By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas
Video impacts Indoor Cycling more than any other form of Group Fitness. With the advent of Forward-Motion Video (FMV), the indoor cycling instructor can integrate the video into the ride profile for the day”™s class. It”™s an asset that the instructor can use to enhance the experience of the class participant directly. This can”™t be done in any other type of class. You can use video of scenery to create a mood during a yoga class and create the impression of doing yoga outdoors, for example, but using video as an integral part of the class to direct class structure and choreography? In that, Indoor Cycling stands alone.
In a recent post (“Video is JUST Video”), we stated our belief that education and training will drive video use in indoor cycling. By providing tools and training methods that empower instructors, FMV will elevate indoor cycling to a new level.
In an earlier post (“Video and Indoor Cycling, Part 2 — Teaching With Video”), we introduced the concept of creating immersion through a cuing system we created, called SIT — Simulation, Interaction, and Telepresence. After a year of testing the teaching process, we can happily say that SIT works: Decide on your level of interaction with the video (None, Partial or Complete), then add Simulation (factual information about the video) and Telepresence cues (referring to aspects of the video) to involve the students in what they”™re watching.
This results in immersion. The students”™ self-awareness blends into the absorbing footage, and they feel as if they”™re riding in the video.
We get many questions about how and when to prepare the video portion of a class. That”™s the subject of this post. The answer is it depends on which FMV system you”™re using.
Two FMV formats are currently on the market. With a “permanent” format, the video profile is permanently configured and can”™t be altered. A DVD featuring FMV is permanent. The ride display is the same every time.
FMV can also be “changeable”. Destinations on Demand by Myride®+ is the only FMV on the market that allows you to rearrange your video for every class. The videos are cataloged in libraries of varying terrain (flat, mixed, climb, and descent) to enable you to select segments and create a ride that conforms to your audio profile.
Currently, most indoor-cycling instructors plan their classes in one of two ways. They may start with a fitness concept (say, endurance) and construct a ride using movements, cadence and intensity that support an endurance workout. They then choose the correct music to support their profile.
Alternately, instructors may start with music, compile an audio profile of songs they enjoy, and — based on the song — select the movement, cadence and intensity.
Both methods of class design are supported only by FMV that”™s changeable. The selection of the video typically happens after the ride or audio profile has been created. It”™s simple to match a video segment to movements selected for the ride or the song when the video segments conform to standard indoor cycling movements and can be lengthened or shortened to fit your exact needs.
If you use permanent FMV, the video will always come first in class preparation. Songs and ride movements will need to be choreographed to what”™s happening in the video. If they aren”™t, your choreography and/or song selection will be contrary to what the students see. If you cue a seated climb when the video displays a descent, the mismatched cues and video may seem absurd to the participants. Permanent FMV includes all DVDs, the Challenge and Expedition video libraries on Myride+, and all FMV on other media consoles, such as Fitness on Demand.
Changeable FMV (Destinations on Demand) can actually be the impetus behind the class design. Much the way a song can drive a ride movement or a movement can dictate the song, a spectacular video can drive the selection of either song or ride movement, or both.
Building a profile with changeable video segments differs from the use of permanent FMV. You can control the type of class you teach. You”™re simply choosing to feature the visual aspect of the class before everything else.
FMV is changing indoor cycling classes around the world. Instructors must now consider how to work with all FMV and integrate it into their classes. Teaching with video is easy but, as with music, also a skill that develops over time. Eventually it will become a standard part of every instructor”™s class preparation.
Originally posted 2013-02-11 06:54:06.
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