I started teaching spin decades ago. Safe to say there have been some interesting comments and happenings before, during, and after classes that may or may not shock you.
Right from the get go my very first class I had spent quite a bit of time formulating a playlist that would motivate the profile I had created. Songs that had a quick 30 second chorus for sprint intervals, longer dig deep songs to get you up a heavy resistance hill, etc. I get to class early, set up my bike, make sure the music was properly keyed up, I thought I had everything in place. WRONG! No one warned me about the nutty people and their comments. Never would I ever do some of the crazy things people say and do.
As I finished prepping my bike for class a woman walked in and headed straight for me. She introduced herself, as did I and she proceeded to tell me it was her first class. I showed her how to adjust her bike and gave her a run down on how to use the resistance knobs as well as how the class was going to go. She seemed a little abrasive and not because she was nervous about it being her first class but just slightly prickly personality wise. The class started to fill and once everyone was set on their bikes we were good to go.
My spin profiles typically had a mix of flat road drills, sprint intervals, and climbs running the gambit between little rollers to steep MFer’s. We were a handful of songs in and it was time to sprinkle in a sprint interval section. The song came on and even thought this was forever ago I will NEVER forget the song, it was Sia’s Chandelier, which was popular at the time. I will also NEVER forget what happened next.
Let’s name our first time rider I spoke of earlier, Sharon, to protect the innocent of course. Sia starts to belt out “I wanna swing….” to which Sharon in her loudest voice possible tells me and the rest of class how she doesn’t like the song. In my mind, I thought, does this bitch think this is some sort of Casey Kasem request line? My actual verbal response was, “ hang in there Sharon, the sprint intervals are almost over, its just part of a playlist.”
Maybe it’s good that happened my very first class to set me up for future craziness that would take place. People would come in before class and list all of the reasons why they weren’t going to do whatever I was cueing ie. I’m recovering from a knee injury and can’t climb, I tweeked my hip so I can’t come out of the saddle, sprints aren’t for me, etc. I often wondered why do people even come to a class, why not just go sit on a bike in the gym? I was told, “Well you have good playlists”. Those folks should have told Sharon from my first class.
I have had people answer phone calls during class and not get off their bike to leave the room. These are not Dr.’s ya’ll! I’ve had people say it’s too hot and want an exterior door open while its snowing outside and blowing in on the instructor bike. I’ve had people who wanted the fan on then say it’s too cold. Managing the temp in a class can become a giant nightmare and a full time job with some folks while you are trying to teach. I’d just like to insert, expect to sweat when you come to my class much like if you come to a SUPYoga class, yes at the bare minimum your feet will get wet. That’s a whole other tangent.
Even still to this day I had a couple in a class who one was pointing their toes while they were pedaling. Not the most efficient pedal stroke, and gave a cue to the class as we climbed to flex their toes toward their shins to get a proper pull using the back leg muscles. The guilty party looked at me and asked why? You know like the kind of “why” a two year old asks. I again explained the hamstrings are a much bigger muscle group to engage and therefore more efficient using a visual in case he didn’t know the names of the muscles. He didn’t like my answer and continued to point his toes the rest of class. The following week I gave the same cue again with a bit more pizazz, “ pretend like you are smearing gum with the sole of your foot on the sidewalk to get a proper pull”. Shockingly, this time the wife asked why? I gave the same explanation and kept on riding.
Needless to say I have scaled back teaching spin quite a bit since I first started. At one point I was teaching 5-8 spin classes a week sometimes two in a row back to back. Might not seem like a lot but along with all of my other classes I was burning the candle at both ends physically and getting burned out by all the entitlement shenanigans. Now, I will teach maybe once a week for a few months and need a little break to refill my patience reservoir. It’s nice to be able to do that as I know not everyone has the ability to, so I am very appreciative for the time I was able to put in in the beginning and build it to what I have now.
Be nice to your fitness instructors it can be a real battle to get through the hour sometimes. Here is a friendly request list of don’ts to remember….
1-Don’t show up late and demand to be fitted to your bike, or anything else for that matter
2- Don’t ask for the fan to be turned on then 5 minutes later turned off or visa versa
3-Don’t get on your phone
4-Don’t make musical requests during the class
5- Don’t talk to your neighbor, like no full on convos at yelling volume okay?
6-Don’t turn on or turn off the lights
7- Don’t rearrange the bikes in the room
I’m sure I’ve missed something but yes multiple stories for each of these. DO go with an open mind and a willingness to get sweaty and I’ll see you on the bike!
So Hum,
T
The fan is my nemesis. I often respond in sassy tone, “you chose to live in Texas. I’m preparing you for it. Sweat it out yall.”