There's an old saying that goes; “I've been at this so long… I've forgotten much of what I didn't know, when I first started.” I've taught Indoor Cycling classes since 1998ish. A long time ago for sure. Even back then I had an advantage over most new Instructors. I'm married to the “Senior Group Fitness Instructor” in my family. Amy began her fitness career in 1994 and Spinning® in 1995. She was there for many of my early classes to help guide and critique me and my classes. I had her positioned front-center in the class during my first audition at Life Time – yes, I passed 🙂
So a lot of time has passed between those first classes and today. It's hard for me to think back on the nervousness and insecurity that's common in most new instructors. What's needed is a newer Instructor who's willing to share their ideas and solutions. That sounds like my friend Lena Hershey 🙂
This page at leanlena.com has links to multiple articles writen by Lena > New Instructor Tips specifically for those of you just getting started in your teaching carreer 🙂
Personal Trainer Stacie Clark was the first “Next Fitness Star” chosen by Women’s Health magazine – are you next?
I love helping Instructors become more successful – in fact my whole business plan is based on providing the platform Smart & Talented Instructors need to launch their careers 🙂
I was contacted today with another opportunity for you…
Women’s Health is launching its 3rd annual search for The Next Fitness Star. Year one winner Stacie Clark and year two winner Emily Schromm have had their careers transform and takeoff after taking the win and we are opening up auditions for 2015 now. I wanted to see if you'd like to share this information with your network of trainers.
Five finalists will be chosen to compete for the winning slot. They will appear on the July/August flip cover of Women’s Health (as well as a beautiful feature inside the issue) and much, much more. The winner will receive their own DVD contract, marketing plan and a huge feature in the January 2016 issue, plus a full scale marketing plan to help their business. This is an amazing opportunity and we are looking to have fitness trainers (of all levels and types) to apply. NOTE: You need to apply before February 27th 2015 to be considered.
Not being a reader of Womens Health – I wasn't previously aware of this contest or how Stacie Clark, a local personal trainer here in Minnesota, was the winner of the first Next Fitness Star.
Clark was recently crowned the “Next Fitness Star” by Women’s Health magazine. In the latest issue, her workout secrets are featured in a six-page spread. She beat out thousands of applicants to win the title. One of the spoils of her victory: a starring role in a new DVD fitness series called “The Women’s Health Power Sculpt Series with Stacie Clark DVD” ($28, available atwww.thenextfitnessstar.com/jan).
Clark comes from humble roots, a farm kid from Indiana. She led an active life growing up, but hit a wall in college. Forty pounds later, she walked into a gym and took a job there – so she could get fit for free. “I got in the best shape of my life,” Clark said. “That’s when I lost the weight, and then I never let it go.”
Today, she’s a certified trainer and co-owner of Tiger Fit Studio in Plymouth. For Clark, fitness is more than a profession: “This is my lifestyle.”
All I ask in exchange… is that you don't forget me when you're famous 🙂
We started watching “The Voice” because a friend of our daughter's got a ‘4 chair turn' in the auditions. (She didn't make it to the live shows). We continued watching “The Voice” because the talent was amazing.
The three finalists were all very different. My personal favorite, and the ultimate winner announced last night, is Tessanne Chin. Tessanne is from Jamaica. Jamaica is so loyal and devoted to their competitors. While John and I were there last week, we heard Tessanne's songs played over and over as the country cheered her on. We fell in love with her song ‘Hideaway' from the 2007 Reggae Gold album. Don't be fooled by the soft start and 86 bpm reggae jam, because this 5:00 flat road song really breaks out at 3:00. I'll be using this in the middle of my class as a break away flat.
She was a powerhouse then and is unstoppable now! Look for great things from Tessanne Chin.
On January 20 John Macgowan posted Would you teach for SoulCycle? If you have not read it, try to find the time. It generated a lively discussion of 17 comments between eight of us. The post highlights excerpts from an article in New York Magazine that ran on January 14, 2013. An interesting read as well pointing out that Soul Cycle instructors are earning $50K and more.
Coincidentally, Soul Cycle is coming to San Francisco, opening a studio inside an Equinox. On Friday February 8th they invited us local instructors to participate in a ‘Soul Cycle Master Class’ to get a sense of what Soul Cycle classes are like. Why? Because on Saturday February 9th Soul Cycle was holding auditions for instructors who would – should they make the grade – be the first to do Soul Cycle (SC) classes in Northern California. I wanted an audition.
I attended the Master Class looking forward to the experience. SC owners Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice were there for opening remarks. A very buff/cute and perky twenty something instructor originally from Santa Cruz led our 45 minute class.
I was on the bike warming up next to an acquaintance. We were chatting easily five minutes before class started and I was holding about 95bpm. (I always wear my heart rate monitor) Class starts, in less than two minutes I was above T2 and thats where it stayed for a lot longer than I thought possible. My friend and I never spoke again.
Those of you needing a quick refresher, T2 (Ventilatory Threshold 2) is roughly equivalent to Lactate Threshold which is roughly equivalent to anaerobic threshold. Even for the most fit athletes long periods above T2 are just not possible without slowing down. I was viewing my heart rate on my iPhone app. Finally I had to turn it over so I could not see the numbers. Take away lesson: if you are doing Soul cycling, leave your heart rate monitor at home.
Our instructor spent about half her time on the bike. The other half was spent bouncing around the room ‘pumping us up’. During the first thirty minutes we spent a good percentage of time out of the saddle and at high cadences. I observed a new position; come out of the saddle, rest all your upper body weight on the handle bars, and then spin at extremely high cadences. I didn’t even try. We also did movements that can only be described as pushups and jumps. These I did.
The music was played so loud that it was distorted. Of course this caused the instructor to turn up her mic volume to a place where I couldn’t understand a word she said. I just copied the women around me.
Thirty minutes in she sat us down and we did simulated upper body resistance training. Simulated because – ironically – there were no weights in this cycle studio. After that a couple more high intensity climbs and bam, we’re done. Whew!
I think it is safe to say that I was definitely bringing up the average age in the room. I was one of three men in the full studio. My friend and I being roughly the same age and one hard body guy in his early 20’s. (In San Francisco this guy will easily play successfully to both genders) Not sure why men were so outnumbered but this is a female dominated arena. And, oh my could they scream with the joy of being pushed into a sweating mass. I put the average age of the women in attendance at late 20’s.
I think we all get that there has been a decline in what used to be a pent up demand for cycling. Clearly in the markets where Soul Cycle studio's exist there is pent up demand for this product. Indeed – if one is to believe the New York Magazine article – some riders interviewed were spending in excess of $20K per year on their Soul Cycle habit.
Why is that? I struggled with this question but, if we take a hard look at the Soul Cycle model we find that their distinction is a huge commitment to finding just the right instructors. Let’s face it, at the end of the day quality instruction is still the key to successful programs. Soul Cycle management believes in their program (having perfected it), which is kind of like the American Idol of indoor cycling. They invest a lot of time and money to find a few good instructors. If one has the right stuff, the end game is worth it for SC and instructor.
How many studio owners are willing to go there? Historically, not many. And what is there?
Let’s look at Soul Cycle again. Soul Cycle supports, motivates and promotes the instructor all the way to a Soul Cycle stage, if they make the grade.
Making it through the audition process is only the first step. Then off you go to their training center to learn to do it their way. If one makes it through that, then one teaches six to eight classes per week and not necessarily prime time. Still there is more. One must attend three to five classes per week taught by the studio mentors. And, one cannot teach anywhere but SC.
Having done all this your large paycheck is still not in the bank. Soul Cycle uses a tiered incentive system essentially based on how many butts are in saddles during your class. The more butts, the bigger the pay check.
Lots of work that – from my experience in this industry – few instructors and even fewer studio owners are willing to to do.
Indoor cycling isn’t new any more. Simply rejuvenating existing programs isn’t a trivial task, will take time, money and commitment that is rarely seen in our industry. I doubt many studio owners have so clear a vision of their Unique Selling Proposition that they would pony up the dollars to operate like the very successful Soul Cycle.
If you are wondering if I got hired, I did not go back to audition. A part of me wanted to know for sure if I had the right stuff. I believe I would have passed the audition. I’m a big enough ham and love connecting with my riders so much that – to me – making the first step seemed inevitable.
Truth is, I live one hour from San Francisco. I have other contracts in my ‘portfolio career’. I could not have committed the time or to the commute.
Yet today, I find myself getting off the bike more, bouncing around declaring to my riders that I AM here to pump them up. I guess a little bit of soul cycle goes a long way.
Just wanted to follow up to say thank you for the tips, advice, music suggestions and everything pertaining to Life Time Fitness audition preparation which you obviously spent a good deal of time putting together and posting for all of us in need.
Susan Pshevlotski , the GFDH here in Indianapolis, was incredibly helpful and supportive and a great ambassador of Life Time Fitness. Anyone out there moving to the Indy area, I encourage them to contact the Life Time Fitness Director at the Castle Creek Parkway location.
All went wonderfully well and I must say thank you to ICI and others for the learning and growing I've made as an indoor cycling instructor these past few years as I certainly put my membership and education to excellent use and it showed based on the complimentary letter I received on Mon. There was even a comment about my ICI Jersey that I proudly wore.
My audition was here in Indy and Susan sent my information immediately onto the GFDH in Florham Park, NJ where I am relocating next month with a high recommendation for an instructor position, as well as the possibility of Cycle Club Coordinator. Not sure I'm ready for that one. I will hopefully fall right back into the saddle.
Whew, a lot happening quicker than I imagined but all fun and good thanks to this wonderful and supportive group in this professional forum.
All the best.
Renee
Ride Safe, Ride Strong
Congratulations Renee and I'm going to pass along your comments to Jen Ryan – the National Group Fitness Operations Manager at Life Time Fitness.
