work. It is an example that became a revelation to her and highlights the importance of not judging riders and of giving one-on-one attention to them whenever possible.Read more…
Last week Bill gave some diplomatic approaches to dealing with disruptive students. I’ve got a few more ideas here that range from serious, to humorous, to laying down the law of the land. How likely you are to encounter problems, and how you choose to respond to them, will depend on a variety of factors. It could depend on your market, the time of day, or the culture of your club. But make no mistake, it also is very much dependent upon the culture you’ve established in your own classes from day one.Read more…
We’ve all had moments when a student disrupts our class by talking a little too loudly. It annoys us, the instructor, because we lose our flow and concentration. We also know it annoys their fellow students and makes it hard for them to follow our cues, but what can we do about it? In part 1, Bill Roach discusses several steps you can take to keep students in line. Jennifer Sage has some additional advice that will be posted in part 2.Read more…
Instructors need to stay on their toes…you never know when one of your riders will know more than you do! Izabela reminds us that if you want to be respected, respect your riders by bringing your best to the table each time.
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In today’s article Apryl Stern walks us through a recent workshop she took on design thinking and helps us find ways to naturally create an overall experience that better fits our students, and gives them reasons to keep coming back. Grab a pen and paper and let’s get started!
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When is the last time you did something you had never ever tried that was so far outside your comfort zone that you considered backing out at the last moment? Nothing connects you to your new rider’s mindset like actually doing something new yourself. Here are a few things to keep in mind when teaching new riders.Read more…
As we age, there are structural changes that occur in the nervous system. Learn how indoor cycling can help with neurological deterioration, and use this information to attract more of this demographic to your classes.
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Learn how to “keep it real” in spite of being in an environment where other instructors tend to use techniques that are ineffective and possibly unsafe.Read more…