spinning certification advice?

[Zeek]

Being anal is not a bad thing. Do you know who your M.I. will be? If you call Mad Dogg, they should be able to tell you.

[Dogmama]

What is "M.I."?

[tulip]

Master Instructor?

How about Cycle Reebok? Any opinions or knowledge about that program?

[Julibird]

Master Instructor?

How about Cycle Reebok? Any opinions or knowledge about that program?

I have NO knowledge of Reebok. But, I know that MDA seems to have more respect among instructors in my area, fair or not. The other cert. that gets you in the door in my area is Schwinn.

You can't lose with a Spinning cert. It may or may not be the best, but it is a standard that is recognized everywhere.

My .02.

[chiara]

I've been "spinning" here in Canada for about 12 years. I'm a passionate roadie and have started an indoor cycling cert program that focuses on authentic road cycling. There are two certs available. One focuses on a general fitness audience, the other on roadies during the off season (it gets cold up here) based on the principals of periodization.

C.O.R.E. CYCLING
Creating the Optimal Ride Experience

What is C.O.R.E.?
C.O.R.E. is a cycling certification program based on
principals of authentic road cycling. C.O.R.E. is one
of the most comprehensive, dynamic and kinetically
intelligent indoor cycling certification programs in
Canada. Just as the ‘core’ muscles of the body
provide a solid platform for the legs to push up
against, the C.O.R.E. philosophy is one of a strong,
supportive education for your indoor cycling program.

Why C.O.R.E.?
C.O.R.E. provides potential instructors with the tools
to craft a motivating and powerful ride from start to
finish. Whether instructing those that want to
incorporate indoor cycling into an overall fitness
regimen to the serious outdoor cyclist training off
season, a C.O.R.E. Cycling certification imparts the
knowledge to lead a class with gracious authority –
C.O.R.E. trained instructors will produce greater
measurable gains – your members will notice the
difference.

[AmyjoMac]

My husband has a Podcast on indoor cycling and he interviewed Clair Cafaro, the owner of CORE cycling about her program. You can listen here: http://www.indoorcycleinstructor.com/?p=462

[silver]

Master Instructor?

How about Cycle Reebok? Any opinions or knowledge about that program?

I am certified through my YMCA. They teach from Cycle Reebok. I think it's a pretty basic, decent training. I still teach as if I'm road riding, cause I'm a road rider.

I am interested in Mad Dog and will be pursuing that soon.

[tulip]

I am certified through my YMCA. They teach from Cycle Reebok. I think it's a pretty basic, decent training. I still teach as if I'm road riding, cause I'm a road rider.

I am interested in Mad Dog and will be pursuing that soon.

Thanks, Silver. I'm interested in becoming certified. I've been taking indoor cycling classes (not "real" Spinning, since it's TM) for a couple of years. I'm looking into both certifications. I would like to teach at a Y or something similar.

[Dogmama]

I would like to teach at a Y or something similar.

I take classes at my local Y and at Bally's. The Y's classes are far better!

I don't know about your area, but you can't get rich teaching, especially at the Y. I think our Y pays $11/hour for teaching. So, it's more a gift of fitness rather than a paid job.

[tulip]

I take classes at my local Y and at Bally's. The Y's classes are far better!

I don't know about your area, but you can't get rich teaching, especially at the Y. I think our Y pays $11/hour for teaching. So, it's more a gift of fitness rather than a paid job.

Oh, I don't expect to get rich. I expect to get free Y membership and a few bucks for the spin class and music that I know I will like at a volume that I can stand. Since my favorite instructor left the area, I now pay for a gym membership that I barely use (only the spin classes) for spin classes with bad music at way to loud a level.

[Zeek]

What is "M.I."?

Master Instructor (or "Master Presenter" also). Some are great, some aren't so great. I'm curious to see who your presenter will be.

[Funhog]

I'll throw in my $.02, but it's obviously a bit biased here (I'm an MI for Mad Dogg Athletics, although I am an independent contractor, not a paid employee). I've seen a lot of crazy stuff over the past 11 years of certifying instructors and presenting at conferences. I've also written some of the workshops when I realized there wasn't enough cycling related workshops (the roadie in me). My biggest pet peeve is when instructors don't Keep it Real, even if they don't ride a bike outside (that is, the aerobics on a bike stuff and the super-high crazy cadences that don't make sense).

That being said, you can have an instructor leave an orientation, believe in the program, promise herself (or himself) that she/he will stick to the program and then start teaching at a club where no one uses HR monitors, no one likes to sit in the saddle for endurance rides, the most popular instructors are drill sergeants and do tons of contraindicated moves (i.e. unsafe moves), everything is beat driven at high cadences.... So this poor instructor will start teaching the "other way" in order to be more popular and may even make up a few new moves. Sigh... I guess once they've gotten certified, you can't force everyone to follow the program.

As several have already pointed out, there are some good MIs, and some so-so ones. That's the case in any program. But I think we have some pretty good ones, and if you're in the southwest, the ones I know on this side of the country are pretty good, if not great.

As far as the program itself, it originated from road cycling and is based on sound physiological and training principles. We have always taught heart rate training, which is so very important. There have been some changes over the years, as new things were learned, as well as an effort to make it even more applicable to real outdoor riding. There was a mind-body connection in Spinning long before it became hip to do so (Johnny was deep into martial arts and brought that aspect into Spinning). You can't disconnect the mind from the body, so those who pooh-pooh it (even some of the other certifying agencies) are missing one of the greatest things you can do to improve your performance: utilize the mind-body connection.

My personal opinion, if I can take off my MI hat, is that Spinning was the original, it's the best, and you will not go wrong. But as in everything in life, it's not the end of your education. You must support the certification with CED, with conferences (there is truly no experience quite like WSSC, the World Spinning and Sports Conference, in Miami late May/early June), with reading HR training books, coaching books and articles, etc. Some Spinning CED is excellent, some of the workshops are a little stale as someone said. (PM me if you are thinking of attending one and want my honest opinion on the good ones). The fact remains, MDA and Spinning is an education company, and no one has the type of CED that they provide.

True, it was a bummer when Johnny G left, and I do miss his inspiration, but the program thrives without him and in some ways is even better.

I'm not representing Mad Dogg in this post, I am just telling you what I know from my own perspective! Hope it adds to what you already know...

[Zeek]

True, it was a bummer when Johnny G left, and I do miss his inspiration, but the program thrives without him and in some ways is even better.

I beg to differ. Pardon the temporary hijack of the thread. There is absolutely no way on this earth that the spinning program is better without Johnny. Please.

[Zen]

She did say "in some ways" and is obviously expressing an opinion, something we are all entitled to whether you agree or disagree.
Thank you

[Dogmama]

I'm just glad to hear that this is a good certification. Now, I'm hoping there are enough people enrolled so that they'll hold the class. Do you think they'll tell me? ACSM doesn't look like it will go because there aren't enough people (two) for the workshop...