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In: Free Articles, My Cycling Class Today, New Instructors
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In the twenty years I’ve been a master instructor educating indoor cycling instructors around the world (first for Spinning®, then for the last five years with ICA), I’ve come to know what challenges many instructors are struggling with. I’ve often had a revelation while teaching one of my own classes that I’ve thought would be helpful for other instructors to know about.Read more…

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In: Class Profiles, Music Resources, Theme Ride Thursday
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This profile was written for my Tuesday endurance class in honor of Valentine’s Day. While typical endurance classes are over an hour, we’re limited to 45 minutes since this is an early morning class. (Bless their hearts for waking up so early in the morning and spending it with me!)Read more…

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In: Biomechanics, Cadence, Power, Free Articles
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Unfortunately, many instructors and participants are intimidated by power at first because they think it’s too technical, too complicated, or only useful for “serious” cyclists. But once you understand the basics, it’s actually a very straightforward tool, and a great way to challenge and engage participants, regardless of whether they ride outside or not. Here are five ways teaching with power will be a game changer in your teaching.Read more…

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In: Class Profiles, Theme Ride Thursday
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This creative and fun profile explores the sensations that go along with the “He loves me, he loves me not” game—where you pull petals off a daisy and the last petal is the one that applies to your current crush. The music reflects these two alternatives, which should have your riders alternating between pain and pleasure. Read more…

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In: Communication and Presentation Skills, Free Articles, Guest blogger, Instructor Issues & growth, New Instructors
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Guest contributor and ICA member Izabela Ruprik has been collecting indoor cycling certifications over the past few years (about to take her 7th cert)! She attended a class the other day and came away frustrated so she wrote about her experience. She wanted to share this very important message with all instructors from every program: Always share what the purpose of your workout is with your riders!Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Communication and Presentation Skills
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Do you like to be yelled at or do you like to be listened to? Will you perform better for someone yelling in your ear, or with gentle encouragement from someone you trust? I ask you to consider the idea of “gentle coaching” as you develop your own unique coaching style. Even if your natural style is more authoritative, you may find some ideas here that will help you personalize and expand your appeal to your students.Read more…