I'm new to spinng, but not as a fitness instructor ( I'm also a personal trainer). I've just started to fit spin into my schedule because I want to build my endurance for MB trail rides...I live in Arizona, so we're in season right now...anywhoo...

A lot of group exercise guidelines are meant to keep the middle ground for fitness purpose and not for excellence or preformance. The better clubs will let instructors do their thing as long as the clients love what's going the instructor teaches (within reason/safety)...the "K-mart" clubs/gyms are usually real silly about what method THEY want as opposed to what is best for the client. It sounds like the critique of not doing an Mad Dogg method was a way to disqualify and discourage variety. You really don't want to work in a place that has a "control" over you style.

Also, I need some advice from those of you who attemd/teach spin regularly. I feel "out of place" in spin class...

So, my shoes are banged up from riding and I wear gloves because there are no grips, plus, I'm use my "Terry Thumb"
... who on earth rides with a towel and stops to use kleenex? Occasionally, I like to ride out of my range to challenge myself, but the guy 3 bikes over got mad at me because my heart moniter beeped when I went over my target for my "age"...he got all prissy. Hell, the reason I go to class is to get the heart rate up, and, to get out of my rut so I can build a stronger heart muscle. (As a fitness instructor, I know what it means to have the class take a pulse and encourage them to stay within proper ranges).

If I can't get in a "wild betty" on the trails, then, spin class is my alternative. I do not "do my thing" in class because that's a "dis" on the instructor (I hate when people come into my classes and do their thing instead of following instructions). Any suggestions, fellow instructors? I'm just beginning spin, so if my behavior is offensive or I'm not up on spin ettiquette, I'd sure like to know...
Terry