The question I asked was “how many of you are training for something?”
Over 80%, of a full class with 50 bikes this morning, raised their hands indicating that they were training for something… I wasn't specific as to what, only are you training? Even though this wasn't my class (I was the Sub for a Sub) I know many of them and know that they are all telling the truth. For each of them, what they're “Training” for is a little different:
Steve is scheduled for his first Ironman in June. Steve's “Training” is to find the time he needs to develop his fitness, while balancing the needs of his family and work.
Susan plans to ride her first Minnesota Ironman. It's not a Triathlon, but a large charity ride on the last Sunday of April each year. The weather is normally not pleasant – it's typically miserable 🙁 Susan is new to riding outdoors and she is “Training” to have enough endurance to finish with her girl friends, who have much more experience than she does.
Neal is excited for a week cycling through France with 9 of his friends. Neal's “Training” is focused on dropping the 30 pounds he gained after foot surgery.
Randy is determined to hear a “nice pull” as he rotates off the front of the “A” group this summer. Randy's “Training” is to demonstrate that he has the fitness to stay with the “A” group, even though he is 63 years old.
Are you talking to your class as training endurance athletes?
My favorite is to say to my class “I came here believing you all are training endurance athletes…. It's up to you to prove that I'm wrong.”
What words and actions do you use during your class that communicate your belief in them?
My guest for this episode of the Podcast is Studio Owner Leslie Grosshauser.
Leslie launched S & L Tri-Cycle Fit Studio on the first of the year. I was excited to learn from her about a number of decisions she made, to differentiate her offering from other fitness competitors.
Key among them were the purchase of Schwinn AC Performance cycles and the Performance IQ on-screen display system of each rider's Power and Heart Rate metrics.
Here's more about Leslie Grosshauser
Leslie has been teaching and training in the fitness Industry for over 25 years. Inspiring the world to workout and have fun are the key ingredients in all of Leslie’s program. Leslie has a wide variety of experience ranging from Managing and Directing Group Exercise and Personal Training in Hospital based centers, National Fitness Chains and small Boutique studios.
Leslie loves the world of competition and that is why she is so passionate about S&L Tri-CycleFit studio. Leslie has always had a vision to create a place where people can get a great workout, have fun and fulfill their competitive edge. Leslie has been teaching indoor cycling for over 15 years, loving every minute of the ride, she has created several creative formats to keep people smiling and coming back for more!
Leslie is currently a Master trainer for Polar Electro, The Cardio GX Program, she is also a Master Trainer and Presenter for the Hollywood workout “Piloxing”, Leslie is also a Fitness Educator/Presenter for SCW Fitness Education where she presents several of her own programs and educational seminars around the United States. Leslie has presented at several of the major Fitness industry Tradeshows such as IHRSA, Club Industry, Athletic Business Conferences and several others. Leslie has presented Internationally for FreeMotion Fitness where she launched the Group Free Motion program that she created.
Leslie was the 1999 National Aerobic Champion and also competed in the world of Body Building. Leslie loves the connection that the group classes create and that is why she has dedicated her life to designing fun group exercise programming.
Spinning® studio owner Suzanne Olson, along with her 4 partners, runs Pure Energy in Paoli, PA . Suzanne joins me to discuss how she ensures a quality experience for her participants, in their multi-format fitness studio.
Meet Spinning® Instructor/Personal Trainer and Fitness blogger Darcy Knoblich!
Darcy is doing a fabulous job connecting with participants and other instructors, while promoting herself online through her websitedarcyknoblich.com.
I really enjoyed interviewing Darcy and I hope you enjoy listening to her passion for helping others 🙂
Our goal for this Podcast was to help motivate Instructors (that could be you) to get active online. There are multiple online tools available that are free and easy to use, like the blogging platform WordPress.com or Blogger.com.
UPDATE: A great promotional tool you could should leverage is creating your Instructor profile on indoorcyclinginstructorjobs.com where you can post your resume. Wouldn't it be awesome to get a call from an interested studio owner?
Your website may just include some info about you, your class format and your scheduled classes. Or you could really get into it and post your playlists, training information, feature some of your favorite participants or one of the Instructors on your team!
During our conversation I mentioned that I had started a blog back in 2008 – it was actually Spring of 2007. I checked and it's still there indoorcycletraining.blogspot.com/
Listen to Darcy's interview below or and never miss an episode.
When the world markets were crashing in 1929 and the American economy was in ruins, Angelo Siciliano, an Italian immigrant, saw opportunity in the face of darkness. In the midst of financial despair and against all odds, Siciliano pioneered the fitness revolution as we know it today.
As a young man weighing only 97 pounds, Siciliano was at the beach with his girlfriend when a bully kicked sand in his face. Humiliated, he began doing numerous exercise routines and became obsessed with strength. According to Siciliano’s memoirs, he was at the zoo one day watching a lion stretch when he thought to himself, “Does this old gentleman have any barbells, any exercisers?” Siciliano concluded that lions and tigers became strong by pitting muscle against muscle. He changed his name to Charles Atlas and in the midst of economic turmoil began offering bodybuilding courses through a mail-order fitness program. Advertisements soon appeared in comic books and magazines, and this was the beginning of Charles Atlas Ltd., the fitness industry phenomenon. According to Atlas’s 1982 biography, “Yours in Perfect Manhood,” his company did so well that it emerged from the stock market crash unscathed.
Before the Great Depression lifted, Jack LaLanne, often called the Godfather of Fitness, also influenced millions of lives by teaching people to eat right and exercise regularly. LaLanne, who died last January at the age of 96, opened the first American health club in Oakland, California in 1936. LaLanne spent decades spreading the physical and mental benefits of exercise and designed the world's first leg-extension machine which is now standard in the industry.
Neither Atlas nor Lalanne were personal trainers but rather shrewd businessmen. Both saw a hunger for people wanting to escape their financial woes and feel good about themselves. While others laughed at the notion of opening a business during an economic meltdown, Atlas and LaLanne created a multi-million dollar fitness empire.
Is something similar brewing? Despite the sagging economy and rising unemployment, several recent polls indicate that tough financial times actually encourage people to redirect their expenses toward health-conscious pursuits while traveling and dining out less often. While some may suggest that dropping your health club membership along with cable television is the right thing to do in a troubled economy, you should never give up your membership in ANY economy. Your gym membership is an incredible value for these 5 reasons:
1. On average, a single meal out costs well over half what your gym membership costs you.
2. Working out regularly keeps you mentally and physically balanced. Enough said.
3. No matter what gym you belong to, it’s a community. Enjoying like-minded individuals is good for the soul.
4. Your health club is a safe harbor. No matter how hectic your life becomes with interruptions, knowing you have a bike waiting in the 6:00 cycling class provides a constant in your daily schedule.
5. Exercise boosts self-confidence, and this is important if you’re dealing with the negative effects of a recession or your confidence is down due to a job loss.
Just like Atlas and LaLanne, studio owners have an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive by promoting fitness as a way to survive financial hardships. While it’s true that money can’t bring happiness, good health most definitely can.
Barbara Hoots is a long time contributor at www.indoorcycleinstructor.com and you can read her other articles here. Considering a new studio? Visit spinroomdesign.com to learn more about designing the perfect Spinning Studio.
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You’re passionate about fitness, you love indoor cycling and you may even be an outstanding instructor yourself. You recognize the amazing energy in a great class, and you’ve also seen a lot of poor or mediocre classes that frustrate you. Maybe you’ve wondered if a dedicated studio can make money?
Should you start your own studio? Great questions.
While not nearly as common as yoga studios, there are in fact a good many successful, dedicated cycling studios (and Spin® studios) around the country. We have worked extensively with a number of them, and in the right community, with the right model, these can be tremendous small businesses.
There is nothing more thrilling than waking every day knowing your decisions and actions are building a business, developing a community, making people healthy…….and generating a stream of profits!
Here is the first question we ALWAYS get asked. There is plenty of indoor cycling and Spinning® at gyms and health clubs in my area — why would people go to a new dedicated
studio?
4 reasons cycling studios are successful! – Free Registration Required – Click Here. Opens in a new tab.
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Dedication.For the same reason there are thousands of successful Yoga studios, despite ample yoga classes at gyms and health clubs — a dedicated studio focuses
on one thing. It pays attention to the details and delivers a more consistently excellent product.
Atmosphere.
Many people, for a variety of reasons, prefer a small intimate studio
to the feeling of a big gym or health club. As evidence, look at the vast number of Yoga, Pilates and personal training studios — despite the availability of those services at gyms.
Pricing flexibility.
Studios typically offer a variety of programs including “unlimited classes” or “pay-per-visit”. This variety and flexibility appeals to a broad range of potential clients. This service makes it easy to set up online payments.
Community.
There is a community spirit in a small studio attended by dedicated cyclists with a common passion.
The notion of a successful, dedicated cycling studio is not just a concept — it is a reality in dozens of instances around the country. That being said, the number is miniscule compared to the opportunity, and there is very likely a need near you.
As a young man weighing only 97 pounds, Siciliano was at the beach with his girlfriend when a bully kicked sand in his face. Humiliated, he began doing numerous exercise routines and became obsessed with strength. According to Siciliano’s memoirs, he was at the zoo one day watching a lion stretch when he thought to himself, “Does this old gentleman have any barbells, any exercisers?” Siciliano concluded that lions and tigers became strong by pitting muscle against muscle. He changed his name to Charles Atlas and in the midst of economic turmoil began offering bodybuilding courses through a mail-order fitness program. Advertisements soon appeared in comic books and magazines, and this was the beginning of Charles Atlas Ltd., the fitness industry phenomenon. According to Atlas’s 1982 biography, “Yours in Perfect Manhood,” his company did so well that it emerged from the stock market crash unscathed.
