I had been to plenty of cycling classes before this one. I had sat through the militant instructors, rigid with instruction. I had pedaled through classes where the coach was crouched, hidden behind his music. But here I sit, perched on a bike in the center of the back row, vowing to myself that this would be the last instructor that I tried out. And in she walked–her confidence and comfort oozing out. I could tell, even from my seat in the back row and only from her entrance, that she was the instructor that I had believed existed only in myth. But there she was.
”‹Over the next few months, I attached myself to her classes and finally realized what it was about her that drew me in. It was her ability to blend the gentle with the firm. Before class started, she would move throughout the room, helping people set their bikes up properly, almost whispering them the instructions, making each person feel like they were the only rider in the room. This was the gentle–the ability to quietly coach in the time before the first beat dropped out of the sound system.
And then there was the firm. Once she was in the saddle and the pedals started to fly, her ability to coach and cue the ride was unmatched in the local market. Her vocabulary was rich with adjectives, and her verbs were more than variations on “be.” So, “You are climbing a mountain” becomes “You grind and claw your way up the jagged side of an almost vertical slope.”
Once the ride was over, she met each of us at the door to offer, again, almost-whispered encouragement. So, if I were to offer advice on captivating your audience, I would have to say that it starts before class, and it extends well beyond the cool down. And it is all about the balance.
Originally posted 2011-06-10 20:37:05.
Skilled at interpreting the needs of each client, a variety of consulting services can be tailored to meet your vision, budget and timeline.Whether spicing up a corporate franchise or launching an upscale boutique, Barbara and her team of experts will ensure your studio is the most popular ride in town.
Unlike traditional architects or interior designers, Barbara directs a successful
60-bike program and combines over a decade of teaching experience with cutting-edge design skills to create safe, versatile studios that accommodate a variety of ride styles.With an eye for details and cost-saving opportunities, her consulting services more than pay for themselves.
As a columnist and presenter for REX Roundtables for Executives, World Spinning and Sports Conference, MindBody, Club Industry Magazine, Mad Dogg Athletics and Indoor Cycle Instructor Pro, Barbara is regarded as a trusted leader in the industry.In addition to studio design, she offers class building workshops, grand opening rides and special event fundraisers.
Clients include:
■ Miramont Lifestyle Fitness, Fort Collins, CO
■ Gold’s Gym, Atlanta, GA
■ Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
■ Grit Cycle, Costa Mesa, CA
■ Mad Dogg Athletics, Venice Beach, CA
■ KOR180, Austin, TX
■ U.S. Army, El Paso, TX
■ Body Boutique, Lawrence, KS
■ Velo Vite, Montreal
■ Pedal Studio, UK
■ Paul Venning Fitness, UK
■ BodyCycle, Philadelphia, PA
■ Surge Cycling, St. Louis Park, MN
■ Half Moon Resort, Jamaica
■ U.S. President Jimmy Carter
■ Special Olympics, Vermont and Georgia
■ Cancer Coalition of Georgia
Contact Information
Email: Barbara@indoorcycledesign.com
Web: www.indoorcycledesign.com
Social: LinkedIn / Facebook
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