by Christine Hawthorne | Jul 1, 2017 | Instructor Training, Music
Summer is in full swing and with Independence Day coming up, you may want to consider a theme ride for your next class. While it may be difficult to collect enough themed songs for a Fourth of July playlist, you could definitely include some summer themed songs as well. Here are a few great ideas for you to include along with suggestions on how to use them! Hope your summer is filled with sunny days and full classes!
Love in America (Radio Edit) by JTX/ seated or standing climb (61 rpm)- iTunes link
Fourth of July by Fall Out Boy/ seated flat road or seated climb (80 rpm) iTunes link
And two tracks with the same title:
Freedom by Pitbull /standing climb (60 rpm) iTunes link
Freedom by Pharrell Williams/seated flat road (97 rpm) iTunes link
by Bill Pryor | Jun 21, 2017 | ICI/PRO Team Member Articles, Your Fitness Business
Click image to join our Facebook Group – everyone encouraged to join!
You’re passionate about fitness, you love indoor cycling and you may even be an outstanding instructor yourself. You recognize the amazing energy in a great class, and you’ve also seen a lot of poor or mediocre classes that frustrate you. Maybe you’ve wondered if a dedicated studio can make money?
Should you start your own studio? Great questions.
While not nearly as common as yoga studios, there are in fact a good many successful, dedicated cycling studios (and Spin® studios) around the country. We have worked extensively with a number of them, and in the right community, with the right model, these can be tremendous small businesses.
There is nothing more thrilling than waking every day knowing your decisions and actions are building a business, developing a community, making people healthy…….and generating a stream of profits!
Here is the first question we ALWAYS get asked. There is plenty of indoor cycling and Spinning® at gyms and health clubs in my area — why would people go to a new dedicated
studio?
There's now a franchise option to start a profitable indoor cycling studio – learn more by listening to this podcast.
4 reasons cycling studios are successful! – Free Registration Required – Click Here. Opens in a new tab.
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- Dedication.For the same reason there are thousands of successful Yoga studios, despite ample yoga classes at gyms and health clubs — a dedicated studio focuses
on one thing. It pays attention to the details and delivers a more consistently excellent product.
- Atmosphere.
Many people, for a variety of reasons, prefer a small intimate studio
to the feeling of a big gym or health club. As evidence, look at the vast number of Yoga, Pilates and personal training studios — despite the availability of those services at gyms.
- Pricing flexibility.
Studios typically offer a variety of programs including “unlimited classes” or “pay-per-visit”. This variety and flexibility appeals to a broad range of potential clients. This service makes it easy to set up online payments.
- Community.
There is a community spirit in a small studio attended by dedicated cyclists with a common passion.
The notion of a successful, dedicated cycling studio is not just a concept — it is a reality in dozens of instances around the country. That being said, the number is miniscule compared to the opportunity, and there is very likely a need near you.
We’ve launched our own successful studios and worked with cycling studio owners all around the country, using MindBody Online to collect payments. If you’re seriously considering opening an Indoor Cycling studio, we are happy to help you brainstorm through the business planning and development.
For more information, take a peek at www.spynergyconsulting.com or email me at billpryor@comcast.net
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Originally posted 2010-02-19 13:23:40.
by Christine Hawthorne | Jun 10, 2017 | Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Music
This new release from Harry Styles‘ self named album makes a great faster hill at around 74 rpm. It's a totally different sound than you're used to hearing from the One Direction star, and it will definitely rock your next class. Here is Kiwi:
Kiwi by Harry Styles iTunes link
While you're checking out the newest releases, don't overlook this one by Robin Schulz and James Blunt called OK. As with the Harry Styles song, this is not what you're used to hearing from the You're Beautiful singer. It has more of a house beat to it that lends a strong beat to pedal to at 62 rpm.
OK by Robin Schulz, James Blunt iTunes link
by John | Jun 5, 2017 | Best Practices, Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN
Over the last couple of days I've remembered a few points that didn't make it into either part 1 or part 2 of my SoulCycle articles that I wanted to share today.
3 pound hand weights can get really heavy
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']
I failed to complete part of the weight segment in the first class. I'm not kidding 🙁 Amy was right there next to me when I was unable to finish (I can't remember exactly what exercise) and had to drop my arms and rest, before I was able to continue. I didn't pick them myself, those little 3 pound weights were already there on the bike for me – given the chance I would probably grabbed something larger.
Our Instructor (Heather) had us with a lot of load on the flywheel and sitting up straight and tall. We went through multiple, high repetition series of shoulder, bicep and tricep exercises. I'd guess it was 5 or so minutes total and I worked to failure of my shoulder muscles before the end.
Something to consider…
But you can't gain strength with those little weights! That's what I've heard expressed by multiple “experts” that light weight/high repetition exercise has no value. I was discussing this with a former SoulCycle Instructor and his response to me was along the lines of; wait… so riding a bicycle has no value either? Isn't the act of pedalling a bicycle, with its high repetition and relatively low force, exactly the same as what we are doing with small weights in class? Why would one be “good” and the other “bad”?
The fact is that many women don't want to build muscular size – they only want to tone their upper body and rarely go near a weight room. SoulCycle obviously understands this = that's why they offer these exercises. Poke your head into any Group Fitness “Sculpt” class and you'll see a room full of women using similar sized weights – often while sitting on something unstable, like a Bosu or exercise ball.
They know their music… I mean REALLY KNOW THEIR MUSIC!
Yes, I mentioned this in the original article > When I compare how well both SoulCycle Instructors knew their music, as compared to my rather A.D.D. (feeling the need for something new every week) approach, I'm thinking I have a lot to learn here. In both classes it was uncanny how each Instructor was able to pre-cue every significant change in the music > or at least it seemed that way. The net effect was powerful and very impressive 🙂
Question: what, exactly, is wrong with using the same playlist for multiple classes? In the pre-digital music days, I watched Amy painstakingly create cassette tape playlists. She would use each for a month or more and then recycle her favorites months later. After a few classes she would know the ebb and flow of each song perfectly + what track was to follow. My (and maybe your) need to deliver new music every week (or class?) has me scanning my iPhone or crib sheet for what's coming next > is this a climb or a fast flat? What's going to follow? Does your class really need new music every week? Or is that just an insecurity of yours… one you'll need to get over? [/wlm_private]
This was surprising to me John!
I received a bunch of emails and read multiple Facebook comments, all expressing the same basic sentiments; your observations are the exact opposite from what I've heard others say about SoulCycle. Why haven't I heard this perspective before?
Good question!
Why do you think much of what you've read/heard about SoulCycle is negative? I have my ideas, but I prefer to hear yours below >
Are you an independent thinker when it comes to conducting an effective, entertaining and motivating Indoor Cycling class? If so please consider joining us here as an ICI/PRO member where everyone is welcome – no matter where, our how, you choose to teach!
Originally posted 2014-10-25 14:17:30.
by Christine Hawthorne | Jun 4, 2017 | Instructor Training, Music
Every instructor needs to have songs like this week's favorite track in their library. Keep this one in your flat road folder and take it out when you are looking for a longer flat road to ride on. Though they've been around for quite a while, I've just recently found Nahko and Medicine for The People and their song Black as Night from their 2013 album Dark as Night. I love the lyrics: “I believe in the good things coming…”.
Riders will even out at around 97 rpm. *If you edit, watch for a few explicit lyrics at
1:19 and 5:09 (nothing a little ‘talking over' won't fix!)
Black as Night by Nahko and Medicine for The People iTunes link
