Horses for courses
So , who wins ? Which should you teach ? What should your studio offer ? As you may have guessed , I ’ m not here to take sides . I ’ m of a rare breed that teaches pretty much the whole cycle spectrum . I teach high tech , low tech and no tech . I coach classes with power and on screen display , and I teach rhythm .
Why make life hard on myself when I could just pick a style and stick with it ? Because – getting back to my purpose – I understand that everybody is different , and that different members and participants will respond to different stimuli .
For example , hands up all you rhythm riders , dance floor divas , girls and guys that just can ’ t help moving to the beat of the music , wherever it may be . When you walk that shopping cart down the aisle and your jam comes on , you ’ re strutting with sass through Woolies ! You don ’ t just enjoy , you love your dance and beat-based classes – the way they make you feel , the endorphin rush , the switch off from the outside world , that feeling of moving in sync with your tribe .
OK , now , hands up all you tech geeks .
The 30-second article
• The last decade has seen great evolution of the indoor cycle genre , largely driven by opportunities made available by technology
• Classes now tend to fall into one of two categories : rhythmic ( musicbased ) or metric ( data-focused )
• Different styles appeal to different people , so to connect with as many people as you can through your instructing , the most important thing you can do is upskill and educate yourself in different styles .
Driven by data and numbers , you want to know all the information at all times . You want that after-class email telling you how far you rode , how much improvement you ’ ve made , maybe even how many beers you ’ ve earned this weekend ! Understanding and logic is what gets your blood pumping . Comparing your stats with your crew over a post-class coffee is your idea of heaven , and you can ’ t wait to upload it all to your tracking app or excel spread sheet when you get home .
Now hands up if you ’ re somewhere inbetween . Yep , a fair few of you , thought so .
Different styles resonate with different people . When I teach , my purpose is to just be the best instructor I can be in the program or style that the studio wants me to teach . How do I do that ? I don ’ t see the cycle world as two sides – instead , I allow the two to speak to each other !
If you want to reach as many people as you can through your instructing , the most important thing you can do is upskill and educate yourself in as many styles as you can . By doing so , you ’ ll be able to allow the different coaching techniques to speak to each other , and to make a real connection with more of your class participants .
5 tips to teach a better cycle class
Here , in brief , are some nuggets of knowhow you could implement tomorrow :
1 Safety is the number one rule !
No matter what you are teaching , you must ensure everything you deliver is safe . Ask yourself the purpose behind the movement you are delivering , and allow time to set and coach your members though it clearly and efficiently .
2 Have a clearly defined goal
Always start with a goal . Whether it be more traditionally metric-based ( create a distance benchmark in set one , then aim to beat it ), or RPE , technique or intention-based ( I want my members to smile five times today in class ), always have a goal .
3 Drive success
Once you have a goal you can drive a feeling of success in your class . The key to that ? Make all goals personal . No good coach or instructor compares apples to oranges . Goals should be as personal as your underwear drawer !
4 Anchor time and effort
3 , 2 , 1 GO ! Participants want to know what ’ s in store and to pace themselves accordingly . Tell them how hard they should be aiming to go , and how long for !
5 Know the importance of music
No matter whether it ’ s the first or last consideration in your class plan , you must appreciate the intrinsic importance of music . It drives all of us , so choose mindfully , with purpose . Cue to your whole class , not only those that evidently feel the beat , and remember that it ’ s not your personal playlist – it ’ s tailored to your class demographic . Allow the music to shine through : sometimes the lyrics , beat or feel of the music is enough to drive participants , so give your vocal instruction a rest from time to time .
If you can implement these guidelines into your classes , no matter which cycle instructor cap you ’ re wearing , you ’ ll be fulfilling your purpose and changing lives through the power of group fitness , one revolution of the wheel at a time .
Emma Masters is a motivated and dedicated speaker , educator and instructor with 10 years ’ experience in the fitness industry . Emma ’ s purpose is to empower and educate as many fitness professionals as she can . She can be found heading up the Cycle programming for Virgin Active and Master Educating for STAGES Indoor Cycle , currently teaching at Virgin Active Barangaroo and can be found sharing her insights , tips and playlists on Instagram @ ema _ masters
18 | NETWORK SPRING 2018