ICI Podcast #64 – Master Instructor Janet Toussaint on how to sell endurance training to your class

One of the things that most excites me about the potential here at ICI and the technology we are tapping into, is that we have created a platform that allows us to seek out and interview some of the most progressive and experienced people in indoor cycling and bring them to you, our listeners and members. Where else can you hear interviews with the pros on subjects that help you grow as an instructor? (Except at an expensive conference once a year!)

We certainly do not know everything there is to know about indoor cycling, but we know how to seek it out and bring it to you. I have so many mentors I’ve learned from over the years who I would like to bring into the discussion at ICI. With every new person we interview, you will learn a different style, a different approach, or perhaps a new twist on something you haven’t considered.

Today we are speaking with Master Instructor Janet Toussaint from the Boston area. I met Janet eleven years ago in Santa Monica at a weeklong Master Camp for Mad Dogg Athletics. Janet had joined the Spinning MI team the year before I did (and left MDA two years before I did). At this camp, the entire MI team had to go on a challenging 40-mile very hilly outdoor bicycle ride with Johnny G; many of us still talk about that ride to this day. (Those were the days – Master Instructors were expected to have at least some cycling skills and experience!)

Janet was always one of my favorite Master Instructors and her sessions at WSSC were riveting; there was something about her gentle but powerful voice that made you want to listen when she spoke. It was the teaching style that I wanted to emulate as I developed my own style.

One of Janet’s expertises is teaching endurance. She ran the Spinning program for years at the Boston Athletic Club and not only got the instructors to buy into the concept of teaching a moderate intensity ride, but the large member base as well. Now that is a tough challenge when all they seem to want is high intensity all the time – I am sure many of you are faced with a similar challenge.

In January of 2003 Janet came out to visit me in Vail on a ski vacation with her son JP. When we weren’t skiing, I made her teach Spinning at my club! We were in the middle of a base building program at the time so I had her teach an Endurance workshop to my instructors. She had such a positive impact on our instructors and our program and I still use some of her special cues and metaphors that she used to motivate riders.

When you hear Janet’s passion, I am sure she will inspire you too!

John and I enjoyed this discussion so much that we decided to go deeper into the subject of endurance and scheduled even more time with Janet. For ICI/PRO members, we will offer two additional podcasts that you will receive in your Super-Secret iTunes feed. The next interview will go more deeply into the essence of teaching an endurance ride. Even more exciting, the second one will be  an audio PROfile on Janet’s own favorite endurance ride, The Endurance Connection, replete with her all-star cueing, coaching and playlist.

If you have difficulty coming up with motivational things to say in your endurance classes, you won’t want to miss any of these podcasts!

Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using iTunes or Zune.
[audio:http://indoorcycleinstructor.com.s3.amazonaws.com/064_MI_Toussaint.mp3]

IDEA weighs in on the safety of the Biggest Loser

Many of you came to ICI via my Funhogspins blog (and for that I am grateful). For those who were following my former blog last year, you would have seen my post entitled Open Letter to Jillian Michaels following an episode of the Biggest Loser in which I could not hold back my disappointment (some would say ‘disdain’) for how she taught a Spinning class on national television.

IDEA posted a lengthy article discussing the training techniques employed on the show in their September newsletter. It’s a great article – but be forewarned, you might need to get a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) before settling down to read it. You’ll need some time…

As a personal trainer I abhor their methods on the Biggest Loser, but this article does shed some light on the fact that what we see is only a tiny portion of what is actually going on. Nevertheless, it doesn’t release them from the obligation of sound and safe training which I don’t believe is the norm on the show.

At WSSC this past May, there were two past participants from TBL – they even got Spinning certified! I spoke to them at length in the bar one evening, and they had only great things to say about their experience on the show (but to be honest, and maybe this is cynical of me, I had to wonder if they are ‘paid’ to maintain that viewpoint). They did take my Moving Mountains session and had a great experience – they even said they stayed seated for most of the two-hour climb!

I thought I’d put this here to generate a discussion. What do you think of the methods used on the Biggest Loser? Do the benefits outweigh the negative aspects? Or is it the other way around? Have you seen the crazy “Spinning” led by Jillian? What do you think of that?

For more posts from my Funhogspins blog about the Biggest Loser, click here for the follow up letter I posted, and here for a response to some hate mail from a Jillian fan. Don’t worry – if she does some crazy moves again in the Spinning room, I’m poised to respond again. But this time it will be a real letter sent directly to the show, and this time I’ll send it as a representative for ICI, whose goal is safe and effective training in indoor cycling classes!

Spinning – Star Trac Bike with Power? OK so when?

Ok, so Schwinn has introduced their new bike that includes magnetic resistance and Power indication (Watts readout) and are rolling it out at this year’s IDEA conference. Jay Blahnik is heading up their programing. (Yes, I’m working to get him on the Podcast…)
So where is the Spinning – Star Trac bike with power and watts? Or for that matter LeMond’s?
I have a hard time believing that Mad Dogg / Spin Fitness would cede this ground to their competitors. Indoor Cycling 2.0 is going to happen, with or without Spinning’s involvement. It will be fun to watch it happen!

Gene over at Global Ride has a whole studio full of new Keiser M3’s with power and he is leveraging all that information in a way that is increasing his participants fitness and enjoyment.

ICI Podcast #50 – Celebrating Independence (from Spinning) day!

Give up your Studio’s Spinning credentials because you want to use a different Indoor Cycling bike?

Blasphemy!

And yet Gene Nacey from Global Ride Studios has done exactly that. Gene is a firm believer in the value of Indoor Cycling 2.0 and wanted his studio to have bikes that include Gear Indication, Cadence and a Power (watts) meter. So he replaced all his Star Trac Spinners with new Keiser M3’s. His contract with Mad Dogg Athletics said to be a certified Spinning facility he needs to use only Star Trac bikes (which I feel is very restrictive and a bit silly). So he terminated his Spinning contract and is now a Indoor Cycling Studio.

Not satisfied with just changing out his bikes, Gene is working on some very interesting  programing for teaching and training on the M3 or other Power bike that he will share on his blog – http://cyclingfusion.com/fanatics/

Mark Dalrymple is a regular Global Ride student and also a professional photographer. He took this cool shot of the new M3 at the Global Ride studio.

Here is the link to the YouTube Video
Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using iTunes or Zune.
[audio:http://indoorcycleinstructor.com.s3.amazonaws.com/050_Podcast50.mp3]

ICI Podcast #48 – Master Spinning Instructor Jennifer Sage @ WSSC!

Master Spinning Instructor Jennifer Sage joins me to discuss the World Spinning and Sport Conference. Jennifer describes her experiences and talks about some of her sold out sessions.

Jennifer is planning to post much of the music and class ride profiles she used during the conference over at her site http://funhogspins.blogspot.com/

Here is the information about my new Red Pedal Tool we discuss.

Please sponsor me on this years MS150.
Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using iTunes or Zune. Here is a Step by Step Video that shows how to subscribe.
[audio:http://indoorcycleinstructor.com.s3.amazonaws.com/048_Jennifer_Sage_WSSC.mp3]

I’m not mean…just a little intense!

Amy found this hat on a Group Fitness Instructor site and thought some of my participants would want one.

Most Remote Listener Contest Winner

Congratulations to contest winner Judith Buckley!

Judith is a Spinning Instructor in Saudi Arabia where her husband maintains fighter jets for the Saudi Air Force! She wins a set of epicRIDES DVDs, courtesy of www.epicplanet.tv

I’m planning to interview Judith in the very near future. I’m very interested in hearing about the unique challenges faced by an instructor in a country that puts such severe limits on women. Here is an article from Reuters she passed on to me that illustrates what women in places like this face. Saudi Arabia clamps down on unlicensed female gyms

ICI Podcast #46 – Master Spinning Instructor Jennifer Sage is off to Italy!

Jennifer is off to Italy to ride the Giretto!

I had the chance to get an update as to her training and preparation for her participation in this year’s Giretto, a Livestrong fundraising event that is riding the first five stages of the Giro d’Italy ahead of Lance and all the other pros. ( They will be lucky to have Jennifer leading the way!) Here is her page at Cycling Fusion where you can support her in exchange for all the value she brings you as an instructor, through her Spinning Training and very informative blog.

We also discuss how to prevent a disaster with your computer by ensuring that it’s properly & consistently backed up. Here is the link to the page I created with links to all the services I use: http://www.indoorcycleinstructor.com/backup

If after listening to this you are thinking, “I wish I had a Brother Dan to fix my computer” you can. The guy is a magician with PC’s and can dig out and fix any problem you have, do it remotely so it doesn’t matter where in the world you live and he charges about 1/2 what you would expect from many of the computer stores.

You can email my brother Dan – dan@indoorcycleinstructor.com
Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using iTunes or Zune.Here is a Step by Step Video that shows how to subscribe.
[audio:http://indoorcycleinstructor.com.s3.amazonaws.com/046_Jennifer_To_Italy.mp3]

Spinning RideBook of class profiles

The Spinning RideBook is difficult to find at spinning.com. Here is the link:

http://www.spinning.com/spinning-shop-spinner-bikes/spinner-accessories-7320.asp

ICI Podcast #44 – Q & A with Master Spinning Instructor Michelle Colvin

Is there a Master Spinning Instructor in the house?

Actually there are two! Michelle Colvin jumps on the mic and we discuss the new Spinning RideBook of class profiles, Heart Rate Training and much more that will improve your Indoor Cycling class.

Here is Mark and Michelle’s home out in the country – West Sussex, UK.

Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using iTunes or Zune.
[audio:http://indoorcycleinstructor.com.s3.amazonaws.com/044_Michelle_Colvin.mp3]