Interesting article from RACKED.com that is promoting the virtue of Big Box fitness clubs – while recognizing how the boutique studios have been getting all the press and recognition over the past few years.
Do Classes at Regular Gyms Hold Up Against Boutique Fitness?
If you own your own spin shoes, are constantly laundering leggings, and have downloaded the Mindbody app to your iPhone, odds are you're in deep with fancy fitness – and have the scary credit card bills to prove it. Boutique exercise is eating our budgets alive like bottles of wine at mid-week dinners used to (before socializing and sweating came hand-in-hand), and it's crazy how it got away from us so easily.
Those who aren't math-inclined might view the all-inclusive Classpass buffet and studio bulk-class deals as a free-for-all, but the truth is that it's costing you $1,500 a year at the very least. And that's without the occasional full-priced SoulCycle class and unavoidable last-minute cancellation fees.
But what if we told you there was a glorious place that had enough classes to keep your newly athletic heart content, not to mention showers aplenty, shiny equipment, and towels free of charge? It's the place you left in the cold the second spin studios started popping up on every corner –€” your good ol' neighborhood gym. So, we asked ourselves a newfangled question: Are we all out of our minds for spending this much money to take these fitness classes when we could have them for so much less?
Like the random Pilates mat class you went to near your office and hated, not all New York gyms are created equal, so we dove in first-hand to see if we're all fooling ourselves with the studio experience, and whether hitting the same gym classes on the regular – more than the three times Classpass would let you –€” could get you just as fit (and having just as much fun) as all our beloved bourgeois boutique spots.
While visiting four of New York's biggest power players, we learned a lot. Generally speaking, gym classes feel short compared to boutique fitness, and we've been battling for a spot in class sign-ups or in the second row with more vigor than necessary. Gyms have less competitive crowds and have embraced advanced sign-ups, too – even holding spots for spontaneous members who stroll in minutes before the start time. Trading in the complimentary rose water face cleanser for padlocks and crowds of people wasn't easy, though. Fingers crossed that we can hopefully save you from sweating your account balance instead of your workout in 2016.
Here's a track that will keep you climbing for almost a full four minutes. It's brand new from Dropkick Murphy's and it's every bit as good anything you've heard from them before. At first listen, you'll recognize their familiar sound, but you'll also notice that it's a bit on the slower than some of the stuff you're used to hearing from them, so it works great for a seated (or standing) climb. (80 rpm)
Here's another one from the same album that I'll be using for sprints on the chorus:
Definitely give the whole album a listen and keep them in mind when St. Patrick's Day rolls around!
A person who joins the gym in early January because of their New Years Resolution. Resolutionists can be spotted by their pasty white skin, excessive fat, poor form, and blank look on their face as they stand next to any piece of gym equipment. Resolutionists usually migrate back to the couch any time from mid-January to early March.
“This damn Resolutionist has been on the Smith machine for 30 minutes. Maybe if he put more than 30 lbs on the bar and stopped taking 10 minute rests it wouldn't take so long. I can't wait until March”
And they're coming to a club or studio near you soon!
So how can we take advantage of their enthusiasm and create classes the are both appealing to them, while also help them learn the exercise we call Indoor Cycling properly?
Master Instructor Tom Scotto from Cycling Fusion joins me to discuss his ideas for creating special classes for these new students in the latest episode of the Podcast.
Here is a new release that will be a bit different from the mainstream music you might be used to. Banco De Gaia recently released Warp and Weft, and more recently, two remixes- dr. trippy and Continuum.Banco De Gaia has a kind of ambient sound and this one is very versitile. It would make a great flat road or climb. The dr. trippy remix starts out slowly and builds at around 1:40. Then it's a steady ride to the finish. If you like to use longer songs in your profile, you should try the Continuum remix. (7:36)
So which fitness club or cycling studio is looking today to hire a passionate & talented Indoor Cycling Instructor?
EVERY. CLUB. AND. EVERY. STUDIO.
How can I say that with such conviction, without actually surveying every club/studio on the planet?
That's easy 🙂 Every successful business owner/manager I know, is continuously looking to hire good people. It doesn't matter if they have a “help wanted” sign hanging in the window or not.
EVERY. BUSINESS. IS. LOOKING. FOR. GREAT. PEOPLE.
Why is this important for anyone interested in securing their first regularly scheduled class? Because, quite simply, it's important for you to understand (and more importantly believe) this when you approach a studio owner or manager. Having the perception that they're buying, what you're selling, is a great confidence builder.
So is 2017 going to be the year you land your first teaching gig? Or maybe the year when you'll decide to move beyond your comfort zone and audition at the hot, new studio opening down the street?
Either way, I'm thinking some of these articles will be helpful for you.
Are you searching for a short, versatile track that you could use for a flat road or a hill? Today's favorite track might be just what you're looking for. At around 80 rpm, English rock band The Struts' song, Could Have Been Me is a just perfect for around three minutes of work. While this song is fairly current, it sounds a bit like an 80's anthem. Your rock and roll loving riders will definitely appreciate this one.
