Spin Teaching...tips, any regrets?

[Crankin]

A most interesting conversation that mirrors my experience in the fitness world. I was one of those obsessive instructors in the eighties, leg warmers and all. Thankfully, I rarely did more than one class a day, I lifted weights, and I always took one day a week off. And, I was certified, in the first group of people who were certified by ACE. But before my gym put in the wood floor, I had horrible shin splints and plantar fasciitis. I also developed a bunion that is screaming to be fixed now. I taught for about ten years and got really burned out. During the time I was teaching, I weighed 90-95 pounds and was constantly being questioned about eating disorders. It was just over exercise and I was try to compete with the college aged girls I was working with (I was in my thirties).
What I found was the clients mirrored the kids I had in class in middle school. Some were grateful and appreciative, some seemed bored, and some complained all of the time. I was going to take the ACE personal training exam, but after really looking at the conditions of working in a gym, I've decided to go another route. I'm applying to a grad program in clinical mental health counseling; the program I will be doing is holistically oriented, stressing the mind body connection. I hope to work with people with eating and exercise issues, but not directly doing the training.

[han-grrl]

I'm not saying that being a fitness instructor will eventually require hip replacing. I said that is what happened to my friend. What I have seen is that teaching for a long time, does lead to injuries, no matter how much you try to avoid them. Good flooring, good shoes, yes they help, but over time, teaching 4,5,6 classes a day, which I know some people do, standing all day long. Yes that does play a role in fatiguing the body. and it isn't always obvious right away. Until suddenly something major happens, i have heard of perfectly healthy trainers suddenly throwing out their backs or trying to teach with a taped up sprained ankle, because if they don't teach, they don't get paid. There are no sick days with this job. Because we work on contract, and like i said, no sick days. So it can get hard.

Anyway, enough. Do i have any regrets being an instructor. none. i love it. I have learned a lot about running my business, the industry, i have met wonderful people, and have had wonderful mentors - which i do recommend, find yourself a mentor to help you through this process.

[Keepmovin]

I just wanted to throw out that I'm impressed by the conversation & dialog on this subject. I've recently discovered spinning classes and find it addictingly fun in a way I never realized. I'm pretty much an avid mountain biker and figured the static room couldn't offer anything....but it did!

I've taken 4-5 instructors now and what I find really makes the difference is the music...you almost need a dj spinning the tunes to keep things lively.

There's so much psychology going on in the room it's amazing....people faking crank-up's, instructors pausing to sit up on their bike pretending to look-out over their flock (when in reality they just demo'd some intense power and couldn't keep it up and needed a break). Instructors singing along with the music...just all sorts of stuff....it's hilarious...but all in good effort.

I'm quite certain the body is better off with exercise...but many of us are probably going well past the "optimal" level in terms of benefits vs. wear/tear. Our bodies don't last forever and they do wear-down....but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Eat proper, take good supplements (joint stuff), avoid high-impact, focus on low-impact, wear proper gear and enjoy the beauty of your body and the blessing of life. Aw crap, I've been watching too much Oprah again

[Miranda]

Well girls, have not checked in a while... crazy with other nonfun life stuff, and an injury of diff nature (non fitness/spin related) has kept me away (here and spin/gym).

Thinking I'm getting close to returning the to the gym. But, wow... some interesting talks in this thread of mine. I did complete the Madd Dog Atheletics spin instructors' class. Have not started teaching yet due to above said injury situation. I need just some recoup hang out time before I would dive in.

One thing I didn't like the few times I returned to gym post training class, before I got hurt, was the urgency from a couple fellow instructors to take over their difficult schedule classes. WHOA girls... need to get my feet wet first!

This pressure made the gym not fun to walk thru the door. That is a tragedy. I think I will do it, but when I feel ready. I don't like the pressure of being attacked by people I pass in the hallways about "so WHEN are you gonna do it?".

Part of that comment is just me being a bit grumpy and tainted. A few of the non-instructors class mates did pay me a compliment in asking. One gal said, "O... M! I'm so excited to hear that you will be able to teach us in class now... you are such an inspiration in your love for spinning, and being a cyclists... I can't wait to take one of your classes". I was a bit floored by that. I guess if anything, yes, my true love for the activity as beneficially to anyone is genuine, and must come thru.

I did really find the knowledge of the training instructor awesome tho, regardless of my teaching or not.