Spin Teaching...tips, any regrets?

[Crankin]

These comments made me laugh. I taught aerobics for 10 years and things inside the gym haven't changed much! I DID get burned out on teaching aerobics and was quite happy to be a consumer of the services. A couple of years after that, I started cycling outdoors.
I have thought about teaching spin, but I know that the pressure of "performing" could get to me. And the clients do "talk" some nasty gossip about instructors. I am not afraid of being in front of the class (I taught kids for 30 years), but you all are correct in stating that there are 2 types of people who teach spin... outdoor cyclists and aerobic instructors. I find the groupie aerobic people tend to like the aerobic instructors who do all the stuff I consider to be contraindicated, like super high cadence while doing a standing run on the bike. The outdoor cyclist instructors seem to be able to meet the needs of a wider range of clients. Well, I am still riding outdoors and I guess I will be deciding about getting certified soon.

[willadean]

Miranda- have you become an instructor yet? i just came across this forum, and quickly found this post. If it is at all avalible to you in your area, seriosly consider training with Les Mills. The spinning program is called RPM (Raw Power in Motion). It is headed by a world ranked mountain biker, everything you are taught is up to date and every 3 months you get new material and education. the website is lesmills dot com. It seriously is an amazing program and to me is much more simular to outdoor riding than a traditional spin class. you can check out my profile if you wish, lessmills dot com slash willadean
I had knee surgery and this class rehabed my knee. it is amazing.!!

[han-grrl]

I hope everyone is doing well!

I wanted to add some comments on teaching and spinning. One of my pet peeves are instructors who use their class teaching time for their own workouts. I know the truth is, that is why they might have become instructors and that is the only time, BUT, your responsibility as an instructor is the safety of your class. You cannot possibly pay attention to your participants while you are trying to maintain and 85% max HR spin. I think it is important for instructors to walk around the class to check that breathing is ok and pick up towels or refill bottles. You would be amazed how students will forget to breathe, or maybe their towels will fall, and then they pull something trying to stay on the bike and reach for their towels.

Anyway, as an update - I have decided to give my career in fitness a break and i have taken on a full time job as an environmental scientist. After five years of teaching mtb, spinning, yoga, and personal training, i have found that yes, training has become work and no longer fun. I will continue to do some PT (more like consulting, seeing my clients on a monthly basis) and my annual womens mtb clinics (they are so inspiring to me, a great way to start the summer).

I'm actually signed up for a spin class tonight. I haven't been a participant in a spin class in at least a year, and i haven't taught classes in wow, also a year. We shall see!

remember to keep life well balanced - mind body spirit -

H

[han-grrl]

Well, i managed my first spin class in a long long time. I enjoyed letting go and not having to teach. It was pretty good but here are my thoughts:

1) my instructor never introduced herself, nor did she do any safety checks (knobs, shoelaces, water)
2) her cues were confusing and she was using technical jargon, which i knew about, but i think many people did not.
3) she never reminded us to drink water or check our breathing. from experience i know people need to be reminded.

like i said, i enjoyed being the participant, it was fun and music was good.

smile

Han

[Starfish]

I'm not an instructor, just a participant. My only real input (and I think someone else said it, too) is this:

Just hold it all loosely, and remember that just because you start a course of training, or teaching, it doesn't mean you can't quit at any time if you discover you don't like any of the effects of it in your life.

Just stay in touch with how you're feeling about it all, and go with what gives you energy and satisfaction. If it stops doing that, consider what change you need to make at that time.

[han-grrl]

well said starfish - yes there is a big difference of teaching spinning for fun, versus taking on a career in fitness. I definitely made my entrance into this career quite gradually, teaching mtb and spinning first, then getting into PT and other types of classes. This worked for me, because i was able along each step to figure out where to go next, and what education i needed to get there.

After 5 years, I have decided i have enjoyed this journey, but i needed a new direction.

You also have to remember that in terms of a fitness career- its a very physcially demanding job - and you have to think of what you will do (or may want to do or what your BODY will want to do) after working 5, 10 20 years...My good friend after 25 years of teaching cardio, has had a hip replacement. She loves what she does, would never give it up, but over time, this is what has happened to her body. she has been doing this FULL TIME for 25 years. This is different than taking on a couple of classes a week.

Just some food for thought (as always).

Han

[velogirl]

You also have to remember that in terms of a fitness career- its a very physcially demanding job - and you have to think of what you will do (or may want to do or what your BODY will want to do) after working 5, 10 20 years...My good friend after 25 years of teaching cardio, has had a hip replacement. She loves what she does, would never give it up, but over time, this is what has happened to her body. she has been doing this FULL TIME for 25 years. This is different than taking on a couple of classes a week.

Han

Han, is there really a causal relationship there? My dear father had a hip replacement. He never did anything close to fitness in his life. So can I say that not taking a fitness class caused him to have a hip replacement? No, just like you can't say that your friend's hip replacement was caused by 25 years of fitness instructing.

If you are a good instructor/trainer/coach, you will take precautions to ensure that you don't damage your body (or your ears from the music). I know folks who have worked in the fitness industry for decades and they are fit and healthy.

Don't let the fear of long-term effects dissuade you from becoming a fitness professional. I think most would agree that the potential positive benefits far outweigh the negative impact.

Lorri