by John | Dec 30, 2011 | Latest News
You can register for our next LIVE online training scheduled for Sunday 7:00pm Central Time on January 8th 2012.
Learning to use Spotify Premium* is the topic. We will be reviewing everything you need to know to create and share playlists in Spotify and then deliver them to your class using your iPhone or Android smart phone.
Platinum ICI/PRO (yearly) members participate for free – use this link to register.
If you aren't an ICI/PRO member you can join the training for only $19.95
Or is first week of 2012 your time to join hundreds of other Instructors as an ICI/PRO Platinum member?
It's only $97.95 for the whole year (28 cents a day) and you will have access to LIVE trainings every month, dozens of Audio PROfiles, FREE music every week and informative articles that will have you teaching the class where they just may cheer you at the end 🙂
You can start your $1.00 – 7 day trial by clicking here.
*My apologies to those of you who live in areas where Spotify isn't available 🙁
by John | Nov 24, 2011 | Latest News
Two of the three things I'm most thankful for!
Today is our day of Thanksgiving here in the US… only problem is the whole concept of being “thankful” tends to be forgotten – overshadowed by food, football and the anticipation of Black Friday sales.*
Not in the Macgowan family 🙂
Amy won't allow us to forget. She has insisted, beginning on our very first Thanksgiving together, that we focus on who we are truly thankful for. Late this afternoon we'll all sit down for dinner and before we eat, Amy has us pass around a burning candle. We each take a turn where we tell everyone who we are thankful for and why.
Notice that I said “who” and not “what” we each are thankful for. It took me a while before I really understood the distinction of what Amy was insisting…
While we all can agree that being thankful for what we have is important, Amy's point has been that beyond our own efforts, it's the actions of the people in our lives who we should be most thankful for.
So, for example, being thankful for your job (a “what”) changes to being thankful for the person(s) who are actually responsible for providing you with a place to teach…
Maybe its your GF department head, who saw some initial talent in you and was willing to look past the fact that you had no certification and still hired you, all those years ago – thanks Kym. Or there's a good chance the reason you have a job at all is because of the enormous personal and financial risks the owner of your studio has taken. As I write this I'm struck with this question; does this mean I should be thankful for someone like Bahram Akradi who started LifeTime fitness? Yes, I think it does.
So while I was up early getting the “bird” prepped, I started to think through my list of people for whom I'm most thankful this year – which motivated me to create this post so I could express my thanks for them publicly. I don't have time for details but please know that I'm truly thankful for each person on this list – which beyond the obvious is not in any particular order – and if someone is missing please forgive the oversight:
- Amy Macgowan
- Abby Macgowan
- Carly Macgowan
- Don and Jo Paton
- All of our ICI/PRO members
- Bill Prior
- Barbara Hoots
- Chuck Cali
- Tom Scotto
- Gene Nacey
- Jim Karanas
- Laurel Mylin
- Cameron Chinatti
- Darrin Pelkey
- Sally Edwards
- Rick Goodchild
- Allen Jones
- Craig Andrews
- Angela Anderson
- Heather Sawdey
- Nina Israel
- Andrea Flaherty
- Doug Rusho
- Leslie Mueller
- Kym Jolstad
- Joe Ducosin
- Randy Erwin
- Dan Macgowan
- Steve Dimmick
- Colleen Mathews
- Christine Nielsen
- Bahram Akradi
- And none of us can forget Johnny G!
So who are you thankful for?
by John | Nov 17, 2011 | Google Music, Latest News, Music
More stuff to learn
The Google Music Store/Service just launched. As you would expect, I'm already anticipating your questions so I'm all over this.
Nov 16 2013 update: I have an article posted about the new Google Music All Access iPhone App
I already know that many of you would enjoy an option to iTunes or Spotify. So I started this morning at 5:30am and set about learning everything I can about Google Music. I want to be able to help you decide whether or not this new music service from Google is a good option for you as a Spinning/Indoor Cycling Instructor. I'm particularly interested to see if Android Phone users will finally have a service equal to iTunes.
You can learn more about Google Music here and get started if you are adventurous 🙂
Google Music, what I know so far:
- The primary service is “Cloud” based, which means the music files are stored on a remote file server up in the clouds. Google want's all your computer files; music, pictures, software, etc… everything on their servers, not on your computer. If you use any online email service; Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hot Mail – those are all Cloud based services. iTunes and Amazon both offer a similar Cloud based system. Why should you care? I'll be explaining that in a future post.
- Google Music's files are MP3's – already for MixMeiser
- The first file I downloaded was at a very high quality bit rate of 320kbps. I normally don't pay attention to bit rate but this got me looking to see how this compares to iTunes. See the screen shots below for comparison.
- Yes, you could probably dump iTunes and convert over to the Google Music Player – but don't do anything drastic just yet.
- Google Music free tracks! You can find here– but like iTunes, you need to set up your credit card for future purchases.
When I saw Google Music had opened my first thought was; “oh great, more new software to learn” 🙁 If you felt something similar while reading this, my advise to wait and see what happens. I will be creating a number of tutorials for our ICI/PRO members that will explain everything you need to know about using Google Music. Stay tuned…
If you are new here, might I suggest that you join the other 7,000+ Instructors who receive our free weekly newsletter?
by John | Nov 12, 2011 | Latest News
I know that Debbie Miller and everyone at Project VisAbility have poured their hearts and soles into the preparations leading up to today's big event. I want to wish them all Good Luck… although after seeing the level of preparation Debbie and her team has done, I'm confident it will be a fantastic event.
The actual event will be broadcast live today, starting at 9:30 Eastern. You can tune in here.
You can read more about Sweat For A Vet and their efforts to link fitness job opportunities with capable physically challenged instructors is one of the coolest things I have ever seen.
by Amy Macgowan | Oct 31, 2011 | Instructor Training, Latest News, Product Reviews
The Jersey is awake, but I'm not @ 7:00am
I want you to meet Moxie Cycling Co., a cycling apparel company made by and for women with moxie. Here's a link to their Facebook page.
Moxie is founded by Brooke Freiborg and Deb Amorde, two hard working entrepreneurs here in Minnesota who have designed performance cycling apparel that meets the unique needs of women.
Brooke and Deb have seen great success with their new jerseys and with the weather turning cold, they’re eager to introduce them to Indoor Cyclists. These smart women recognize that most all the major apparel brands offer a special Instructor Discount Program. So, beginning November 14th Moxie Cycling will be offering PRO members a special 40% discount on their fabulous line of cycling apparel.
I wore my cute diamond jersey for the very first time to my 715 am class this morning. Guess what? My class was awake!!! Upon entering the studio, three women immediately commented on how cute my “shirt” was. They REALLY loved it when they found out it was a cycling jersey. Four more women after class also commented on how much they liked it. (Could this also be a commentary on the boredom level of my current workout wardrobe?) I then taught my Barbell Strength class and had to give the Moxie information to a participant going on a bike trip next weekend!
Here's the great thing: to kick things off, Brooke and Deb at Moxie Cycling Co. would like some feedback from five ICI/PRO members (sorry guys- we have been buying scaled down men's jerseys long enough!) who would be willing to teach 3-4 classes and submit a good picture of you wearing your free Moxie Cycling Co. jersey. We are also asking that you participate in a recorded focus group call with me, Brooke and Deb mid-November over Skype. Because of the difficulty coordinating a call over widely spaced time zones we can only accept testers in North America.
Sound good? If you would like to participate please leave a comment below. We will then contact you by email for your shipping info.
Cute and functional – don't you think?
by John | Oct 28, 2011 | Instructor Training, Latest News
Why no Spin classes Jake?
Hey Jake,
Can you help me understand what you have against Indoor Cycling?
I see you riding bikes, running, chillin by the grill, playing golf and even yoga. But you're never seen participating in the #1 most popular group fitness activity of all time; riding with us in a Spinning / Indoor Cycling class.
What's up with that?
Simple oversight?
Or is there more to it?
I've been walking around with you on my head for years. I actually had an Instructor (Spook) at our last conference ask me; “where's that beat up Life Is Goodhat you're always wearing?”
We've been together for a long time - Dec 09
I had to tell him the truth that my favorite hat was no longer with us 🙁 My wife Amy actually bought me another Life Is Good hat, you're playing Golf… I don't play golf. So despite her nice gesture (she could't find anything else) I'm forced to go through life without you.
Me and a young you on a beach in Jamaica in 2006
If you're ever in Minneapolis I would love to have you try one of my classes. Let me know you're coming john@indoorcycleinstructor.com
