We are seeing and hearing a new emphasis on studios offering Beginner or Introduction to Indoor Cycling classes. The idea is really very simple; provide new students with a safe and inviting class, teach them the basic techniques, let them develop their fitness and then graduate them to more intense classes when they are ready to be successful.
Programs like Cycling Fusion have learned that these beginner class are most effective when offered over a series of classes, where concepts like fit, form, technique, cadence, power, Heart Rate training zones and others can be introduced gradually.
I love the concept because I see it as an excellent way to reach people who, for multiple reasons, refuse to set foot in an Indoor Cycling class. I also see this as having huge potential to build your class numbers 🙂 Companies like Curves have built very successful fitness businesses based on providing Safe and Inviting facilities.
Beginner class aren't (and shouldn't be) dumbed down classes and to that end ICI/PRO, starting today, will begin to offer members Audio PROfiles that will prepare you to competently teach this class format.
In this latest Audio PROfile Master Instructor Tom Scotto walks you through a 30 Min intro class designed to help your new students Explore their Aerobic Fitness.
Here is the PDF for you to print.
Here's your Spotify PRO/Playlist! Deezer. We have made every attempt to replicate the original playlist. In some instances the tracks specified were unavailable in Spotify. When necessary we have substituted individual songs of similar length and tried to maintain the Instructor's intent.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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Hello,
Nice job!! Realizing this is a beginner’s class, would you introduce heart rate monitors and a modification of finding their T1 and T2 or would this be too much for new members?
Pat
Pat,
Absolutely! Personally I dream of such a class. Indoor cycling 2.0… It is all about the education.
Giving the new student something like heart rate to anchor to and measure fitness gains with is crucial to perpetuating on going cardiovascular fitness. Who knows perhaps it will also be the seed some will want to grow into riding outside to do a charity event.
I would not spend a lot of time on the science of two thresholds, only that they are there, well documented, we can find them, use them and repeat the process several times over the scheduled time.
Moreover the two threshold system blends nicely with monitoring effort in three zones. This has proven to work quite well with new students as well as ‘club athletes’.
Pat you are right on track there.
I feel we (Instructors and Clubs/Studios) are missing a huge opportunity to educate new students in ways that will have them reaching their fitness goals. Much as the typical 8 hour “orientation” doesn’t have you really ready to teach your first class, one 30 minute “Intro to Cycling” poorly prepares a new student to jump into most typical classes.
I see Tom and Gene Nacey’s Cycling Fusion concept of offering a series of Intro classes, each with a specific emphasis (setup, technique, form, training zones, etc…)as going a long way to improving the experiences of new students = they develop the needed fitness and confidence that has them coming back and reaching their goals.
I am not really for giving too much too fast. If theyr are really new to exercise and new to IDC there are enought subject with balance, cadence, loading, confort, … than giving too much “scientific” words, (the same as when you go see your physician and he talk you with a language you do not understand); unless it is a special “workshop” with that in goal and people who are aweare of it.
The more we give the less they would keep. Training is a long journey …
This is a subject near and dear to my heart. I teach several intro classes a week and have many observations related to scheduling, emphasis, reinforcement and progression. I’d love to learn what others are doing in this regard.
Is there any chance that we could find a time to put together a session with people who are actively teaching intro classes at the meeting in Boston? It might not fit into the schedule but maybe some of us could agree to get together during a meal or over a drink.
That is an GREAT idea Christine, in every group exercise style the hardest one is the one’s you teach to real beginner becuase with them we have to focus at 200%
Chris I agree completely. The HR training survey has really opened my eyes to how important (and potentially valuable) these intro classes can be. We will look at adding some sessions… can you recommend someone who has experience?
Hint – Hint…
Christine, Pascal, John,
I’m all for meeting for a drink even if this session is added. That way there can be a more open expression of thought that could lead to – at a minimum – another drink.
Seriously, addressing this issue could be the single best way to cement how Indoor cycling 2.0 values education.