by John | Feb 6, 2013 | Best Practices, Engage Your Students, Mental Toughness
Question from an ICI/PRO member:
Hey john,
I had a rider wearing a Timex HRM in class yesterday and it would not pick up her heart rate on the Keiser console of any of the bikes? It does work on other equipment in the facility (treadmills etc.)
Is there a reason for this? and what she should check if purchasing another HRM to look out for?
thanks
This had me thinking about my Grandfather John Sr. (I'm the third) who could fix anything. Whenever I had a problem with something, specifically a car with issues I couldn't correct, he would advise me to carefully examine any assumptions I was working under. He knew me well enough to know that I had a tendency to see problem “A” and assume it was caused by a failure in part “B”. So I'd start to tear apart “B”, find nothing wrong with it, put it back together and after wasting a few hours bring the problem to him.
Learning to challenge assumptions can be very helpful in situations where someone brings a problem to you. Most people will try to solve their own problem, before bringing it to you. Along the way they may have created a few assumptions that they will expect you to follow.
My response was…
I'm thinking that it maybe hard to trouble shoot this.
Before I'd do anything I would confirm that the strap is actually working at the time. I've had similar situations where a student says; “it works everywhere else” but that's in the past days or weeks ago… only now the battery is dead 🙁
Does the signal show on their watch, but not on the M3? Or if they don't have a watch have them go directly to another piece of equipment and see if it shows there.
If the strap works other places, but not the M3, as a last step confirm that the M3 works with another HR strap.
If everything checks out then I'd connect you with one of the smart people at Keiser.
Learning to challenge assumptions can be very helpful in situations where someone brings a problem to you. Most people will try to solve their own problem, before bringing it to you. Along the way they may have created a few assumptions that they will expect you to follow.
You need to be careful not to sound cynical or condescending when you question assumptions; especially if you're a man talking to a women*. Rather than saying; “are you sure the strap works?” which can come off negatively, I'd suggest something like; “how about we go over to that treadmill over there just to confirm everything?”
*Trust me on this one. I worked for a number of years at a service gas station (remember those?) and have a vivid memory of being accused of insulting a women, who turned out to be the best friend of the owner's wife, because I didn't appear to take her prognosis of her car's problem seriously.
As a follow up to the story, a response from Keiser…
Currently our display supports only Polar HRM. Unless the Timex watch has Polar
technology, it won't sync to the M3.Follow this link to our
website that talks about Polar:
http://www2.keiser.com/en/accessory_options/polar
Please let me or our service department know if we can help any further.
Kind Regards,
Daniel Meine
Engineering
Keiser Corporation
Did you know that? I didn't and I've taught on Keiser M3's for years.
by Jennifer Lintz | Jan 23, 2013 | Latest News
As PRO Member Soigneur, one of my responsibilities is the care and feeding of our members. I assumed any “feeding” that took place would be strictly informational, but I’ve actually got something edible (and free) for you to try. A company called Good Greens has a variety of superfood-rich bars — made with the health-conscious consumer in mind — and is offering you a free sample.
The short, fast way to understanding the company and its products is to watch this 30-second clip. And, just because it's neat, be sure to do some clicking and scrolling through the rest of their site.
Even though the founder created Good Greens with his daughter in mind, the bars make a great option for anyone in need of a quick, healthy snack. In my opinion, nothing will ever replace the simple goodness of fresh fruit and vegetables, but for folks who are running short on time — or maybe just don’t care much for the real stuff — Good Greens provides a nice solution in a wide array of tasty flavors.
Interested? Request a sample at this link. Just click on “Free Sample Sign Up,” select the flavor you'd like, enter your shipping information, and you're set!
If, after enjoying a free sample, you decide you want more, use their store locator to see if the bars are sold anywhere near you. Boxes can also be purchased in their online store and shipped directly to your door.
by John | Jan 20, 2013 | Engage Your Students, Featured Studios, Instructor Training
SoulCycle founders Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice
I'm really curious how you would respond; would you teach for SoulCycle?
But before you answer, imagine you had the following conversation at the end of your last class…
A women approaches while you're collecting your stuff.
“Hi [wlm_firstname].” “My name is Elizabeth Cutler and I really enjoyed your class tonight.”
You respond; “you're welcome Elizabeth.” “I enjoyed seeing your smile there in the back.”
Then she looks you square in the eye and asks a question that could change your life…
“I'm one of the founders of SoulCycle Indoor Cycling and we are opening a new studio near by, later this Spring.”
“Would you consider being one of our Instructors?”
Flabbergasted by her offer, you open your mouth to respond. But before any sounds come out she continues…
“I realize that you have a devoted following here [wlm_firstname] and I'll understand if you say no.
“Before you decide, I'd like to explain that our Instructors earn on average $50,000 per year, many considerably more, teaching 8 classes a week. We really want to keep you once we have you, so we offer a full benefit package that includes excellent health insurance.
“So what do you say [wlm_firstname]?”
“Are you ready to teach at SoulCycle?”
Want to teach at SoulCycle? Find Job Listings for SoulCycle, Flywheel, CycleBar and all other cycling studios.
What prompted this post is a fascinating article; The Carefully Cultivated Soul of SoulCycle in New York Magazine.
Do you have any participants like this person, who sounds like she's traded one unhealthy addiction for another?
“I would do anything that I could to afford these rides,” says 27-year-old Jaime, who often takes thirteen classes a week (estimated cost: $21,632 per year). She’s arranged her schedule to have Mondays off work so that she can always be at her computer the moment classes are released. She counts her instructors among her closest friends. Her social life revolves around people she’s met at SoulCycle. On the anniversary of her father’s death, her instructor had the class ride to “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot, one of Jaime’s father’s favorite operas. “I’m seven years sober. You don’t really get love and acceptance and encouragement and self-gratification from a cocktail,” Jaime says. “I mean, I … this is what I need in my life, and it just so happened it’s an exercise class.”
Interesting how the founders of SoulCycle split along the lines of Indoor Cycling 2.0 – entertainment based vs. results driven classes.
But as much as the performative aspects keep riders coming back, they have also driven more serious athletes away, often into the open arms of Flywheel, where a metrics-based workout is coupled with more self-restraint. Though Ruth Zukerman declines to discuss her exit from SoulCycle, some chalk it up to a difference in instructor style. “It’s a slippery slope, because sometimes when you build these superstars, it kind of goes to their head and they become divas,” she says. “Yes, be entertaining, be inspiring, but at the end of the day, it’s about the rider. It’s not about you.”
Now I realize that there are many who would recoil in horror at the thought of being affiliated with SoulCycle…
But why?
They're clearly offering people a form of exercise they enjoy and are willing to pay big money to attend. Spend a few minutes looking at the Instructor bios and you'll see most have the same (if not better) credentials than many of the Instructors that I know personally.
by John | Jan 20, 2013 | Calendar of Events, Certification
Not an ICI/PRO conference but maybe the next best thing.
Heart Zones and Cycling Fusion have teamed up to create TrainDifferent – what I believe is the very first fitness conference / workshop that offers you three different ways you can attend.
- CONFERENCE CENTER LIVE: From Oakmont, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at our Cycling Fusion Training Center, this will be the live conference that will be web-broadcast to the Official Host Sites as well as to the At Home participants. You will be participating and part of the televised audience.
- OFFICIAL HOST SITES: Locations across the USA are joining the Conference remotely with a combination of live instructors as well as web-simulcast. This is the best of both using the net and having certified instructors providing you with hands-on learning opportunities. Your workouts will be led by a CHZT, Certified Heart Zones Trainer for the workouts and the keynote lectures and party will be a web simulcast. There are still openings for additional Official Host Sites. Contact Sally Edwards for more information on adding your club or studio.
- AT HOME: Participate from your home or any place that has an internet connection. You can attend the Conference as it's happening or watch up to the next 30-days at a time and a place you choose.
HEART ZONES CONFERENCE FACULTY
Sally Edwards, MA, MBA, is one of America's leading experts in business, exercise science, and lifestyle living. In 1993, she created HZT, the Heart Zones Training patented and branded training system and in 2010 she launched the new ZONING Fitness program and brand. Sally, 65 years old, is a professional triathlete finishing over 200 raes and ultra-marathon running champion. She is an author of two dozen books including the popular Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook, the definitive source on heart-rate based training. She is the founder of the Fleet Feet Sports retail stores. Sally is a professional speaker and as she has for the past 22 years, she continues as the national spokeswoman for the Danskin Womens Triathlon Series.
Gene Nacey, MPH holds 2 bachelor degrees and a masters degree in Public Health. A former entrepreneur of the year, Gene spent 20 years building a technology business before his passion for fitness lead him to become a fitness studio owner. His company has licensed the rights to be the official cycling program for Heart Zones as Cycling Fusion. Gene is a certified USA Cycling coach and one of America's premier fitness experts with a specialty in using heart rate and power data for improved cycling. He is the author of the popular ebook Power Training .
Carl Foster, Ph. D. is a Professor of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse. He is the co-author of Be a Better Runner, and is a renowned researcher with over 300 published scientific papers to his credit. For the last 20 years he has served as a consultant, faculty member and friend of Heart Zones USA, the training and education company. He continues in that role with the company's new division, ZONING Fitness, asuring that all activity protocols are safe, research-based, and appropriate for individuals.
Where to Attend? Official Host Sites of the remote broadcast are in the following areas: Peachtree City (Atlanta), GA; Bellevue (Seattle), WA; Boston, MA; Lakewood (Denver), CO; San Francisco, CA; Milwaukee, WI; New York City, NY; Rochester, NY; and Oakmont (Pittsburgh) PA. More locations will likely be announced, too! Specific site details are presented below.
All the information on CECs, locations, times and delayed broadcasts options is available here.
by John | Jan 13, 2013 | Instructor Training, Latest News
I promised we'd be offering full transcriptions of our best Podcast interviews and here they are!
You will find them by following the Transcription tag which will identify those Podcast interviews with a companion printout you can read online or download.
It takes about two weeks for the service we use to transcribe these and Jennifer will be adding them continuously in the future.
Look for transcriptions of past interviews from Jay Blahnik and Lawrence Biscontini in the near future.
by John | Jan 13, 2013 | ICI/PRO Community, Latest News
I'm very excited to introduce you to Jennifer Lintz the latest member of the ICI/PRO Team!
Jennifer's official title is PRO Member Soigneur and she's available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have – but no, she isn't available for post race massages.
A Registered Dietitian, Jennifer is currently serving on the team of Group Fitness Instructors at Mayo Clinic’s Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center. She also works as a Freelance Writer for Indiana University Health’s Team: Bariatrics Blog.
She is an AFAA Certified Group Exercise Instructor, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, and Mad Dogg SPINNING® Instructor. Jennifer completed her Dietetic Internship at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview. She has worked as the Healthy Kids Act Co-Project Director for the Iowa Department of Education and also as a Health Screener/Coach and Seminar Presenter for HealthSource Solutions.
Professional cycling teams have one or more Soigneurs. These personal assistants are dedicated to looking after the needs of each rider. In case you're wondering; “how exactly do you pronounce Soigneur” like I was, this video from Team Jelly Belly will be of help.
I've known Jennifer for a number of years and interviewed her back on podcast #169 after she had completed her Spinning orientation. You can read her past articles here.
I'm very excited to have her on board here at ICI/PRO to assist both of us! I have her working on a number of enhancements to ICI/PRO and you will begin seeing them starting today.
