I’ve compiled a quick list of ways you can kick start your inspiration and get back on top of the world again. While this list has specific inspirations for indoor cycling and Spinning instructors, the advice can certainly be adapted for any type of fitness instructor or personal trainer. But don’t worry, I’ve already started a list for group fitness instructors, which will be posted in a day or two.

1. Go back and review the Three things every instructor should do. Then start working on those three things!
2. Read one or both Jennifer Sage’s ebooks: Keep It Real in your indoor cycling classesand 10 Ways to Stay Motivated as an Indoor Cycle Instructor. (Bonus! 10 Ways to Stay Motivated is free when you claim your Subscription to ICI/PRO!!!
3. Speaking of ICI/PRO, you really should claim your subscription now and start filling your noggin with knowledge. I haven’t even combed the entire site, and I’ve already got a years worth of ideas just waiting to be implemented!!! The best part to me are the Audio PROfiles — you learn how a Master Instructor constructs and coaches a class. It’s worth several times more than what you pay for it, but even so, they give you a trial week for $1 just to show you.
4. Ride alone as often as you can. Use this time to explore what it is that makes you uniquely qualified to empower others through indoor cycling. Use the time to listen to music that is outside your comfort zone and try out new profiles. It’s an investement in yourself that pays back HUGE dividends!
5. Call Mad Dogg Athletics and find out who the Master Instructors in your area are and where they teach classes. Contact that gym for their schedule and commit to taking a class from them as soon as you possibly can. If you have to travel to get there, you should try to contact the MI to let them know when you will be coming, that way you can find out if they are actually teaching that day (MIs need subs occasionally too!) (**Side note — lots of the Spinning MIs share their knowledge at pedal-on.com. You can seek them out there too!) And of course, if you are certified to Schwinn or another group, you can contact them too, I just happen to love the Spinning MIs I know!
6. Set aside some quiet time to do something refreshing for yourself, like getting a massage, spending time in prayer or meditation, or reading an inspiring book (If you are into motivational books, I recommend Matthew Kelly’s book Perfectly Yourself: 9 Lessons for Enduring Happiness.)
7. Sign up for the next continuing education workshop or conference that will be in your vicinity. Do a little research on the presenters and take classes from the ones you determine have the most to offer you, not just those that will offer you something of entertainment value.
8. Make some lists!!! Make a list of all of the reasons you started teaching. Make a list of all the reasons you continue to teach. Make a list of all of the reasons you are a good teacher and a list of all of the ways you want to be a better teacher. You’ll be amazed at what seeing it written down on paper can do!
9. Call a friend or another instructor you trust who will be honest with you and arrange for them to come to your class. Ask them to be brutally honest about what they think were the best aspects of your coaching and which areas need improvement.
10. Take more classes. Take any kind of class, it doesn’t just have to be IDC. Take yoga, take kickboxing, photography, Physics. Take anything that shakes you up and challenges you to take another look at the world. While you are there, you might learn something new and absorb a new cue, and new concept, something you can incorporate into your own classes.
11. Take a break. Get your classes subbed out for the next 2 or 3 weeks and recharge your batteries. You can’t give what you don’t have, so use the time away to feed yourself. It’ll give you lots of time to do all of the other things on this list!
12. Plan a special event at your club. It can be a fundraising ride or a journey ride or a race day or a threshold test or anything that is different and unique and brings people together for something special. Put extra effort into creating the atmosphere of something valuable and one-of-a-kind. Bonus points for giving back to your community in some way!!

There are tons more ways to kick start your inspiration, but these are the ones that I have tried and that were instrumental in bring me to this high point where I am at now! I’d love to hear your experiences, your suggestions, and how you are doing in your personal journey! Leave a comment. The boxes don’t bite!

I know you are going to find something here you can’t live without. I just listened to the Top Ten List in the Right-Hand menu and cannot wait to start putting a ride together for this! I’m setting to work on that playlist and I will share when I’ve got it together. I’ll also have to figure out how to link directly to a song — so far I’m only getting albums. But I digress. Get there. Go now! Grab your headphones and start downloading!! Here’s that website again:

Masterbeat.com

You know you want to dance!!

• Total Workout: Ibiza Dance Mix – 30 Minute Non-Stop Fitness Music Mix. (130 – 134BPM)
  • 
  • Napster
• iSweat Fitness Music, Vol. 69: DJ Mixes
  • 
  • Napster
• iSweat Fitness Music, Vol. 74: More Madonna
  • 
  • Napster

Option Two:  Adjust the settings of your CD Burning software.  You’ll need to check the help files for the specific software that you are using.  These options may or may not be available depending on what program you are using to burn your disc.  I can already tell you that if you are using Windows Media Player you are stuck with those gaps, because these options don’t exist.  However, some software, such as Roxio CD Creator and Nero, allows you to modify your burn settings to get the results you want.  After you create your burn list, select your options or settings feature and look for the following:

1. “Disc-at-Once” – as opposed to “Track-at-once.”  All by itself, this setting won’t do anything about the gaps in your CD; but, Disc-at-Once recording is a prerequisite for being able to control the length of the gap (down to zero seconds).
2. “Length of Pre-Gap”/”Pause Between Songs”/etc — They all have a different name for it, but look for the setting that explicitly says “Remove the gap between songs” or allows you to set a pause length of zero seconds between songs.  This might be a setting that applies to the entire disc or to each individual song.  You’re going to have to hunt around in your help files to figure out what actual steps to take.

Even with these settings selected, you may still experience a brief hesitation or a click as the CD moves on to the next song.  It usually isn’t long enough to throw off your counting, but it may be just annoying enough to drive you to try the next choice…

Option Three:  Become a DJ with Audio Editing Software.  I have been using Sony Acid Music ($55), which is really intended for musicians.  With editing software, I can lay out tracks, add cross fade, match up beats, figure out the BPM of any song, add sound effects, and a number of other fun things!!  I don’t recommend Acid Music for you, unless you are a musician on the side and want to produce your own demo tapes.  Instead, there is DJ software available that does similiar things in a much more intuitive format.  Ones to shop around for include:  Sony CD Architect ($130), MixMeister Express ($50), or Free Audio DJ Mixer (Free).  Please note:  I have not used any of these titles and they don’t come with any explicit recommendation.  I only checked the features to get an idea that they would accomplish our goal — it’s your job to shop smart this time!!

Here is the first profile that’s been updated.  I hope you find the new style useful.  Feel free to provide feedback on how it could be more readable/usable!  Check out the 90-min Endurance Ride

Thanks to all of you for helping make this the go-to site for Group Fitness and Indoor Cycling choreography, profiles and playlists!

Music Outside the JukeBox!
By Biray Alsac

It’s no secret – music can make or break any group fitness class. Without good tunes, members may tune out (or listen to their iPod while exercising to their own beat). So, instructors are always looking for new songs (or remix of old songs) that continue to engage and motivate participants.

With websites like iTunes, Napster and Pandora (a site that recommends new music based on songs you already like), there are endless opportunities to discover new material. But sometimes we don’t have time to search for new music or find different resources on the web. Read below to learn new ways to create your perfect soundtrack for class.

Share Your Playlists and Songs
Platforms like iTunes and Napster allow users to create and share their playlists from songs in their database. Rather than finding a list of songs online or receiving one from an instructor, encourage your colleagues to share their playlists on one of these platforms. This way, you can quickly download the pre-selected songs directly into your iPod or burn them onto a CD. Sharing playlists is certainly not a new concept (we all know musical sequencing is crucial in class design), but internet technology has turned this process into a time-saving opportunity.

If you’re interested in sharing more traditional fitness music (those with a 32-count mix, variable speeds, etc.) check out ClickMix or Yes! Fitness Music. Instructors can create their own group fitness CDs simply by choosing from a selection of songs and customizing track sequence and speed! (No more frustrations of buying a pre-made CD then finding there’s ONE song in the middle you wished wasn’t there.) Instructors can share their personalized mixes with others or choose a mix from their peers. And no more waiting for a CD to come in the mail – these sites allow instant download to computer or burn to a CD from their website.

Listen To Your Members Instead of the Radio
Members love it when you include their song suggestions it your musical rotation. After all, if members identify and enjoy the music you play, they’ll keep coming back! And these days, there are plenty of ways members share their musical tastes online. Websites like Last.fm, Blip.fm and iLike allow users to listen, review and recommend songs. (Why not create your own profile and have members ‘follow’ or ‘friend’ you so you have a network for sharing musical thoughts). Also, if you know your members are on Facebook or MySpace, you may find a list of their favorite songs on their profile pages, too.

Swap Out the Pop, Swap In the Indie
Let’s face it, songs can be expensive. Even though 99 cents per song doesn’t seem like a lot, it can add up to 99 dollars fairly quickly! So, if you have a little more time on your hands, visit a site where you can download underground artists or royalty free music. It may not be 32-count mix or the latest pop single, but you may discover melodic gems that add to the workout experience.

Amie Street is a site where you can discover a variety of music from indie and established artists. Songs start FREE and go up to 98 cents. And at Amie Street, it pays to listen. Songs that you recommend can ultimately earn you purchasing credits toward other songs.

Freeplay Music  is the ‘off-the-beaten-path’ approach to finding new music. Many film and television producers come here to find scores for their movie projects or TV spots. But what most people don’t realize is its selection of music can easily suit your Spinning or Yoga class. In fact, most songs have a 30-second or 1-minute version of the original song – perfect from creating interval sequences!

No doubt – music is powerful. Rocker-turned-neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin makes a great statement in his book This is Your Brain on Music. He says, “Music is fundamental to our species, perhaps even more so than language.” Remember this next time you go to teach your classes. If you mess up on your cueing or forget your choreography, it doesn’t matter. Cuz if you music rocks, so will your class!

Editor’s Note:  For additional resources, please check out our Helpful Links and Freebies! 

Read more from Biray at:

http://www.FITTmaxxInstitute.com
“Fitness and Interactive Technologies Together”

http://www.BeFitWithBiray.com
“Follow Biray’s blog on fitness and technology”

http://BeFitInTurkiye.blogspot.com
“Join Biray on her summer tour of Istanbul!”

http://KixKayamanu.blogspot.com
“The Adventures of Health & Fitness Correspondent in Second Life”

I make absolutely zero money from the sales of this book (who negotiated *that* contract? LOL) but I do want to let you know that it is available and ask you to share it with the Working Women in your life who could benefit from some solid, “life-balancing” advice from women who do it everyday.

Thanks for letting my plug my single published work!