by John | May 16, 2021 | Instructor Training
Ed Hayes is a listener and member of our community. Ed Hayes is 75 today March 8th 2009 and to celebrate he taught a 2- hour Indoor Cycling Class!
Looking at his picture I'm guessing 75 is the new 50.
Check out his certifications:
ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist.
Reebock Cycling Group Exercise YMCA and Silver Sneaker Instructor Phase I & II and Yoga. Tai Chi is my real forte. I'm currently a level 6 master instructor certified through World Tai Chi Assn.
Originally posted 2009-03-08 19:10:36.
by John | May 16, 2021 | Correcting Form, Instructor Training
Myth: My students would prefer that I not suggest changes to their setup / bike fit.
Alternates of this Myth are:
- My students would be offended or embarrassed if I even touch their setup.
- Other Instructors may be offended if I make suggestions to their student's setup.
People are creatures of habit and routine. We all derive comfort from the familiar. Like robots, we try to do exactly the same thing every time we find ourselves in these familiar situations/places.
For the regulars in your class this means they get to the club at the same time, park in the same general location, attempt to get the same locker, find the same bike and set it up in exactly the same way, every time.
Unfortunately just because some behavior is routine, doesn't mean it's correct or for that matter rational 🙁
I'm going to assume that you do want everyone looking right and feeling comfortable on their bikes. So let's get past this myth if it's holding you back.
First, I feel it's important that you recognize the initial resistance to change your offer may receive. It may not be as traumatic as missing Judge Wapner was for Rain Man, but for some of your participants change isn't a comfortable thing. So your success will come down to how to presenting (dare I say selling) your “suggestion” properly.
A while back I wrote a post about the importance of asking the right question. In it I discussed how I'm frequently asked; “Where can I get certified as an Instructor?” My quick answer was typically to have them check with all of the Indoor Cycling certification companies to see when they were hosting a certification near by and sign up. But then I realized they weren't asking the right question. Sure, getting certified is important, but it wasn't what they were really looking for. The right question was; “what do I need to do to become an Instructor and teach a regularly scheduled class at my local studio?”
It's all about the Benefits
No one woke up with an irresistible urge to order a ThighMaster – but thousands of people did because they wanted Suzanne Summers' legs. What sold these worthless pieces of exercise equipment was that people are motivated by the benefits (real or perceived) that they feel they will receive by purchasing a product or making a change. Going back to my earlier example, telling someone at a party you're Spinning® certified isn't nearly as impressive as proudly explaining that you are the Saturday morning Instructor at the local Big Box club.
Am I making sense here?
So the right questions to ask a participant who could benefit from a little adjustment could be:
- Can I show you a trick (people love tricks) to be more comfortable riding today? It doesn't hurt if the benefit comes immediately either.
- I just learned a how a small change in your position can improve your hamstring engagement, can we see if it would help you become more efficient, powerful or help you develop more shapely legs?
And most of us need to hear about those supposed benefits, over and over and over, before considering they apply to us. So why not start sprinkling the benefits of proper setup / bike fit into your class intro starting tomorrow?
Originally posted 2012-12-05 05:57:12.
by John | May 13, 2021 | Product Reviews
As an aging cyclist, I see this as a huge improvement on the old foam roller. Lots more information available at the Trigger Point web site.
Originally posted 2010-09-17 16:22:16.
by John | May 10, 2021 | Engage Your Students, Instructor Training
I love seeing stuff like this!
ICI/PRO member Joe Ducosin was the front cover model of our local community magazine – you look great Joe 🙂
Joe's Cycle Quest Studio runs a regular weight loss challenge and it was featured in this article; Southwest Metro Fitness Challenges – Local gyms and fitness studios offer motivation for kicking your metabolism to a new level.
Pedal Off the Pounds
Duration: Eight weeks, beginning September 10.
Goal: Weight loss through exercise and nutrition
Reward: Participant losing the highest percentage of body weight in fat will win a five pack of classes
Brief description of program: Participants receive a professional fitness assessment and unlimited cycling and boot camp classes for the eight-week challenge at CycleQuest Studio in Eden Prairie, along with nutrition and fitness coaching. The cost to register is $275 (discounted to $250 if you sign up with a friend.) 6409 City West Pkwy., Suite 107, Eden Prairie; 952.236.7691
Next, our very own Indoor Cycling Studio Design Expert Barbara Hoots was published in ClubIndustry.com, the leading resource for fitness business professionals.
Barbara's article; Design Your Indoor Cycling Studio to Boost Momentum, Membership and Revenue
Momentum is important for organizations to survive their competition. Look at any successful product or service and notice the improvements made after the product is introduced. Club members are constantly introduced to new and improved products, yet when they show up at an indoor cycling studio, they face the same white walls, mediocre sound system and bike arrangement you had when the doors first opened. In order to maintain a competitive edge, club owners must constantly renovate, rethink and renew their cycling program.
You can read the rest of the article here.
Have you or your studio been featured in the media? Maybe in an article or on local TV news? If so then send us the info so we can promote you!
Originally posted 2012-11-29 08:48:41.
by John | May 10, 2021 | Your Fitness Business
I've been watching the steady growth of the Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) and was recently invited to join as a member of their Advisory Council. From the AFS press release:
NEWS RELEASE Nash, Macgowan Join AFS Advisory Council (CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, August 7, 2015) — The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) today proudly announced the addition of fitness industry leaders Frank Nash and John Macgowan to the AFS Advisory Council.
John Macgowan is a consultant and owner of Deep Breath In, LLC – publisher of ICI/PRO, the online Indoor Cycling educational resource for Cycling Studio owners, managers and Instructors around the world. He has been leading Indoor Cycling classes since 1997 – with certifications from Schwinn, Stages, Heart Zones, ICG, Life Time Fitness and Cycling Fusion.
“We welcome John Macgowan to our Advisory Council with open arms,” said Leve. “He’s a true indoor cycling guru, with a dedicated following. He will be a tremendous AFS resource for this segment of the studio market.”
ICI/PRO has been at the forefront of the explosion of boutique Indoor Cycling studios. Many successful studio owners can point to one of multiple interviews John has conducted, as being the “spark of inspiration” they needed to launch their new fitness business. “I love what I see AFS doing to help connect, educate and encourage independent fitness studio business owners,” said Macgowan. “There's power in numbers and all modalities of fitness will benefit from being a part of this well managed organization. As a member of the Advisory Council, I'm excited to help AFS develop the Indoor Cycling vertical within the umbrella of the greater association.”
History of AFS
Toward the end of 2011 two life long friends, one a fitness industry veteran and the other an attorney and business consultant, got together to fill a void they observed while working with colleagues and clients alike. Despite the major industry trend towards the development of freestanding fitness studios, there was a lack of support for the owners. The reality was these businesses — opened by great fitness professionals — could benefit greatly from the sharing of business ideas and best practices.
The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) is the only membership community dedicated to the business of fitness studios. We provide studio owners and developers a wide array of business-specific products, services, and benefits that will enable them to more effectively manage and grow their businesses, building on the passion, compassion and courage they’ve already shown. Previously, there was no such business-centric, trade association dedicated solely for fitness studios.
We created AFS to do for our members what studio trainers and instructors do for their clients — help them achieve their objectives.
Most of the challenges of studio ownership are universal. Through sharing of information, best practices and delivery of the tools necessary to enhance management efficiency, marketability, and profitability AFS is the direct link between studio owners, suppliers, fitness professionals, and consumers – connecting all segments of this vibrant industry. Welcome to the AFS community!
Mission Statement
The mission of the Association of Fitness Studios is to create a community of studio owners by equipping them with the tools necessary to enhance management efficiency, marketability, and profitability while promoting the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle through education, information, and technology.
My goal is to help AFS develop a strong & vibrant membership of all types of Cycling Studios. I'm planning an interview with AFS founder and CEO Josh Leve in the near future to help you learn more about this vital organization.
Originally posted 2015-08-11 09:13:40.
