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 listened to a student.

All she did was ask if we could do “Classic Step” again. She was tired of all the fancy turns and zig zagging all over the step and just expressed how she missed “the good ‘ole days.” At first I was a little repulsed by the thought of going back to Over the Tops and L-Steps. But after really considering what my students were getting from all the Advanced stuff I’ve been pushing on them lately (and yes, the operative term there is “push”) I thought it might be good to just have a “Back to Basics” class. It was great. And if you are feeling like you are in a rut, or you are running out of ideas for what to do in your next class, or you feel like you have exhausted all of the fancy moves there are, taking a few steps back and simplifying can be a really refreshing way to reconnect with your students.

You’ll find the choreography I used here. Even though they know all of these moves, I went all the way back and broke them down, even Karate Knee. It wasn’t because they needed to relearn a Karate Knee, but it was more for the joy of experiencing complete and total success after learning a move. It can be frustrating to be taught an advanced combo and never really get it. I wanted them to remember that feeling, and it worked. They were loving it. It’s been a while since these ladies have been full of the “Woooooos” as in “Wooooo, I got that!” It felt really good.

Combo 1

Part 1, Reverses:

Knee off the end (4)
Charleston on the side (4)
Across the board (4)
Karate Knee on the side (8)
Karate L-Step, beginning from the side (8)
Mambo Cha cha (4)

Part 2, Does not reverse:

2 Indecisions (16)
Curbwalk (8)
Knees Corner-to-Corner (8)

Combo 2

Part 1, Does not reverse:
2 V Steps (8)
2 knee repeater (4), 4 marches or a spin to the front of the step (4)
2 knee repeater (4), straddle(2), stomp (2)
Double stomp (5) Single Stomp (3) (Could be a stomp across, but remember, this was a “Basics” class!!)

Part 2, Reverses:
3-knee Repeater (8)
Mambo cha cha x2 (8)
2 Basics (8) (I threw in a Basic 360 for the first one when they were comfy…)
2 Over the tops (8)

Many many thanks to Frances, for contributing Part 2 of combo one to our Saturday class — you’re doing great girl! And additional thanks to StepJunkie. Part of why I don’t post much Step Choreo is because I steal all of hers….

Have a wonderful week!

Here is his article: Q: Will an indoor-cycling class at my local gym help me in the winter?

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They have a couple of early-bird specials posted on the site — if you register before December 31, 2009, you can get discounts on training materials and some of their other courses. See you in Charleston!

AFAA APEX

• The Chic Life – “AFAA Primary Certification Day”
• Goodboy Norman Featherstone – “AFAA  Cerification Training”
• Geek Turned Athlete – AFAA Primary Group Exercise Certification

If you have blogged about your experience with the AFAA certification process, please share your links with us by leaving a comment.

Yes, you can attend the workshop and take the tests before you complete a qualifying CPR course. You will not receive your AFAA certification until they recieve your proof of CPR, which can be mailed in anytime after the workshop.

What equipment will be provided for the demonstrations?

The workshops are held in a variety of locations. Some locations provide steps, mats, mirrors, balls and/or weights.  Some locations do not. For example, all three of the APEX events I have attended were held on basketball courts. Mats were available, but no other equipment and no mirrors. Do not count on having a step, even if you plan to lead a step demonstration. Instead, lead your exercises as if there were a step present. The testers will not mark you down for not having the equipment, unless you do not do a convincing job of “using it” (See post #5  about miming tubes or weights). If you are worried about the possibility of not having a mat, you should bring your own. You can also call the hosting facility to ask what equipment will be available.

Will we be cueing during the group presentation, or just demonstrating with no words?

During the practical, the only time you will actually cue out loud is during your individual presentation. During the group movement and muscle group portions, when everyone is doing their own thing at the same time, you will not be expected to speak. In fact, I don’t recall specifically, but I think it might be forbidden. If anyone took it recently and knows, please comment!

Should I buy the primary study package?

I have heard from several folks that wish they had invested in the study package, instead of purchasing just the book. It really depends on how comfortable you are with what you know about group fitness. As one commenter put it, and I agree, “if you are looking for more than a practice exam, buy the package. It may cost a little more, but I felt it would have been nice to have before the big day.”

Do you think it is an advantage to take the AFAA group certification at a conference or should I take it at a smaller facility?

There are pros and cons to both. There will be lots happening at the conference and so much to do and learn, that you might not get the full benefit of the workshop. However, the conferences usually offer the workshops at a discount, and it very helpful to have the opportunity to take care of the certification at the same time as a conference. Basically, convenience vs. chaos — you’ll need to weigh out what works for you. The only other difference would be in the number of attendees. A conference will likely have a larger number of people, whereas a facility might only have a dozen or so. If you do better in a small group setting, choose the latter. And never hesitate to call the hosting facility and ask questions about the environment if you are weighing your options.

Any suggestions on how to remember all of the muscle groups?

Keep in mind that they are going to review muscle groups very specifically during the workshop. However, it is helpful to start learning anatomy several weeks before the workshop. To me, the best way to learn muscle groups is to head to the weight room with the book and do the exercises. As you perform each motion, feel which muscle does the work while repeating the name of the muscle group with some sort of pneumonic device to help you remember it. For example: Pectoralis Major (chest) is the major mover in a push up. So I repeat while doing pushups: “Pectoralis Push Up.” Here’s another one: Overhead press works the deltoids. The top of an overhead press looks like the position you are in when you dive off a diving board. So I repeat while doing overhead presses: “Deltoids Dive.” Take some time finding little devices like that to help you remember what the names of the muscles are, and you’ll do great! Another option is to take sculpting classes offered at your gym, or work with a personal trainer to learn the names while doing the exercises.

 
If you have more questions, or don’t feel that I’ve given enough attention to a specific topic, please don’t hesitate to ask!