Spin Class No No's

[Zen]

I actually see some benefit to giving a copy of Funhog's sheet to instructors. Might be a bit on the risky side, but who gives a flying fart? If it is done with the right attitude and with grace, it could help her and others.

Think about how the instructor will view this.
He/she has invested time and money to be certified. She views herself as knowledgeable and a leader. Now here comes some new kid who read something on the interweb and is now telling her how wrong she is.
I'm just sayin...

[Julibird]

Think about how the instructor will view this.
He/she has invested time and money to be certified. She views herself as knowledgeable and a leader. Now here comes some new kid who read something on the interweb and is now telling her how wrong she is.
I'm just sayin...

Yes...but Jen Sage is one of the best known and respected presenters for MDA/Spinning. She has written some of the curriculum, she is one of a small number of headlined presenters at their largest conference in Miami, attended by people from all over North and South America (including the perhaps more familiar Coach Troy of Spinervals who presents smaller workhops).

It may be a subculture - but if you're in it (an instructor), you might receive her words without taking offense. Maybe.

[Tuckervill]

You could also present it as a question. "I read about this, here, and I was wondering what you thought about this advice?"

Karen

[Flybye]

I think I should preface this a bit. I live in a town with a population of about 15,000, give or take a few. The gym is new. The instructor is young. When I tell people that I am taking a spinning class, they say "a what?"

In the classes that I have taken, there have been only 3 students, including myself. That leaves plenty of time for the instructor to chatter and to ask why someone isn't doing what she has instructed.

I realize that she has gone through certification somewhere, but I also realize that as a "consumer" I have a responsibility not to put my trust in her and her training entirely. Heck, I don't even do that with physicians who have a phd. Not even entirely in Funhog or others with their suggestions (sorry). I also think that if she is doing something that is dangerous or could cause harm to another student, it is SOMEONE'S responsibility to say something, be that me or someone else. I would hope that if one of you who had more experience came to class with me and noticed the instructor doing something wrong, you would feel free to approach the instructor graciously. It might squash an ego for a bit, but the benefit outweighs the risk. The benefit would be long lasting - who knows how many classes the instructor might teach and for how many years and how many students. I think that each teacher is different, as well. Some may be completely unapproachable. But then again, that is the most fun kind of person to approach. Guess that's the naughty side of me coming out. I like to get under the skin.

Now here comes some new kid who read something on the interweb and is now telling her how wrong she is.

I work with people as a Licensed Social Worker. I have a little couth, when I summon it - I have been known to handle thinks perty prefessnally - once, I think, back in 1987. Thanks for calling me a kid. Never too old to hear that one - but don't tell my three kids you called me that - they might get big ideas!


Just my $.02

[Crankin]

When I was an aerobics instructor I worked really hard to keep my class SAFE. I knew some clients didn't come to my class because i didn't do certain moves that they viewed as hard and "good" for them, when in reality, they didn't do anything but hurt you. I really didn't care. When I go to spin class, if I don't hover or do the silly jumps, the instructor pretty much knows why! But, some of the spin instructors, i.e. the ones who aren't cyclists keep doing this stuff. I am not sure why if the training is telling them these moves are contraindicated.
I think the list presented above is excellent and most people who go to spin regularly will understand it!

[Tuckervill]

I think I should preface this a bit. I live in a town with a population of about 15,000, give or take a few. The gym is new. The instructor is young. When I tell people that I am taking a spinning class, they say "a what?"

I know that feeling! You should see the looks on faces in my small southern town when I say I went on a cruise with Barenaked Ladies!

I realize that she has gone through certification somewhere, but I also realize that as a "consumer" I have a responsibility not to put my trust in her and her training entirely. Heck, I don't even do that with physicians who have a phd. Not even entirely in Funhog or others with their suggestions (sorry). I also think that if she is doing something that is dangerous or could cause harm to another student, it is SOMEONE'S responsibility to say something, be that me or someone else. I would hope that if one of you who had more experience came to class with me and noticed the instructor doing something wrong, you would feel free to approach the instructor graciously. It might squash an ego for a bit, but the benefit outweighs the risk. The benefit would be long lasting - who knows how many classes the instructor might teach and for how many years and how many students.

I completely agree! And if you can't change the instructor's mind, you can always serve as a good example. I don't do anything in my boot camp class that I think will make me sore later (but I still do something), and I feel free to modify at will. Some people are so rule bound that they wouldn't DREAM of doing anything other than exactly what the instructor says. So I modify, and that lets everyone who is feeling stressed over it relax a little, and then they are modifying and doing only what they CAN do.

And guess what? I can now do EVERYTHING in the class, because I went at my own pace and did what I could and kept trying and didn't get discouraged and refused to feel guilty about anything I couldn't do. [This is a class run by PTs so nothing they do is unsafe. Hard but never unsafe!]

Karen

[kjay]

Funhog, thanks for your very thorough and informative message. It is not 'information overload' by any means. I think we should all be appreciative of your willingness to take the time to provide us with this info.

[Flybye]

Completely off topic here but I am coveting the User CP Funhog and the avatar. Have been for days. You are a Funhog!!!

Why didn't I think of that????

[karenxfiles]

I think the information on the contraindicated moves was great......i go to some free classes at the military base, and there are a lot of macho guys in the class. There are 3 different instructors. One is a real "outdoor" cyclist, and I really like his class. But one of the other guys is always doing that hopping up and down stuff, and doing push ups on the bike, and doing that "hovering" thing. I am by nature a very disobedient person, so i was sort of modifying things by not turning the # of "turns" that the instructor said to, etc. Maybe that is why I sit in the back of the room. Anyhow, I was wondering for the last few weeks if some of this stuff was potentially harmful, and now at least i'm a bit more informed.

Thanks!

[Funhog]

That would be a bit...nervy.

Yeah, it is! I was asked one time by a student for the info so she could give it to her instructor because she was dying for some sanity in her class as she put it. I thought it was nervy of her, but she later told me he was fine about it. I don't think I would do it myself - I'd find a different instructor but I don't think she had that option, it was a small town with one club.

But Zen is so right about the common sense part of it. The only problem, is that some people put their instructors up on pedestals and follow them blindly and do anything he or she says to do, so the "common sense" goes out the windows. IMO, cyclists are a little bit smarter about this in an IDC class.

[Funhog]

At my club,any instructor caught teaching unsafe practices will be fired on the spot.

Gosh, I wish this were the norm! Far too many clubs/managers don't give a flying fart (sorry to steal the expression...love it)! Some even encourage their instructors to do "whatever" it takes to get more numbers in, and sadly, some of the most popular instructors are the ones doing the most contraindicated movements.

If the information I provided was helpful to you, I get a lot of psychic reward for that. Thanks!

If you're lucky enough to have safe and effective IDC instructors, consider yourself ahead of the game!

I've taken this contraindications list and put it on my Spinning Blog. Please know that this blog is a completely free resource, I get no compensation from it. My goal is to share and help other instructors and Spinning enthusiasts and cyclists grow and learn. If you have an instructor who might need a little "updating" on his/her style, it might be easier to recommend this blog instead of printing out this thread, or even the contraindications list. Lots of profile ideas, physiology, and soon, music suggestions.

[Funhog]

Completely off topic here but I am coveting the User CP Funhog and the avatar. Have been for days. You are a Funhog!!!

Why didn't I think of that????

The nickname I acquired from friends in 1994 when I left a high paying corporate job in Atlanta to move to Vail to become a ski instructor and personal trainer. Then a few years ago at the Tour de France, we were watching the Publicity Caravan prior to the peleton passing through (it's like a Mardi Gras parade that covers every kilometer of the Tour route). One of the corporate sponsors had this series of silly animal vehicles (a pink pig, a rubber ducky, and others) that paraded by. One of my clients said, "Hey Jennifer, it's you! It's the Funhog!" So I've got his picture posted all over to remind me that life is supposed to be FUN. I have a small pink bean bag piggy sitting on my computer monitor watching me as I write...

[Funhog]

Check these out!

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=nYGkvvaOUww

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbc8eE4_5qc&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr4DA...eature=related
(I believe these guys have been charged with trademark violations in their title)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIDOf...eature=related
after this instructor, you may never come back to Spinning!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geXoi...eature=related
cha cha cha...

[alpinerabbit]

oh . my. gods . These vids are horrible.

[Zeek]

Gosh, I wish this were the norm! Far too many clubs/managers don't give a flying fart (sorry to steal the expression...love it)! Some even encourage their instructors to do "whatever" it takes to get more numbers in, and sadly, some of the most popular instructors are the ones doing the most contraindicated movements.

All too true. If more clubs worried about the quality of instructors they hired life would be grand.