I'm looking for some advice, good resources, etc about teaching spin classes. I've been going to spin classes regularly for about four months now, and I really enjoy them. My gym is short-handed on spin instructors, and I told them I might be interested and they wanted to sign me up right away. I'm a little nervous now because I've never taught a fitness class of any kind, and although I ride a lot, both indoors and outdoors, I know there's a lot more to it when it comes to teaching. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Tom (stingo) went to some sort of training to be a spin instructor - maybe he'll see this and chime in. You could point him here through his log 'swole management' if you want.
What sort of advice/knowledge were you looking for? Some specifics would be helpful.
As Lisa indicated I did take an instructor's training seminar through Madd Dog Athletics. It was a 9 hour course that included creating ride profiles, bike setup, music and other such things. Prior to that I'd been spinning for two years. Most of the stuff I knew from experience, but I did learn about cadence checks and the like.
Running a class is where your personality will really come to forefront. Some instructors like to be cheerleaders, some don't - I'm in the latter category. That said, I provide some encouragement and advice but I like to let people get into the music and the ride rather than listening to me blab. (In line with this thinking, my playlists tend toward instrumentals, with songs with lyrics sprinkled throughout.) The other side of that is always giving people very clear cues as to what's going to happen next, and other info like how long the song is going to be. And particularly for beginners, I try to remind everyone that it's THEIR ride. However hard they are working is up to them, as nobody knows what sort of resistance is actually on that bike (though as an instructor you'll be able to tell who's working and who isn't). As you already know, once you're an instructor it's about their workout, not yours, so getting feedback from the class as to how things are going is essential.
Probably stating the obvious here, but does that help at all?
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Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
Thanks Stingo, that does help, and thanks for your quick response! I think I would probably fall into the same category as you as far as cheering people on is concerned. I've been practicing some routines I made up at home, and I've been practicing saying what I think I should say. It pretty much falls in line with your recommendations so that makes me feel better. Would you say that you work out with less intensity when you're teaching the class? I would think I would have to just so that I'm paying attention to the routine and able to talk. When I'm just a participant, I usually work so hard I have to concentrate on breathing and there's no way I could talk!
I don't think I really need any help in the music or bike set up department, I've got that covered. Ride profiles, cadence checks, etc, that's where I need help I think.
Do you know of any good resources online that I could check out? I found a website www.spinfreak.com where people share their spin routines. I'm not sure if I'll be able to take the class like you did right away, so any information along the same lines, either found online or in book or video format, would be helpful. Thanks again!
Thanks Stingo, that does help, and thanks for your quick response! I think I would probably fall into the same category as you as far as cheering people on is concerned. I've been practicing some routines I made up at home, and I've been practicing saying what I think I should say. It pretty much falls in line with your recommendations so that makes me feel better. Would you say that you work out with less intensity when you're teaching the class? I would think I would have to just so that I'm paying attention to the routine and able to talk. When I'm just a participant, I usually work so hard I have to concentrate on breathing and there's no way I could talk!
I don't think I really need any help in the music or bike set up department, I've got that covered. Ride profiles, cadence checks, etc, that's where I need help I think.
Do you know of any good resources online that I could check out? I found a website www.spinfreak.com where people share their spin routines. I'm not sure if I'll be able to take the class like you did right away, so any information along the same lines, either found online or in book or video format, would be helpful. Thanks again!
That's what I was referring to when I was saying it was their ride, not yours. You'll have to be paying attention to everyone, even getting off your bike to retrieve towels, water bottles etc. As such, yeah you yourself won't be able to max yourself out but you will be able to push yourself hard enough to inspire your class.
As for routine sharing, I think spinning.com has a subforum where people do that - they also release programs monthly to their instructors too.
I'd strongly suggest though not teaching until you've got a certification. Not that anything bad will happen, but if it does, the liability for an uncertified/untrained instructor might be considerable.
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Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
I'd highly recommend visiting either the forums on pedal-on.com or on innercycling.com
Both have some very knowledgeable posters (including instructors, master instructors, and participants) who can fill you in on various types of indoor cycling, suggestions for putting together classes, as well as tips on courses/what you need to do to become certified. Plus years of past threads to search through
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