Posts from — January 2008

So it’s the middle of winter.  The cold weather has set in and your body has switched into energy conservation mode.  Maybe it isn’t the weather though.  Maybe something has happened to leave you feeling less giving, less motivated, less able to make it to your classes with a smile on your face.  Whatever the reason, wherever it came from you’ve got it…  You’re slumping.  The thought of leading a group of students to fitness nirvana leaves you cold.  How do you pick it up and find your joy of teaching again?  Not only for your sake, but the sake of your students?

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If you are looking for a way to end the need for watching the clock during a Circuit Training or Intervals class, or if you just want fun sound effects to signal the next exercise, you might enjoy this tip.  For this tip to work, you must be able to play both a CD and iPod over the speakers at the same time.  If you can only hear from one at a time it won’t work.  If you can, read on….

Basically, I made tracks that are silent, except for ending with a bell that sounds like the end of a boxing round.  They are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes long.  I make a playlist based on how I want my Circuit workout to go.    For example, I want do to 10 rounds of 3 minutes of cardio and 2 minutes of a resistance exercise so I use the 3-min and 2-min sound effects alternately in the playlist, for as many rounds as I need.  Then, I copy it to my iPod.

 During class, when it is time for the first interval to begin, I start the playlist.  Every pre-determined time interval will be signalled by a nice “Ding Ding Ding.”  It is fun!  It takes a little bit of manipulation because you have to make sure you can hear the sound effect over your music, but once you’ve got it, you don’t even have to think!  All of your energy can go into the workout or the coaching.

If you want to give it a try, here are the sound effects.

update:  I’ve added the playlist on Napster!  Enjoy!

note:  The ride is actually *not* an “over and back” ride.  It is a progression of four hills that I named incorrectly.  However, rather than destroy the links created for this title, I’ll keep it as-is, and just let you know this one is better described as an interval hill progression.  Sorry for any confusion! 

Hey folks!

The new year lasts as long as you want it to…  sort of like Christmas, it lives on in your heart throughout the year if you let it.  This playlist could serve your purpose in the next week or two or bring it out again when you want your group thinking about celebrating new beginnings.  The profile is really simple and quite challenging.  I shortened and blended the music in Acid Music 6.0 to get the timing I wanted, but you can do it however you want, of course!  Enjoy!

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You really can’t say the words “New Year” without that sneaky word ”Resolutions” floating up in the back of your mind or escaping your lips.  Ah, yes, New Year’s Resolutions.  What would be the point of celebrating a whole new year if we didn’t all experience the anticipation and hope that a fresh start brings?  “Get busy living or get busy dying,” right?  If a New Year is what it takes to get you into gear, then bring on the power!

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