by Joey Stabile | Aug 29, 2020 | Engage Your Students, Instructor Tips and Tricks, Instructor Training, Motivation
This week I have the extraordinary privilege to be working from my balcony in Punta Cana. I have never been to an all inclusive resort before, and it is quite the experience. The grounds are beautiful, you can go to any of the many restaurants or bars on the property, and there always seems to be a smiling face nearby ready to wait on your next need.
Last night we attended an outdoor band that was playing and there were six younger people that were hired by the resort to provide entertainment and get the crowd dancing etc… While all of them were great dancers, the lead young man was simply incredible. His feet were light and fast, and yet somehow thoughtful and deliberate. He was smiling from ear to ear, and seemed to be having as much fun doing his job as we were joining him on the dance floor. As talented at this young man was, one of his gifts seemed to be the ability to dance with a wide range of partners (guests that he would engage) and have them seem comfortable and loose. You could see the transformation in the people in only one minute: they went from thinking “oh, no, I can't dance with him, he is too good” to relaxing and enjoying themselves and then going back to their tables only to return to the dance floor with their spouse or partner.
It really got me thinking about customer service and how that impacts our industry and profession. Yes, being an indoor cycling instructor is, well at least should be, a profession. We have customers (riders) and it is really our job to guide them through this fitness experience that we have (hopefully) spent time and effort creating. In many ways, we should be presenting an image similar to this young man's for not just our riders, but all of those that are in the club or studio.
As with any great performer, his performance moved me, and has me thinking….Am I providing a high quality performance for my riders and most importantly, am I providing that experience to most of my riders or only just a few? As with most instructors, I have a core group of 10 or so people (about a third of the class) that seem to be in all of the classes I teach. They are all cyclists (they ride outdoors) and they work hard, they work very hard. They are inspirational to teach to and certainly in the midst of a very tough set they help to get me to the other side. But what about the other 20 or so people in that room? I am reaching them? Is my class actually fun and enjoyable, or has it become a 60 minute grueling experience?
I have often heard group exercise instructors talk about the class they just delivered and the gist of the conversation always seems to revolve around “killing” the people, or it being the “hardest” class they have had or something similar. Very rarely, if ever, do you I have pleasure of hearing about how they had the entire class pedaling to the beat and enjoying themselves. I am not sure that I myself have ever measured the success of one of my classes by the number of smiles I have seen on the participant's faces; but perhaps I should. Some, well really most, of my riders will never be on a triathlon course, so I should be mindful about training them like they headed there in three weeks.
So I challenge you, take a few moments and think about your next class. Are you providing great customer service? Are you including most of the riders, and not just your hardcore following? Are your riders having fun? As for myself, when I return I plan to taking the time to be sure that I am dancing with all of my customers, not just the cyclists!
Originally posted 2018-04-02 07:00:10.
by John | Aug 20, 2020 | ICI/PRO Community
I can't decide if I prefer the blue/green or the red/blue. What do you think?
Originally posted 2009-10-20 07:10:15.
by Jim Karanas | Aug 17, 2020 | Engage Your Students, Indoor Cycling Group - Team ICG, Master Instructor Blog
Susan? or Bob?
It’s a given that different people come into our classes with different expectations, needs and goals. How can we as instructors/trainers accommodate their individual needs without alienating any single group?
Let’s take two hypothetical participants — Susan and Bob. They’re the same age, but Susan is interested primarily in weight management, arguably the most common fitness goal, while Bob is interested in getting stronger, fitter and faster on the bike because he rides outdoors frequently and races regularly. Can these two find happiness in the same indoor cycling class?
I’ve resolved this with a reasoning that works for me. First, I needed to define my professional role as I see it, which may differ from how the fitness industry sees it. As an instructor/trainer, my job is to create a situation and an environment in which members can experience the benefits of physical exercise, and nothing more. Which benefits these are will vary with the individual, and it’s important that I never assume what they could or should be.
Even though Susan tells me she wants to lose weight and Bob says he wants to race bicycles, I know from experience that what the members want is often far removed from what they need, regarding the benefits that training has to offer. Here’s an easy trap, though: I have to be careful not to presume to know what they need.
The goal-oriented approach to training has a built-in limitation. I have known many members who, after 10 years of trying to “get something” out of exercise (e.g., weight loss), were frustrated and disheartened. Maybe they had some limited success from time to time (that I even helped them achieve), but it didn’t last.
If a workout session has to produce a result, you have a paradigm for unhappiness. Instead, my current approach is to create a training session that allows a person to get whatever he/she needs from the workout without interference on my part. I keep in mind that the average member will not understand this approach right away, so the training has to be about something they can understand and offer them some fundamentals of training.
So I teach indoor cycling. This is because the bike has brought balance to my life. It has been a source of both hardship and delight, but the practice of cycling has made me happier. I look forward to riding my bike, whether indoors or out, every day.
I explain early on that I will ask them to ride as if they were riding a real bike outdoors because there are excellent reasons for everyone to train that way, no matter who they are: greater enjoyment of the class, for example, and good technique that will prevent them from wasting energy, so they can apply the energy to creating power. (The last point will clearly help Bob, but it helps Susan as well. The stronger the trainings make her, the more power she can generate, and the more calories she’ll burn.)
Now my job in class is simple: Teach the bike. Completely. Offer my students structured trainings that have helped me and never assume what they need. If it’s in my heart to lead a training on riding big gears in the hills, that’s what I do. What the students get, they get, and I don’t over- or underestimate my influence on it.
Sure, a student with a specific goal may need individual attention. If Susan really wants to lose weight, I can make recommendations and/or referrals. The same goes for Bob. My job as an educator is to show them how to modify what I teach — which is a valuable skill they can use in any class they may take in the future. I offer suggestions but recognize that this is their path. I can’t overshadow it with what I think they should do with, or gain from, their training. That’s not my job and would be a misuse of the trainer role.
Originally posted 2018-11-14 06:00:01.
by John | Aug 8, 2020 | Member Spotlight
ICI/PRO member John Appleby purchased a new VeloVie Vitesse 400 through our PRO/Purchase program. John emailed me today…
John:
Here is the photo of the bike. I like it more every day. I rode the 14 percent grade section of Beaver Creek (11 percent average over 2 plus miles) last week. This is the same road the pro riders in the USA Pro Challenge will ride on the 4th stage on August 22nd.
We just heard that Chris Froome and his Sky team will coming to race. Can't wait to see the Beaver Creek finish in person!
What a treat it is to have the Wi fly gearing! The rear cassette goes from 28 to 32 so you only lose 1 gear on the lower end. It was nice to ride a super steep section and spin instead of mashing pedals all the way up.
Let me know if I can answer any questions. Also thanks for the help ordering from Pearl Izumi. This is a real nice benefit of ICI/PRO.
You're welcome John. You and your bike look great and that climb sounds like a real quad-buster 🙁
The SRAM WiFLi he's talking about is a compact grupo (two front sprockets / ten rear) that has gearing ranges very close to a triple (three front sprockets). Very important when you live and ride in the mountains of Colorado.
WiFLiâ„¢ is all you need to know…
- Wider — a wider range of gears for every climb and any descent
- Faster – two chainrings shift (and set-up) much faster and more easily than three
- Lighter — as much as 274g (9.8%) less than the most popular road triple
- Much improved Q-factor – improved heel clearance
- Easier set up – two is easier than three
- Compatible with SRAM Red, SRAM Force, SRAM Rival and SRAM Apex
Originally posted 2013-08-05 14:20:19.
by John | Aug 8, 2020 | Instructor Training, Your Fitness Business
Fox & Friends ran a special segment this morning, highlighting the job opportunities in the fitness industry. Master Instructor Kari Nicolle from CycleBar said that they would be opening 50 new locations this year, requiring close to 700 new hires. That's an awesome opportunity for Indoor Cycling Instructors!
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com
Originally posted 2017-03-04 10:29:04.
by John | Aug 5, 2020 | Best Practices, Featured Studios
When he's not running the business, Joe (on the right) rides with his customers.
I love sharing the emails Amy and I receive from our boss – CycleQuest Studio owner Joe Ducosin 🙂
Hi everyone,
Thanks to all of you for continuing to be part of the CycleQuest Studio instructor team. This is the busiest time of the indoor cycling season where attendance is going to be at its highest over the next few months so we need to continue to provide the best workout experience in our classes to maintain a high customer return rate.
Here is my quarterly reminder of instructor expectations and tips on creating a positive workout atmosphere at the studio. I know the list is long but please read through them. Thanks!
- Don't just instruct, anyone can get in front of the class, play music and run through drills. Inspire, encourage, interact, create a “motivating positive atmosphere”, know what the class wants; make it fun!
- Stay connected with your instruction, let the class know what they should be doing every moment; emphasize certain key parts of a song for motivational effect. How long are the intervals? How long to the end of the drill? Are you ending with the song?
- For new customers give options to long climbs out of the saddle, isolations, quick jumps, long upper body arm workouts.
- Drills I discourage: 1) clipping out of a pedal to use only one leg – riders tend to put their free foot on the frame of the bike which scratches the paint and they end up knocking their water bottle on the floor. Also the pedal can easily hit their shin on the backstroke if they let their leg hang free. 2) Pedaling backwards — this causes the drive belt to wear incorrectly and track wrong. 3) Using dumbbell weights on the bike.
- Articulate other aspects of fitness while instructing; consistency, diet, nutrition, cross training, goals, and competitive events.
- Learn rider’s names. Introduce yourself, use MBO and the sign in sheet or go around the class and have them introduce themselves. This is the best way to make that personal connection.
- Keep your playlists and drills fresh. Use the clean version of songs. I know there will be times when curse words slip through, just try to minimize them. Check out Spotify the premium version for $9.99/month, a great alternative or complement to iTunes. I just recently made the monthly investment and am using Spotify consistently. Here is a great article on the getting started – https://www.indoorcycleinstructor.com/icipro-instructor-resources/the-art-of-finding-new-music-in-spotify/ and browse to www.indoorcycleinstructor.com to read more articles by John and Amy Macgowan on what Spotify is all about.
- Monitor the studio temperature with the display in the stereo cabinet. Open the back door only wide enough keep the max temp at 72 with fuller classes. If the studio temp drops below 68 the door needs to be closed again. The back door should only be opened to get in fresh air in and slightly cool down the studio. Take charge on regulating the studio temperature and the back door. When the studio is colder than 64 degrees wait a few songs until everyone is warmed up before turning on fans.
- Before playing a DVD movie get approval from me. No rated R movies and for PG-13 watch the segments you will play to see what might be inappropriate. If there is inappropriate dialog do not turn on the closed caption.
- When setting up new customers on the bike be sure to explain the computer, what they should expect during the class, options, what their challenges are being new and proper form. Proper leg extension and seat fore/aft position are the most important parts of the setup. Let me know if you have any questions on this topic.
- ALWAYS use the headset mic! This is a requirement. Having everyone in the class hear you at all times without having to yell is key to a great workout experience. Ask the person furthest away can hear your voice through the mic can be heard. If you are not comfortable using the headset mic please consult with me. There are two headset mic's – channels 1 and 2 on the soundboard. Let me know if you need help understanding how to use the board properly. When the mic starts to give a heavy echo typically the foam end piece is full of sweat and will have to be dried out using a paper towel.
- Music sound level – Be aware of keeping the music level appropriate for creating a “motivating workout atmosphere”. Ask the class how the sound level is and adjust per their feedback. You should be constantly turning up the sound level to emphasize a certain motivating essence of a song, like feeling the driving beat, and then turning the sound level down to give instruction. When giving small talk be sure to turn your music down. Having the music too loud is just as de-motivating as too soft.
- Thefts in building – It has been reported that there were attempted break-ins in a few of the offices of our building. If helping at the front desk and the front desk area is going to be unattended please close the front studio door when classes are in session as many customers leave their coats, jackets and boots by the front door.
- Announcements – Continue to talk about what is happening at the studio from the announcement sheet on the instructor bike. Encourage everyone to use the small fitness studio to stretch or get in a light workout before or after class when a personal training or group strength class is not in session.
- Try to arrive to the studio at least 15 minutes before the start of class to help with bike setup and meet new customers.
- Address studio etiquette to customers when needed: do not answer cell phone in class, keep personal discussions to a minimum so as not to disrupt the class (loud and consistent conversation not related to the current workout), being respectful.
As you can see, a “motivating and positive workout atmosphere” is the theme I am driving home here. Thanks for taking the time to review my expectations and let me know of any concerns you have with the topics listed above.
Regards,
Joe
Originally posted 2013-02-12 05:46:35.
