I'm going to look forward to watching Sweat Inc. > a new reality TV show that's scheduled for the Fall of 2015. What sounds like a great opportunity for someone, is a cross between SharkTank and The Apprentice. Jillian Michaels' latest media creation will give aspiring fitness entrepreneurs the chance to show why their new fitness idea, will become the next SoulCycle or P90x …
Sweating to the newbies! Jillian Michaels is teaming up with Spike TV to find the latest fitness craze in a new reality series called Sweat Inc. Tried SoulCycle, Cardio Barre, P90X, Tae-Bo (and many, many more) and think you can do better? You’ll want to sign up for the reality competition.
“We’re gonna filter out the frauds and fads and ultimately we’re going to identify the next fitness phenomenon – someone who has the knowledge and the drive and the determination to build a brand that’s gonna become a household name,” Michaels told advertisers during a March 3 New York City presentation announcing the new show.
Michaels will host the show and, along with two other health and wellness experts, judge 12 aspiring fitness entrepreneurs as they compete to create the next industry phenomenon.
It's not clear how to apply to be on the show. I found it's produced by 3 BALL ENTERTAINMENT 3650 Redondo Beach Avenue Redondo Beach, CA 90278 Office: 424-236-7500
I got this email last week – but I can't divulge who it's from for reasons you'll understand.
Here's one for you, John:
We've got a new instructor here who has been teaching for decades elsewhere, but is now only at our club. I get complaint after complaint about her from participants the days I teach. I have encouraged members to share their feedback with management, submit comment cards, etc.
However, I wonder, is it ok for me to also share the feedback I've been hearing with management? It's a situation where I don't know if I should wait and let numbers speak for themselves or say something.
Sent from my iPhone
Dear Sent from my iPhone,
I'm big on teammates respecting and supporting each other. So my short answer would be along the lines of the Golden Rule:
Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you
> leaving you with two possible choices:
Say nothing to management
Speak to the Instructor privately after taking her class and express your observations
I happen to know Sent from my iPhone personally. She teaches at a very upscale club, whose members are professionals. I'm sure they have high expectations for Instructors = their concerns/complaints are probably valid*.
*I say probably valid, but you can never be sure. I'll never forget years ago I had female members tell me about a “horrible” new instructor. So I went and took her 9:30am class > which was filled with housewives. It took me exactly 3 minutes to figure out what was driving all the complaints. The new Instructor was; young, thin, attractive and had a very “perky” personality. There wasn't anything wrong with her class, except that she had the misfortune of replacing a very good looking male Instructor 🙁
IMO Saying nothing is always best
Staying out/away from situations like this is the best tactic you can take as a professional. It will also demonstrate your character as a solid human being. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who live for the drama and attempt to drag you into what would amount to throwing your teammate under the bus.
I don't feel what another Instructor does, or doesn't, do is any of my business. I hear stuff about other Instructors and classes all of the time. I try to keep my responses limited to, “I'm glad that you enjoy my class”.
Flip this around. How would you feel if another Instructor was “reporting” on you, based on comments from others?
Hearsay is inadmissible in courts for a reason
Hearsay, which literally means; “I heard him say…” is a form of gossip. Gossip that is often destructive to others and deadly to a small team of Instructors, or co-workers of any type.
If I was an owner or manager and another Instructor came to me with “concerns” they've heard from members, I wouldn't listen to them and my opinion of this person as a fitness professional would go down. Then I'd probably begin to wonder what he/she is saying about me, when I'm not around 🙁
We all need to be able to trust and depend on each other. Amy and I travel frequently = we needs subs. We are totally dependent on the comradery of our team to cover classes. If I heard that another Instructor was trash-talking me, or another on our team, I sure won't go out of my way to help them.
Why are you telling me this?
A good question to ask yourself, am I doing something to cause these comments?
I'm always curious when I hear that person “A” felt it necessary to report to person “B”, about person “C”. I don't feel that's normal. Something is causing person “A” (your reporting member) to come to you about one of your co-instructors. Any idea what it could be?
For example > are you telling riders during class, “I'll never tell you to do _______________ in class because its; dumb/unsafe/contraindicated/will cause your hair to fall out/etc…?
If you are, what's the purpose of saying it?
If you feel you need to get involved… get involved
There's nothing wrong with acting on the concerns you're hearing, to decide if they're legitimate. But you need to experience them first hand… as in go and take the class yourself.
After hearing for years about the untrained Instructors and dangerous classes being taught at SoulCycle, from people who have never set foot in a SoulCycle studio, I spent the money, took two classes, and reported on what I experienced in this series of articles. NOTE: There's a reason that studio fills nearly all of their 60 weekly classes (with 60 bikes) in a city that's 80 and sunny nearly every single day > Santa Monica, CA.
Stay incognito and keep an open mind
If you came to take my class, (and I don't know you) I would prefer that you acted like any other member. Please don't tell me, “Hi. I'm one of the Instructors here at XYZ Fitness!” Most of us will feel/act different when we know one of our peers is watching us.
Jump on a bike in the middle of the studio and do your best to be one with the class. If everyone is doing rhythm presses, except you, you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Worse if you just sit there motionless, with a defiant look on your face.
Take a few mental notes… some positive and some you felt were negative.
Then before you approach the Instructor, you need to do some honest soul searching.
Is it really my place to critique this Instructor?
What was really so bad about the class?
Did the participants enjoy the class?
What positive result will come from expressing my unsolicited opinions?
If you can get beyond all of that and still feel you need to pursue this with the Instructor, I can't help you.
My instinct is to stick with and support my teammates.
Hi John~ How have you been? It's probably been close to 2 or more years since I've touched base with you. I promised I'd let you know how my Total Rider In Motion Cycling Studio is doing as the years went by.
Here's my update: After two years of just getting by we, like many people, say “you learn from what doesn't work”. We found out that groupon works to bring new people in and we had a large rush and kept about 20-30%. We were in the newspaper, radio and TV too, but word of mouth is what worked the best!!!
We had too much overhead and although we were having fun, we were not making any money to take home. Brenda and I always said if it the studio wasn't for either one of us anymore we could just get out. So this being said, we did go our separate ways (still great friends) but I wanted to keep going.
I moved my business to another location near our last and instead of leasing I sublease (so much less$) from a gentleman that is also into fitness. My space is within his Boot Camp and PT establishment. This is a large warehouse area and the people just flow in.
I'm happy to let you know that after 2 1/2 years I now have sold out classes weeks in advance and am not just having a GREAT time, but making money too 🙂 I see only good things for the future and adding more Real Ryder bikes!!!
Thank you for all your encouragement when we started and wonderful advice at the ICI/PRO convention. I miss those!!
Be well! Say Hi to Amy….she too was wonderful to us!
Wishing you a FIT day! Darcie Adams
Congratulations Darcie! Your idea to partner with another fitness company sounds like it was a great decision. Seeing that your space costs are typically the largest single year to year expense, I'm amazed that I don't hear more fitness entrepreneurs partnering up together and share a studio.
You know we've gone mainstream when a large advertiser like Gillette, begins connecting their products to Indoor Cycling.
I ran across this article today in the online version of Shape Magazine. Seems like a typical bit of content designed to attract readers who have an interest in SoulCycle / Indoor Cycling.
Sure, sitting on the stationary bike and powering through a brutal “hill” climb in an indoor cycling class can be super challenging, but new research shows you’d be better off getting out of the saddle–even if that slows you down a bit. A recent study in The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research found that standing climbs and “runs” provide the greatest cardio response in spin class (compared to sitting) even when you're not pedaling at your max effort. (Check out 8 Benefits of High Intensity Interval Training.) You should, however, be sure to maintain good form while standing–if you get hurt, you won’t be able to ride seated or standing! Take these four tips from Kaili Stevens, a SoulCycle instructor in New York City, to heart next time you hop on the bike.
What caught my attention wasn't the article itself, but the image of a very fit and serious women riding a time trial bike – she's even wearing an aero helmet. The background gives the impression of power and speed. And there at the bottom of the image is an ad banner for a women's razor. That made me smile 🙂
I'm willing to bet that this post was created specifically as an advertisement for Gillette. Online magazines exist for only one reason, to make money. The bulk of their revenue comes from advertisers. Publishers like Shape have small armies of creative people who dream up ways to build promotions around advertisers. This article is a great example.
So my question for you. Is Indoor Cycling becoming mainstream a good thing?
I'm super excited to participate at IHRSA 2015 next week – this is the largest fitness equipment/programing and services show in the USA. Our industry is continuously changing and many manufacturers launch their latest and greatest at this huge event.
Amy is joining me again this year and we'd love to meet you! We get into LA Tuesday 3/10 morning and will be there until noon friday.
Here's the IHRSA promotional video – highlights from last year. I need to comment that Callie Bowling (a past guest on the podcast) picked out Amy and me registering last year @ 0:26 – recognising us both before she'd ever met us in person 🙂
First, who I'm excited to meet at IHRSA
I've know him “virtually” for years, but at long last I'll get to meet David McQuillen of Sufferfest video fame. He is traveling from his home in Sufferlandria (which is on the opposite side of the globe) and will be there – booth #2554.
Cameron Chinati, Laurel Mylon and of course Dennis Mellon from Stages Indoor Cycling – they were notably absent last year – booth #2735
Both of the Display Training companies; Shay Amir with Spivi and Tae Yoo from Performance IQ.
Candice Mason is the Director of Commercial Sales for Mad Dogg Athletics. I've had the pleasure to talk with her by phone and I'm keen to learn what studio owner resources they'll be offering at the show – booth #1135
My friends from Keiser; Darrin Pelkey and hopefully Dennis Keiser. Amy and I had a great conversation with Dennis last year and I'm very interested to get his insights on the state IC technology.
And now what I'm looking forward to seeing
Star Trac / Spinning® is displaying their new “Fusion Drive” belt drive option for the NXT and Blade Indoor Cycles. I'm hoping design engineer Justin Kleber will be there to give me all of the technical details.
I'm hoping that Les Mills will be displaying their new IMMERSIVE FITNESS video presentation system. I've heard nothing but, this is totally awesome, from anyone who's been to their Santa Monica 24 Hour Fitness club.
MINDBODY is launching MINDBODY for Box, which they say offers workout and performance tracking. I've got no idea if this is targeted at their boutique studio customers, or (as the name implies) it's only for Big Box studios… but then that's why I'm going.
Wearable Technology like the Pulse ON watch that can read heart rate optically, without a chest strap.
And there are always surprises.
I'm not sure why, but ICG isn't showing as an exhibitor this year – although they may be part of the Matrix display. And Schwinn/Stairmaster isn't listed as a vendor either… UPDATE: Thanks to an email from Merrill Richmond I now understand that Schwinn is exhibiting along with the other brands owned by Core Health & Fitness, LLC – booth 1135. Merrill is now the Vice President of Marketing for Indoor Cycling brands Schwinn and Star Trac.
Stay tuned – I'll be live blogging during the event. If you have anything you like me to look at for you, please let me know.
My college roommate used to turn down yogurt, saying, “I never eat rotten food.” Now, there may be reasons not to eat yogurt, but the fact that it’s rotten isn’t one of them.
Maybe a better term for “rotten” is fermented. Fermentation is highly beneficial for the digestive system, and we’ll get to that. Meanwhile, how do we know if we should eat rotten foods?
Problems with bloating, gas, acid reflux, constipation and/or diarrhea are a sign. Even problems that seem unrelated to digestion could indicate that gut bacteria are out of balance: skin problems (such as acne), sleep problems, headaches, urinary tract infections, weight gain, and strong sugar cravings.
About 85% of the immune system is in the gut, and gut health affects inflammation, allergies, and autoimmune responses.
Good Bacteria, Bad Bacteria
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As you probably know, we have both good and bad gut bacteria. The good should outnumber the bad by 6 to 1 (or better). Various environmental factors — pollution, chlorinated water, farming pesticides — may throw off that ratio.
Dietary habits can negatively affect gut bacteria. Such habits include consumption of sugar, alcohol, or artificial sweeteners in diet beverages, diet foods and gum. Processed foods in general wreak havoc on the gut and the immune system by triggering inflammation.
Taking antacids or laxatives can disrupt gut flora and, in a self-perpetuating cycle, actually increase the need for the products.
Use of antibiotics is known to interfere with the gut environment. That applies to antibiotics in any animal products we eat, not just to prescription meds.
So How Can We Fix The Gut?
Eat rotten foods. Fermented foods are powerful detoxifiers that break down and eliminate heavy metals and other toxins. Fermentation destroys pathogenic bacteria and optimizes gut flora, balancing the ratio of good and bad bacteria.
Fermented foods produce enzymes and probiotics that help with digestion and improve vitamin and mineral absorption. Fermentation can actually produce B vitamins (which fight sugar cravings). It also “predigests” foods so they’re more easily digestible.
Fermentation can regulate stomach acid production, increasing production when it’s too low and decreasing it when it’s too high. Fermentation preserves the nutrients in foods and can even increase food storage time and prevent the loss of nutrients.
Many countries have their own fermented favorites. Below are several fermented foods common in the U.S., with many more found worldwide.
– Soy is fermented to make tempeh, miso, or natto.
– Cabbage is fermented to make sauerkraut or the spicier kimchi, a popular Korean food.
– Milk is fermented for yogurt or kefir. Stay aware that flavored versions of these products contain sugar, which would seem to cancel some of the benefits.
– Kombucha is a fermented tea that contains small amounts of alcohol. Some people dismiss the alcohol in it as inconsequential. However, do what you feel is in your best interest. I drank it a couple of times and noticed a liking for it that made me suspicious. I stopped drinking it as a result, but that’s me.
Apple Cider Vinegar
No list of favorable fermented foods is complete without apple cider vinegar. The folklore around it is vast. Old, well-worn books describe apple cider vinegar’s value as both medicinal and preventive with daily use.
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, said to be antimicrobial and antibacterial. Cider vinegar has been touted as beneficial for heart health, weight loss, and even fighting cancer tumors. Some of these claims are inconclusive at best.
A documented benefit of apple cider vinegar, however, is its ability to decrease glucose levels in type 2 diabetics. It offers a similar benefit in non-diabetics. Of course, that fact alone won’t compensate for a diet loaded with sugar and/or refined carbs, but it does suggest that cider vinegar could complement a healthful diet.
Apparently, fermentation rocks. And my college roommate was off-target. Besides, she used to drink wine, and that’s fermented.
I guess the real rotten food continues to be sugar. Ya think?[/wlm_private]
