In Tom's previous post he talks about watching yourself on film to identify non-verbal movements / behaviors that if changed, could improve your class.
But what if the whole camera setup and production is too much of a hurdle for you right now… how about this baby step?
Get in front of a mirror and ride…
Most of our studios are full of mirrors, and yet many of us can go weeks or even months without seeing ourselves on the bike. Why not go in to your studio early and practice teaching your class where you can see yourself in a mirror? I suggest a head-on view and then at an angle like Christine suggested. Go through all your typical motions and movements and then ask yourself:
Do I look like I belong on a bike?
Do I appear relaxed & comfortable?
When I'm faking it, does it show?
Am I setup properly? (see tomorrow's post)
Most importantly: Do I have a lot of excessive upper body movement that indicates poor pedaling technique?
If you want to appeal to cyclists I suggest that you learn to look like you ride outdoors, even if you don't. Cyclists have an eye for other cyclists that I'm guessing comes from riding thousands of miles behind or alongside other competitive cyclists. Excessive side to side movement of your head, which corresponds with each down-stroke, screams I DON”T KNOW HOW TO PEDAL CORRECTLY. The same can be said for a lot of up and down movement of your body while standing. I see this as the most importantly thing you should work to correct because I see excessive movement as a sign of poor pedal technique that will brand you as a non-cyclist.
Here's an example of what you should look like as demonstrated by the Great Eddy Merckx!
I asked Amy and she had a completely different take on the usage of mirrors:
Many of us teach facing our classes. As we consider how we look this week, I want to talk about a teaching technique called “mirroring”. Simply described, mirroring is showing our class what we want them to do in opposite. For example, if we are coaching a right turn ahead, we would indicate with our left hand, as their right is our left.
Mirroring shows a maturity in teaching and eliminates confusion to our class. At first, it takes some thought, as it is not natural to indicate a cue in opposite. I find it most challenging when I’ve got my class in a race situation and we are passing, or even when we are in a pace line and I am coaching them to the front of the line to take their turn pulling. As I coach them to, “Pull out to the left of the rider in front of them, pull up alongside, give a little wave and take the lead”, this is all done with me physically cueing on the right side of our body. I get so into it, and feel myself on the road that I have to remember to cue for them, not like it should be on the road!
So, the next time you are in front of your class, try mirroring a few simple moves. It can even just be a lean right (your left), or left (your right) to start.
I've struggled with this for years – maybe it's a guy thing, but disconnecting my body from my brain is very difficult for me. If you have any coordination I would suggest taking a few Step Classes or some other choreographed class from a good instructor to watch and see how they do this. I've watched in amazement as Amy actually mirrors Step movements, while facing her class.
Another random thought on “How you look.”
Riding out of the saddle, with your forearms resting on the bars, (aero-position) has no place in your class. Beyond being completely contraindicated, it has you looking like a dork or worse, like one of the defeated obese people you see wandering around Wal-Mart 🙁
I use this mental image to remind students that our forearms aren't designed to support us.
I had to ignore the Instructor whose class I took this week. He insisted on having us all “Up and Aero” while we climbed. No real Cyclist or Triathlete climbs in an aero position out of the saddle; you're either down low in your aero position or standing with your hands spaced wide on the bars.
Your students are watching you… and I dare say judging you in large part by what they see.
Make sometime this week and consider how you look, because that's what your class is seeing 🙂
is there any way you can listen to a podcast and cruise the ICI website at the same time? Often I am tempted to hit a link while listening and then I am thrown off the podcast. Frustrating.
I hate it when PRO members are frustrated, I can help…
When you are on a web page (what you are reading right now) and click on a link, one of three options can happen:
The link replaces the page in the existing Window (that's when you lose the Podcast)
The link opens a new Window (which hides the original Window and keeps the Podcast playing)
The link opens a new Tab in the existing window (keeps the Podcast playing and the new page opens as a Tab in the existing Window) Looks like this:
I feel tabs are the best choice
So, what decides what happens?
The setting of the Link can decide (Open in this Window? or Open in a new Window?) This is set by whomever built the web page.
The settings in your Internet Browser can decide (The links at the top of this article take you to the Help pages for each browser)
Or, you can decide 🙂
The power of the “Right Click” – it puts YOU in charge!
Whenever you want to click a link, and retain the page you are currently viewing – Right Click the link and you will see your choice of options. Note: Might be slightly different depending on what version of Windows you are running. MAC users see something similar.
Right Clicking Gives You The Power!
Did this make sense to you? Let me know if you need more.
* The other option would of course be to listen in iTunes.
Schwinn Cycling Master Trainer Denise Druce presents our latest class profile; Lead The Pack!
About Denise:
Denise Druce is widely considered one of the leading health and fitness professionals in the state of Utah. She is the producer in a series of 28 home workout DVDs, she teaches and trains athletes at the University of Utah, and is a Master Instructor for 24 Hour Fitness. Denise was featured as a trainer in SELF magazine, inspiring over 500,000 women to participate in the SELF Fitness Challenge. She and her husband, Michael live in Salt Lake City with their three boys.
Ever since the loss of my mother, nearly 30 years ago to lung cancer, I have raged my own personal war against cancer. Understanding the battle against all cancers might be a bit too large for me I decided to focus on raising funds to battle childhood cancers. For the last 15 years I have been an integral part of the Roadless Ride which Benefits Brent’s Place. Brent's Place is a living facility for families with children who are receiving treatments for cancer, bone marrow or organ transplants in the Denver area. Brent's Place provides a pristine living environment for children who's immune systems are severely compromised due to these treatments or surgeries. The Roadless Ride is a fundraiser held annually at Greenwood Athletic and Tennis Club that consists of 12 one hour Indoor Cycling classes where participants make a donation to ride in each class.
This year I have decided to expand my war against childhood cancers to two fronts. On May 1st I will be participating in the Ride For A Reason at Lifetime Fitness in Centennial, Colorado. This 4 hour indoor cycling ride benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:
– Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
– St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
– Because the majority of St. Jude funding comes from individual contributors, St. Jude has the freedom to focus on what matters most – saving kids regardless of their financial situation.
– St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.
– Donations will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Life Time Foundation.
St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world.
I will be riding in three and leading one of the four indoor cycling classes for this Rider For A Reason fundraiser. I have committed to raising $1,000 for the kids of St. Jude's and I am asking for your help in reaching this goal.
Anything amount helps, please give something to help me fight this terrible disease.
As a long time educator, I’ve learned some lessons that have been very valuable to me as I added ‘Cycling Instructor’ to my resume. One of the things that I’ve learned over my years in education is how much my students and parents appreciate being connected to what’s going on in the classroom. In addition, my students are made to feel like they are a part of a family. Getting to know each and every one of them on a personal level is a goal I have in my classroom each school year. It builds camaraderie and it lets them know that I care. In return, I’m greeted with happy parents and almost 20 beautiful smiling faces every day.
This concept can be translated into your indoor cycling class in several ways. Connecting with your students can be as simple as sending out weekly emails. Or if you’re really ambitious, you can connect by blogging or through your own personal website. Your options are limitless!
How many times has a student come to you after class and asked you , “Now, which days/times do you teach”? Even though it’s surely posted on every wall in the facility. How often do you hear, “Wow, I loved that one song, what was it”? Or “I wish I had known class was cancelled-you added a class-you were subbing for so and so.”
Your students want to know what’s going on, and the easier you make it for them to get that information, the more they are going to appreciate it. In return, you WILL see your class size grow.
If you have a computer and five minutes a week, you’ll be off to a positive start. Here are a few simple ways that you can connect with your students:
Weekly Emails:
Bring a sign up sheet on a clipboard with you to class and ask your students for their email address if they would like to receive updates and important information regarding your class.(Of course let them know that you would never share their information with anyone first.) As new members join and become consistent in your program, they will appreciate the connection, so keep that clipboard in your gym bag at all times. Every so often, make an announcement to see if anyone would be interested in receiving emails. If a member comes to you with a question about your classes or teaching schedule, suggest that they join your email list.
Send out a mass email once a week. In the email give your students information about any closings or cancellations or special classes that you might be teaching that week. Your students will also appreciate the heads up when you’ll be subbing for another instructor or if another instructor will be filling in for you.
If it’s a slow news week in your cycling world, add in a link to a good article about indoor cycling or a funny clip or picture.
If you have your weekly playlists on iTunes or Spotify, add a link so your students can have a listen.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but I promise you-your students will appreciate you for it!
Connecting Through Facebook:
Facebook Groups
You can easily create a group through Facebook where members can post, share and ask questions about your indoor cycling program.
Creating a Facebook ‘Group’ is really pretty simple. If you have a Facebook account, click on ‘Groups’ under the ‘Applications’ menu on the left side of your home page. Enter your group information and invite members from a list of your Facebook friends.
You have the option of keeping your group private or open to the public. Facebook members that are not already your ‘friends’ can search your group and request to be added to it.
You can customize who can post on your group page, but it’s fun to keep it open for all group members to post.
You can add photos and links to your Facebook groups. This is a good place to post your cycling playlists for your students to view.
Facebook Pages
A Facebook ‘Page’ differs from a Facebook ‘Group’ in that it allows only the page administrator (you) to post. It is open to the public and anyone that ‘Likes’ your page can see your updates on their newsfeed. It is not as interactive as a ‘Group’, but still a great way to get information to your students. Page administrators (you) can also track your page’s activity.
To create a Facebook ‘Page’: Go to this link which will take you to the Facebook page wizard. It will lead you through the steps and you will have your very own page in no time! You can view my Facebook page here.
If you’re feeling ambitious, here are a few other ideas for staying connected:
Of course you could always create your own blog or website. I originally created my blog, Chrispins, with my students in mind. And while they still check it out, it has really blossomed into place where I communicate with other instructors around the globe.
If you’ve never checked out FitGuru, it is a good (free!) tool for communication with your students as well. It takes a little bit of time to set up, but once you have it rolling, it is quick and easy to maintain your site. It allows you to easily email all of your members with the click of a button and you can post your teaching schedule there along with important news.
If you are not already connecting with your students in some way, give one of these ideas a try and see the difference it can make in your classes.
How do you communicate with your students? Are you already using some of these methods or do you use a method that I did not mention?
Sally Edwards and Gene Nacey are teaming up for a very special Heart Zones Training Seminar, Workshop, and Qualification September 26th and 27th. This training will be held at Gene's Global Ride Indoor Cycle Studio in Lower Burrell, PA (near Pittsburgh)
Sally Edwards, MA, MBA is one of America ‘s leading experts in business, exercise science, and lifestyle living. She created the Heart Zones Training proprietary and branded training system. She is the National Spokeswoman for the Trek Women's Triathlon Series. Sally has completed over 130 all-women's triathlons during the past 20 years volunteering to finish most as the “final finisher” so that no other woman has to finish last.
Sally is a best-selling author with more than 20 books and 500 articles on health and fitness including the popular book Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook and The Complete Book of Triathlons. This professional triathlete is a 16-time Ironman finisher, a member of the Triathlon Hall of Fame, and past winner of the ultra-marathon, the hundred mile Western States Endurance Run.
Question from a PRO member:
Schwinn Cycling Master Trainer Denise Druce presents our latest class profile; Lead The Pack!
