Shannon Fable, Co-Founder and President of GroupEx PRO Group, has published this informative presentation directed at Instructors and studio owners/managers:
How to Keep Crowds into February
January is such a great time of year for Fitness Professionals, especially group fitness instructors. Studios are packed and there are tons of new faces! And, as a GFM, I’m sure you are searching for ways to keep the excitement alive well past the January rush. We thought you’d appreciate this webinar we recorded a while back right about now!
Click the video below for 3 quick tips to capitalize on the New Year’s influx. We hope you enjoy. This was part of a series we hosted so you will hear mention of the next topic. We will be sending you this one, as well, so stay tuned! Just a small way to say thank you for what you do … GroupEx PRO is dedicated to helping make managers' lives easier in 2017!
Talking after class with members, is an infinite source of feedback for me. Today was a great example.
My friend Georgia Green and her friend Mark were in class this morning. You met Georgia and learned about her and Mark's plans to ride 10,000 miles this summer in Podcast 342.
After class Georgia commented; “how do you (meaning me) ride with such a stable upper body?” I don't see many Instructors, or participants who can do that. My response was that after 20 years riding and racing bicycles, my legs tend to work pretty well together 🙂 Explaining more, I offered that excessive upper body movement is often the result of some muscular imbalance while pedaling = each leg's force is balanced by an equal, but opposite force from the other, throughout the pedal stroke.
While I appreciated her comment, on my way home it got me thinking:
Am I too solid/stable when I'm riding?
Should I move more? Perhaps even extenuate my movements, to communicate my effort using my body?
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']Road cyclists have very little upper body movement while seated, even when they're producing crazy wattages. This video does a nice job demonstrating how stable these Pro's are when they ride. In the run up to the sprint finish they're probably going way over 30 MPH = a continuous 350 watts or more.
Switch now to this short video and you'll see where “if you don't do it outside, you don't do it inside” really doesn't apply.
Watch how Spinning® MI Mike Michaels moves side to side – a lot. I'll bet he doesn't do that on the road – it wastes too much energy. Here's another showing something similar, this time from Josh Taylor:
All that movement is show, right? Josh, as an experienced bicycle racer, wouldn't move like that in a race > the people he's riding with would think there's something wrong with him. I don't know about you, but watching Josh's movement has me wanting to move along with him. Which I guess is the point of this article; Just sitting there and pedaling smoothly may have you looking like a Pro out on the road, but you're riding inside.
How can you tell if you're moving?
Mike and Josh have an advantage over you and me > they have been filmed presenting multiple times. So they get to watch themselves and, seeing what they look like riding, they can visualise changes they can make to ride with additional… I think the word is flourish.
Have you ever filmed yourself? This could be another reason to rig up a simple stand for a cell phone and then watch how you move. Even if you don't go the video route, you might try adding or accentuating your upper body movement. Adding a little extra flourish just might give your class a reason to follow you.[/wlm_private]
I'm going to attempt to do this in my future classes. Are you willing to give it a try?
The computer industry has an acronym: G.I.G.O which stands for:
GARBAGE IN = GARBAGE OUT
It refers to the idea that if your input data/information is inaccurate (GARBAGE IN), then any computations, using that inaccurate data/information can't be anything other than GARBAGE OUT.
Over the years I've come to believe that you should carefully consider G.I.G.O as it could apply to the Heart Rate & Power training you offer in your classes.
Spinning® Master Instructor Danielle Foster alerted me to this article: Three Reasons To Rethink Heart-Rate Training from running.competitor.com. While they don't identify G.I.G.O by name as the cause of their concerns, a quick read through their list shows, and I'm confident you'll agree, that's the case…
1. Fluctuations Do Not Correspond To Effort Levels
Perhaps the biggest limitation to heart-rate training is that many changes in your heart rate do not correlate to your fitness level. Sleep, stress, and dehydration can all raise or lower heart rate on any given day. As normal people with jobs, families, and otherwise busy lives, these outside influencers are common and can have a drastic affect on your heart rate readings.
“Sleep, stress, and dehydration can all raise or lower heart rate on any given day.” I don't know about you, but if I don't get enough sleep I can feel like >>> GARBAGE. So anything my HR Monitor or Power Meter shows me will be potentially inaccurate. Same goes for; stress, hydration levels, illness, training frequency / amount and also if you're in the doghouse… because you forgot your wedding anniversary.
2. Lack Of Concrete Data Needed To Establish Training Zones
Another inherent drawback to heart-rate training is how difficult it is to establish your max heart rate and the accurate training zones that result from that figure. While a quick Google search reveals a myriad of formulas to help you find your max heart rate, the problem with formulas is that they are based on an average. What if you’re not average? Not only that, but is maximum heart rate really the best predictor of training zones?
Sally Edwards says using shoe size would be as accurate a predictor of maximum heart rate as any age predicted formulas. So what should you use to determine your training zones? If you're really serious, I'd take a graded exercise metabolic assessment. Yes they're expensive and you might have to travel a ways to find a provider.
What about a the 20 minute threshold field tests other's promote? They may work for the true endurance athletes in your classes. It's only after hours and hours of training that most have the fitness, and have learned to tolerate (and enjoy) the pain, that is working at threshold continuously for 20 minutes. Without either, your riders are probably not really finding their actual threshold HR or watts = G.I.G.O. Any zones they build from GARBAGE will be… GARBAGE.
Were always adding new members, so in case you missed (or haven't found) my series of posts from 2011. They describe why I don't feel long threshold field tests get the results we intend.
I spent the morning volunteering at the Life Time Fitness Commitment Day 5K run in downtown Minneapolis. It was the perfect morning to prove your commitment to fitness; sunny and 10° below zero… that's -10° Fahrenheit = painfully cold.
That's why the smart people like me volunteered, so we could stay inside where it was warm 🙂
I came home to a nice note from long time ICI/PRO member Charles (Spook) Hilgartner.
Hey John,
Good morning and Happy New Year.
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed and how educational your recent Podcasts with Tom, Jay and Gene. Jay's idea of observations that would carry to real usage was really good. I never heard it approached like that. Or maybe it was in a previous one that missed. After Tom's session on new riders, I changed the name of my beginners to “Foundations” and reshaped it a bit.. Thanks for that! Finally, Gene's session on new riders. It too was really good. I was also pleased that I really was doing some of his ideas.
As a note I never ask new riders especially “How did you like the class”. It puts them on the spot too much.
Stay well,
Spook
I couldn't agree more Spook – people (especially new students) aren't comfortable responding when asked a direct question that requires them to offer a judgement or critique someone. Those who do will probably tell you what they think you want to hear.
But as Instructors we benefit from valid feed back. So what or how should we be asking for it?
Circling back to Life Time, they're big on using the Net Promoter Score system:
Know the score.
The Net Promoter Score, or NPS®, is based on the fundamental perspective that every company’s customers can be divided into three categories: Promoters, Passives, and Detractors.
By asking one simple question – How likely is it that you would recommend [your company] to a friend or colleague? – you can track these groups and get a clear measure of your company’s performance through your customers’ eyes. Customers respond on a 0-to-10 point rating scale and are categorized as follows:
Promoters (score 9-10) are loyal enthusiasts who will keep buying and refer others, fueling growth.
Passives (score 7-8) are satisfied but unenthusiastic customers who are vulnerable to competitive offerings.
Detractors (score 0-6) are unhappy customers who can damage your brand and impede growth through negative word-of-mouth.
To calculate your company’s NPS, take the percentage of customers who are Promoters and subtract the percentage who are Detractors.
Rather than asking the question in person, you may get a more accurate response from handing out cards with this question, at the end of class.
Are you doing anything like this in your studio [wlm_firstname]?
Occasionally I'll see stories pop up where a class participant writes a review of an Indoor Cycling class he or she took. What makes this review noteworthy is that Bryan Ganey, the writer of this review, has lost an incredible 400 pounds and has written a book about his surgery-free, weight loss journey.
First Bryan's review of CHS Revolution and then more about Bryan below.
Review: The CHS Revolution indoor cycling studio in Charleston, SC
Tired of the same boring workout on the treadmill or the elliptical at the gym? Well read on, my friends.
I had the pleasure today of visiting the CHS Revolution indoor cycling studio in downtown Charleston, SC. I was contacted by their fantastic PR person Demi Bean and asked to bring my friends to try out their studio and write a review. This is my review.
… My group was 8 people strong, including my friends, myself, Demi and Katie. We were all set. They took us into the workout room where all the spin bikes were. Katie [Instructor Katie Blaylock] took her place up on the platform in front of the room with her headset and tablet, which appeared to control the music and lights. It's all very state-of-the-art. Katie explained how everything worked and Demi helped me set the height on my spin bike. We were off and running.
Once the music started and the workout began, it became clear that I was going to sweat – a lot. You want a full body workout? This is it. Katie had us speed up, slow down, increase the resistance using the knob on the bike (“a quarter turn!”) Stand up. Sit down. Katie worked us hard and I loved it.
Then she had us do push-ups of sorts on the bikes as we were pedaling. I love this. Make it harder! The 45 minutes went by in a flash and then, near the end, something I loved: resistance training. They had 2 small weights (5 pounds maybe?) sitting on the bike to use. You can get an incredible workout lifting small weights repeatedly and Katie worked us out good.
The whole workout was a real rush. In addition to revving up your metabolism, you're getting an intense cardio workout as well as arms, legs and upper body. I've never sweat so much during a workout in my life.
I find reviews like this very refreshing. It doesn't sound like he has had much exposure to Indoor Cycling. I'm guessing Bryan was completely sold on CHS Revolution and Instructor Katie Blaylock, by the end of class.
This 4:28 minute video about Brian overcoming his lifelong struggle with his weight is very inspiring.
If you're interested in learning more about his book; IMPOSSIBLE: How I Lost Nearly 400 Pounds Without Surgeryhere's the link to his page at Amazon.com
After attending ICI/PRO Conference 2010, Kathy Ehrlich-Scheffer and husband Matt were motivated to open their own studio. In her words, “to bring the best the industry has to offer to our riders.” And to her credit, she has done just that. Kathy and Matt opened Cycledelic, their vision of an indoor cycling studio on the well known 12 Corners in Rochester, New York. To say that this studio is unlike most would be an understatement. Kathy and Matt have seen to every detail. This is clearly evident from your first step inside to toweling off before going on your way.
If you are an indoor cycle instructor with a bent toward showmanship, 😉 this studio is Nirvana to to teach in. Kathy had shown me the studio shortly after opening and I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to get my butt up on her stage.
Opportunity knocked, the weekend of Cycledelic's first anniversary (Saturday, October 20, 2012) as that date was juxtaposed with Rochester Institute of Technology's parents weekend. Since our son's a freshman there, my trip was preordained. I invited myself to do a guest instructor class that day.
Rochester is also my home town having moved to the San Francisco bay area 25 years ago. Ah, when the stars align. Knowing the sleep habits of college students, I figured I'd be able to have a fun workout with the crew there on the 12 corners before my student saw the light of day. Kathy was all for it, immediately replacing husband Matt's 0800 class with my name.
I stopped by Cycledelic the day before to check it over. Turns out Matt has thought of everything. Their projector is HD, the perfect size 16:9 screen, lighting controls like I have only seen at concerts, plenty of wall mounted fans and a sound system that leaves nothing to chance. I had iPod Classic, iPad and MacBook Pro all going simultaneously.
The theme for my ride was, Indoor Cycling, From Then to Now. The idea was to silhouette how technology has enhanced the experience instructors can create for our riders. The Cycledelic studio was engineered perfectly for such a show. Right down to the right mix of color from the baseboard lighting. I was in heaven.
Kathy did a great job of promoting my visit, resulting in a full house. The 70 minute presentation/ride came off without a hitch even if I did not quite sync my class builder app (providing me with cue information) with my Mac which was providing video and sound.
After class, Cycledelic provides three shower rooms with towels for those that need to head off smelling all fresh. There is not one client comfort that Kathy has not thought of. She personally maintains her bikes insuring her customers that all the great metrics work. Kathy is very selective with who gets to instruct and how they deliver. And, conveniently located in the same strip mall is Starbucks where we convened post ride to pat ourselves on the back and celebrate the anniversary.
If all this is sounding a bit like a travelogue it’s not. (Yet if you find yourself in Rochester, New York don't miss a visit to Cycledelic)
A couple of points.
First it is the ‘boutique studios’ like Cycledelic that are blazing the trail for Indoor Cycling 2.0. We cannot thank them enough. Boutiques are doing what the big boxes are very slowly realizing, differentiation by technology. Those of us working in big box gyms can attest to the lethargy of change at these bottom line oriented facilities.
What I’m saying (my second point) goes to my earlier post (A Good Reason to Come Back – October 2012). Simply stated, boutique studios are compelled to provide their customers with a good reason to come back. They must – at every level – provide the service that their customers are willing to keep paying for, or close the doors. Essentially that translates to, incredible customer service, effective training, incredible customer service, entertaining distractions and, incredible customer service.
As I type this Kathy is posting to the Cycledelic FaceBook page photos and videos of their Halloween ride. It was another sold out room for a fun filled 90 minute workout set to the music of the eighties.
Kathy can't teach all the classes. She is, after all, a woman balancing the responsibilities of mother, wife, daughter and business. So who she chooses to put on the stage at Cycledelic must understand the meaning of ‘on stage’. It is not just about the training but also the performance. She has found it difficult to find such instructors.
My greatest worry before teaching my class at Cycledelic was not about the workout but rather, letting Kathy down by not providing a remarkable experience for her customers. Hopefully that's what happened. In my opinion that's how it should be, wherever we teach, for all of us, all of the time.
