Quote Originally Posted by Miranda View Post
If you are getting your certification through the original Spinning program, they will train you on what's contra-indicated.

Well, before our Y instructors got Spinning certified, some used to do those moves. Now we do not.

Another gym I teach at still does them. My only saving grace teaching there is that the teacher I took over for was an outdoor cyclists... and did not do the CI moves.

However... all things in Spinning, and Jennifer's advice, is not for every gym go-er imho. Most in your class will not be outdoor riders. Particularly year round.

Keep it fun. Don't be over technical. Have great fun upbeat music people know. Mix it up.

Get to know your members & listen to their feedback.

And btw...

besides teaching Spinning obviously, I am a road cyclists & mountain biker... gear-geek etc... BUT, I'm not ocd roadie technical as a teacher... cuz I found that turns off a certain percentage of your class.

One of our teachers that is VERY technical style is great teacher... but it never reaches the peeps cuz they don't come back... they are bored to death. Me, I try to give em both.

The outdoor riders know I'm a cyclists, have trained for an event before, crashed bad, whole nine yards...

I think sometimes when they get too high and mighty like... "bah hum bug this is not like outdoor riding?" ...um you are riding a bike that goes.... n o w h e r e... lighten up people... and just enjoy what you get out of indoor class as a compliment to your outdoor riding.... duh. lol

Good luck with teaching!

EDIT ADD: This link takes you to another good website for instructors... some really cool peeps on there that would give you the shirt off their cyber-space backs if you need a certain song etc... and some totally anal ocd fights about techy stuff lol... take it with a grain of salt & what works for you.
http://www.pedal-on.com/
I agree! Thanks for the link. I taught one class, my trial run, and LOVED it. I hope the group felt the same. I was co-teaching so I couldn't contradict the other instructor while she was right next to me I am out of town now and have gone to 3 other classes to get a feel for other teaching styles. So far the biggest difference is flow and music. Some teachers are really chatty and that is not my style. I like to concentrate on the ride not gossip. I start my own class next week and I hope that as the weather turns cooler I can pick up a few more students.

Thanks for all the tips ladies