Half Moon Sets Off Spinning® Programme
Our very own ICI/PRO Team Member Barbara Hoots announces;
First Officially Licensed Spinning® Resort in Caribbean
(I know how hard she worked and all the hurdles she overcame to make this a reality. I’m very proud of her + it’s going to be a great place to teach! - John)
Find a hammock for after your class...
From their press release:
Rose Hall, Jamaica (February 2009) – Half Moon, the luxury resort located in Rose Hall, Jamaica, has teamed up with internationally acclaimed STAR 3 Spinning instructor Barbara Hoots and Mad Dogg Athletics, developers of Spinning® to offer guests the popular cycling-inspired Spinning® classes. This will make the luxury resort the only Caribbean resort to offer this popular fitness programme.Equipped with 10 custom-designed Spinner® bikes and state of the art sound system in specially-designed Spinning studio, guests of the 400-acre resort can choose from three unique tours that invite them on a virtual experience of Jamaica.
The programmes Climb to Blue Mountain, No Problem Tour and Adventures in Negril were developed by Spin veteran Barbara Hoots and feature specially created soundtrack to inspire and energize riders.
Studio Design 101 by Barbara Hoots
After an exhausting but exhilarating week of grand opening festivities, I’m thrilled to unveil the new Spinning® studio at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN.
Transforming a basketball gym into an indoor cycling studio was challenging, but with the help of a passionate Student Activities Staff and talented Theater Department, the facility unfolded on schedule, came in under budget, and the final result was simply breathtaking. Students and faculty members were thrilled to return to campus to discover indoor cycling had arrived!
Kick off week included team teaching with five classes daily, self-guided scenic rides projected on a large movie screen, interviews with local newspapers, and best of all – athletic coaches began their spring training in the new Spinning® studio!
If you’d like to spice up your health club’s indoor cycling studio and create a wave of fresh excitement, try a few of these simple design elements I implemented at Lipscomb University.
ICI/PRO’s Top 100 Indoor Cycling Songs
ICI/PRO’s Top 100 Songs
– Want to punch up your playlist with some of the best music on the planet AND get the inside scoop on how to teach each empowering song? Thanks to a suggestion from ICI/PRO member Charles Farrow of Montgomery, Alabama, we’re going to collect 100 of the BEST songs ever recorded along with coaching tips from YOU – the most passionate instructors in the world!
Think for a moment…what is your favorite song – that little gem that creates explosive energy and reaffirms your commitment to indoor cycling? Now, here comes the good stuff….how do you TEACH that magical song to encourage your students and help them squeeze out every last drop of effort?
We need your help to create this golden list of inspiration. I’ll kick it off with my top five songs and the rest is up to you! Simply reply to this post - ONE SONG per COMMENT. C’mon, send us your best! (Duplicate songs are welcome as long as the teaching method is different.)
Update: Comments are closed on this post and Barbara has compiled the list for you. We ended up with 161 and here they are ICI/PRO’s Top 161 Songs
Sadness (U.S. Violent Mix) - Nine Inch Nails vs Enigma. Establish a seated climb for about 4 minutes and progressively load resistance with two or three gear shifts. When you hear Trent Reznor’s evil laugh at 4.15, transition to a standing climb, throw on more gear and attack for 1 minute or until end of song.
Let the Sun Shine (Rocco and Onno Mix) - Cevin Fisher/Scumfrog. Great tribal beat! Listen for two distinct intervals where the music begs you to add gear and come out of the saddle for a standing climb. After the first 2 minute hill, recover during the quiet portion of the song (great moment to encourage), then loop around and climb the same hill again, this time increasing the RPE. Music crescendos to indicate second hill approaching.
Riders on the Storm – Creed. This powerful cover of a classic song has two distinct climbing intervals and a recovery between efforts. Use this song to pass riders on the mountain or bridge the gap. Nice thunder and rain sound effects.
Fast Car- Hellbent Ryder 2006 Mix – Seated flat with increase in gear as music builds. As music explodes, step on the gas! There is a natural recovery during the quiet portions of this song. Use these recovery moments to encourage and hydrate. As the music builds again, repeat the interval with slightly more intensity.
Switch On – Paul Oakenfold – You can tell something big is going to happen with the great swells and build up. This is a perfect song to begin or end your ride!
Sneaky Little Tricks to Blow Up the Size of Your Class
by Barbara Hoots
Do you dream of teaching a kick-ass class in a packed studio with unstoppable energy? Follow my FIVE BEST TRICKS ON THE PLANET and I guarantee your dream will become a reality.
1. Volunteer to Be a Guest Speaker.
Last week I spoke to a local civic club on the benefits of group exercise and physiological effects of endorphins. While my
presentation was not specifically geared toward indoor cycling, I seized the opportunity to distribute free Spinning® passes and now
have six new students in class! Most civic, social, or religious organizations in your community are desperate for free guest speakers! Volunteer to give a presentation on the benefits of exercise and reap the reward – a full class!
2. Use Your Body
Amp up your Indoor Cycling class with time management
It is with great pleasure that I introduce Barbara Hoots, one of the new columnists at www.indoorcycleinstructor.com -John
It’s 5:30 a.m. and you can hear the sound of a low but persistent hum in the Spinning room. Listen carefully, and in between the grinding of flywheels you can hear the whispers, “Is she late…… again?”
Time management is the foundation for building the hottest class in the gym and is essential for creating student loyalty. In today’s rushed society, time is an important commodity that silently reflects your own attitude toward class. Imagine you were invited to a dinner party and the hostess was running late or forgot to prepare the entrée. Would you feel special, desired or respected? Take a cue from the experts in hospitality and prepare for class with the same zeal you would extend to guests in your home. Never expect your students to walk into a silent, sterile, empty cycling room and rave about your class.
The window of time before class begins is where most growth occurs. Arrive 30 minutes early and seize the opportunity to:
- Test the sound system and ensure microphone battery is fresh
- Crank up some background music to warm the crowd
- Adjust the air temperature
- Tidy up the room
- Offer water to new students if they didn’t come prepared (I always keep a case of water bottles on hand)
- Distribute guest passes so students can bring friends (make your own if your gym doesn’t offer a free cycling class pass).
- Dim the lights to establish an environment free of judgment (if lighting options are available at your facility).
- Start class on time!
Don’t believe me? Take the challenge! For one month make a conscious effort to improve your time management skills and extend genuine kindness to your students. Watch with delight as new conviction emerges and classes become energized.
What’s next? I’ll teach you how to spice up your class with a trick from the advertising boys on Madison Avenue…..trust me; you won’t want to miss this one!
Leave a comment for Barbara so she knows your were here.
Epic Planet DVDs
Global Ride DVDs
Endurance Films
ICI/PRO Members Links- Signs of Spring March 8, 2010
- Life Time Fitness Sets New World Record for Static Indoor Cycling Participants @ 1052 March 7, 2010
- Indoor Cycling World Record – History March 6, 2010
- Ten Easy Steps to Teaching Your Indoor Cycling Class About Nutrition – Part 4: Hydration March 5, 2010
- RECOGNIZING EXERCISE-INDUCED ASTHMA March 3, 2010
