I see a big part of growth (both personal and professional) is being willing to take risks in your life. When I first started the Indoor Cycle Instructor Podcast there were probably a hundred reasons why it was a bad idea... but I chose to ignore them.
A little over 60% of ICI/PRO members are women. Does it make sense to include content here that only applies to them?
As an experiment Amy has written an article about another passion in her life. It's one that she feels is very applicable to the presentation skills she needs to teach an engaging and effective Indoor Cycling Class.
Let me know.
John
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“Do you really wear lipstick when you teach?”
Amy's alter-ego as a Lancôme makeup artist
My answer to that question is yes.
Always.
There are a number of reasons why, but it truly started years ago when a member asked me, "are you feeling okay?" I felt great... but apparently didn”™t look it 🙁
After class, I looked in the mirror and tried to be objective. What had she seen that would cause her to ask me that? There staring back at me was a harried mom of two young children who had rushed out of the house with her hair scraped back in a ponytail and not a stitch of make-up on, in the dead of a MN winter. I looked rather, well, cadaver”ish” if I do say so myself. It wasn't the face of an instructor who looked well prepared for her class, even though I really was - having spent hours the night before putting my ride and play list together. It was then and there that I decided I wanted to look as well prepared for my classes as I actually was.
Flash forward a few years…my kids are now 20 and almost 17. I still love teaching and I also love my job as a make-up artist. My passion for helping women use make-up to enhance their natural beauty may have started that fateful day at the gym. I do not go into class in full make-up artist regalia. But I do take just a couple minutes to apply a bit of mineral foundation- it is long wearing and water (read sweat) resistant, a little bronzer and blush (remember, I live in MN and am MN pale) and some relatively tame lipstick. I stay away from the “Burlesque reds” while teaching. I also make sure to put lotion on my Minnesota dry - flakey legs. That”™s all I do.
Then I feel ready to teach.
I was in a training session a long time ago that described teaching as being “on stage”. I couldn”™t agree more. This little make-up regimen prepares me for my own “on stage” time. I think of it as putting my best "work-out" face forward. We are in front of people, usually with some sort of lighting on us at some point during the class and a darkened room. Actors/actresses would not think of going on stage without make-up. I wouldn”™t either anymore. I feel more confident with a minimal amount of make-up on and it helps me communicate the fact that I am well prepared, inside and out.
So, are you feeling okay?
Originally posted 2011-03-07 05:00:00.
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I read this piece before you added your preamble and, as a woman who definitely does not wear lipstick to class, I did not view this as a woman-only topic. I thought Amy’s point was more about the mental and physical preparation which we should all do before we walk through the door of the cycling room. It is no different than Jennifer’s take on what clothes we should wear.
I agree wholeheartedly about viewing each class as a performance. I have a background in theater and I can’t help seeing the class in ‘acts’, creating a ‘through-line’ to each class and seeing myself ‘on stage’. Your audio profiles are structured as scripts with dialogue and stage instructions. There’s nothing wrong with adding some notes about other ways to prepare for a great class.
YES!!…..well, not exactly “lipstick” but I assume you used the word as a general proxy for just presenting yourself well. Glad I’m not the only one to have viewed this piece as somewhat allegorical, Christine……the casual observer could very well be fooled into thinking it was just about wearing lipstick!!!
So, in addition to the concealer (dark circles and age spots) blusher and a bit of eyeliner, there’s the hair “product” and I try to dress “nice”. I always wear bike shorts (because I can) and nice funky tops. I wouldn’t wear my Biker Chick…., Nuns & Roses or any of the other cool poseurific duds I have outside (eyeball-searing acid-yellow or lime green is the order of the day there, methinks) but it’s all part of the image for folk who’re expected to look at me for 50 mins or more.
The way I see it, if you can be cast-iron certain that you’re presenting a 110% perfick class that suits absolutely everyone, absolutely all of the time……then it probably doesn’t matter to much whether the rest of the “image” is there. I know instructors like this. I envy them.
One of my colleagues down on LI was seriously overweight….to the point of obesity……but her classes were so AbFab that it wasn’t an issue (not saying it ought to be an issue but it certainly would’ve been for some under different circumstances) Conversely, one of the other instructors whose classes I took quite freqently because they were OK….in a one-move-per-song sort of way…..was young, pretty, in good shape etc. but simply scraped her hair back and wore plain ole black sweats (nothing against Basic Black….except if it’s washed out after too many launderings) You couldn’t help but notice the drab appearance because the class format was tending toward the mediocre also.
I don’t have the supreme self confidence (or arrogance, depending on how you look at it) that any one of my classes can’t be improved upon so I try very hard not to give picky observers cause for complaint about the “visuals”
It is what it is
Vivienne
confession: I don’t wear lipstick but I have found myself putting lotion on my ashy legs deep into the winter season:) I agree, this is not just for women only. As a man, even though I don’t wear lipstick and eyeliner, I try to present myself as well as I can. We are ON STAGE! We are the main character’s in the play. What’s the old saying, “at a minimum, you at least need to look the part”.
I like to know what the long wearing sweat resistant foundation, bronzer & blush you use?
Although some of you will not look at me the same (or at all), I keep my legs shaved all year (not just during the competitive season). I consider it part of the image of a roadie (translation: road cyclist), coach and society weirdo. I’ve even had women in my classes (who also represent 60% of those I teach) tell me that my legs were smoother than theirs. I’d be happy to share leg shaving tips. Maybe during my next post 🙂
Please Tom, NOOOOOOOO! 😉
Since we’re getting physical (no Olivia Newton John pun intended)…. may I ask a male anatomical question that I’m afraid I can’t answer? I had a large (300 lb or so) man (very outgoing and pleasant) say that his “goods” (my term) were feeling pinched on the seat. I said I would pose the question to my go-to resource for all things cycling! Anyone want to tackle this? 🙂
Amy has hit the nail on the head. Call it what you want, we are out there in front of our class and they expect us to lead. We need to respect them and be leaders.
Tom the shaved legs I understand but please, we don’t really want to know if you wear lipstick when you teach.
I’m with you Tom, but I have a slight dilemma; I shaved when I was racing even though Amy wasn’t too happy with it. Then one day she made an “about face” and said; “John, it’s perfectly OK for you to shave your legs.” “It’s completely your choice as long as you understand that only one of the adults in the Macgowan household will have shaved legs.”
Sheila…..I think he needs to learn how to “sit” better…..on his SIT bones rather than rolling forward onto his “undercarriage” proper (my term)
I guess there’s ultimately a point where weight or bodyfat or what have you overides a good position on the bike and for sure, the log-splitters that pass as “saddles” in an IDC class don’t help either. However, there are a lot of Big Boys out there riding for much longer without too much issue, it seems, so I think it’s prolly more to do with technique than anything else.
Vivienne
Well, I got introduced to the idea of blokes with shaved legs back in the days when Spencer Davis (with “little” Stevie Winwood) was in the UK charts with Keep On Runnin'(this is for John 😉 )
I dated a guy at school with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) whose family allowed him to live a “normal” life of rough and tumble, rugby and field hockey……and who found it useful to keep his legs shaved to save them doing it in the ER when he turned up with yet another fracture.
Vivienne
Sheila, have him ask one of your male instructors….there are a few little tricks, but not sure sharing them here is the best idea.
Bill, I was just going to respond to Sheila and then read your post….er..maybe I’ll default to what you just said (instead of providing details). Very good idea.
Sheila, I must confess that when you said you had a male anatomical question and proceeded with “I had a large…” I emotionally panicked and thought I was going to have to make an emergency phone call to John to have a comment removed! If I had my heart rate monitor on at the time, the threshold alarm would have gone off for sure. Nice job scaring the bejesus out of me.
Ooopps! I re-read it and got a good laugh! I better watch were I place the adjectives! Sorry! In the short term, I’ll go with Vivienne’s suggestion. Without going into detail, would a padded seat help? I want to help the poor guy and make it as bearable as possible… THX!
Sheila, You are forgiven 🙂
Yes, I recommended padded shorts as a must and have found that a padded seat (or seat pad) can help those with sensitive soft tissue or for those who are over-wieght.
Bill, that is a great idea; however, I truly doubt that a man would actually ask me how to deal with this situation. BUT in case this question ever surfaces before or after a class I’ll suggest 1). padded bike shorts and/or padded seat might help 2). and to ask a male instructor. Seriously, though, I have seen men ‘fix’ themselves during class and then seem fine.
I pretend to not notice…
Tom, you crack me up! 😀 That comment about Sheila!?!???? Too funny! I’m going to steal that comment from you, “the threshold alarm would have gone off for sure…” Holy cow! LOL
It’s fun being at ICI/PRO 😀
Hi Renee,
Any GOOD mineral foundation, bronzer and blush will be long wearing and water resistant. By “good” I mean non filler based…so it should contain only a few ingredients: bismuth oxychloride, iron oxides, mica and titanium dioxide. Avoid zinc and talc, as they are drying and gather in our lines and wrinkles (but you probably don’t have any of those!:)
Good ones I have tried and liked are: Lancome, Elizabeth Arden and Youngblood. I am certain there are many others out there. Just check the ingredients list. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
Amy
Sheila….
Nice call on the “go to resource!!!!!!”
I am not sure what I would have done in that situation. I have to say, after 20 years teaching group fitness, and 12 years of teaching cycling, that I have never had to tackle that male anatomy question. If I ever have to, I am thankful to have a male “co-instructor” that I work with on a regular basis, and am married to, to defer to! He just might come in handy!
Hilarious….the is the best thread of posting I’ve ever read at ICI/PRO! It’s quite entertaining. So…here’s my two cents…Vincent Longo Gel Stain for Lips and Cheeks lasts forever (find at Sephora)and Bobbi Brown INK gel eyeliner stays on indefinitely.
Now, about the um, ‘adjustments’…Here’s the female version: A fit, pretty newbie was riding on the front row last month and in the middle of a standing climb she sat down and repositioned each ‘girl’ in her shirt, taking an exorbitant time to ensure each was lovingly placed in the proper cup holder. Because we have mirrors on the front wall, everyone saw it and total silence fell over the entire class. It seemed like she would NEVER get them situated…. no one breathed…she’s never been back to class but it was a moment I’ll never forget.
Amy – Thanks for reminding me of my cadaverish skin tone! I think John should work on getting us discounts for spray tans – who needs a Pearl Izumi discount when my glowing whiteness obscures the fancy duds! Then ICI Pro members could be identified in the industry not only as the most knowledgable but also the most bronzed… 😉
Sheila,
One of the best things that ever happened at our gym is a wonderful woman named Jill….she is THE BEST SPRAY TANNER in the world. No booths and turning around at our gym! Oh no, we get custom “Britney Spears” abs on demand. Nothing better than self tanner in the 11 months of winter here in MN.
Barbara….the “girls” loving adjustments cracked me up! I bet the men were mesmerized….
OMG, too funny and serious at the same time! I happened to scroll down and see this discussion and just feel like smiling – what an awesome group of people I’m a part of here at ICI/PRO! Really, I’m a newbie, teaching for a year this month and I have to say, how can I not feel like it just get’s better when I’m connected to great people like you all! I worked in the fire service for my whole life until I retired three years ago. I used to “gear up” in my uniform as a ritual – why is lipstick, shaving or anything else any different! How lucky am I to be wearing the ICI/PRO jersey as my new uniform! Life is good!
Ow wow, Paul! In my humble opinion, there is really no better “gear up” uniform then a fireman! I had the privilege of spending a full day and night at engine 35/ladder 14 in NYC. What a blast. And you are in fantastic shape. To carry the weight of all your equipment is something not many can do. I was completely anaerobic with all the gear on and going up a few flights of stairs! Cannot imagine in a hot building with a few people strapped over my back. Hats off to you!!!! I also went up in the bucket…yeah…was breathless, from the view and the height. Wow!
So very happy to have you here and I cannot wait to see you at the conference in September.
Amy