I just taught my first spin class!
Before I get into that, I wanted to add that this six days a week workout schedule I’ve been sharing is new for me. I increased my weekly workouts from four-five a week to six because I want to be extra hot for my wedding this June. When I was single it was easy for me to eat healthy most of the time; with Andy, it’s harder. Not just because he likes to bake cookies (he is a very good wife) but because we both really enjoy going out to eat at restaurants where the choices are just not AS healthy as what I would choose on my own.
Food is a pretty big part of our relationship and I love having these traditions (weekly Bloody Mary and sweet potato fries at Park & Sixth or an incredible pizza from Razza) and I don’t want to give them up. So while I’m trying to be more mindful of what I eat at home and on my own, I decided an increase in my workouts would be a good goal for the next few months. The Refine Resolution Challenge gave me the kick in the tush I needed to really make this happen.
Dori’s Shiny Workout Plan for the week of January 28, 2013:
- Sunday – Refine Method (1 hr) and practice spin at Club H (1 hr)
- Monday – Taught spin at Hamilton Health & Fitness (55 min)
- Tuesday – Rip Ride at Revolve (1 hr)
- Wednesday –
Refine Method (1 hr)Rest - Thursday –
Rest or East Coast vs West Coast Ride at Revolve (45 min)Refine Method (1 hr) - Friday –
Rest (depending on Thursday) orRun (3-4 miles) - Saturday – Refine Method (1 hr)
How did I do last week?
- Sunday – Refine Method (1 hr) – Complete!
- Monday –
Revolve Mashup Body Ride (1 hr) Interval treadmill run (3 miles, 24:44) – Complete! - Tuesday – Real Ride at Revolve (45 min) – Complete!
- Wednesday – Refine Method (1 hr) – Complete!
- Thursday –
Refine Method (1 hr)TBD – Run or Revolve – Revolve (45 min), complete! - Friday – Rest – Complete!
- Saturday –
Core Fusion Cardio (1 hr)Spin at Hamilton Health & Fitness* (50 min) and Refine Method (1 hr) – Complete!
*I took a class at the gym I would be teaching at so I could get acquainted with the bikes and the room. I took it easy on the resistance because I wanted to be at my best for Refine later. I didn’t do CF Cardio because of a birthday RSVP misunderstanding for that class, which worked out because I prefer Refine.
OK, so I just taught my first indoor cycling class! To everyone who has asked me how it went, I say, “Not terrible!”
I woke up about a hundred times during the night because I was so anxious. I had a 4:25 alarm set, but I woke up on my own for good at around 4:15 to teach a 6 am class. The class is 55 minutes, which is 10 minutes longer than what I am typically used to. This meant I had to plan my ride profile even more thoughtfully.
I worked on everything at home all weekend – I chose my playlist, I decided how many hills, how many sprints, how many pushes with high resistance, etc. While my certification class provided me with about a year’s worth of rides already set up with the right music and all, I decided to go with my own music and plan this myself.
Music is really important to me when I work out, and no matter how nervous or how miserable of an instructor I am, I knew that my music would be the thing that makes this class my own. If nothing else, I hoped the class would leave saying “That was an awesome playlist.”
I bought an extra long cord so I could keep my phone on my bike with me. SMART DECISION.
One person complimented my music, so I feel really good about my decision. I told the class I’m happy to give out my email address so they can send music requests going forward! I do think the music was too low. The gym told me they get complaints from an upstairs neighbor so I shouldn’t blast it. I didn’t, but I wish I adjusted the sound system better so I had more room to go up in volume on my iPhone. I did get off my bike during the last song (Love Today by MIKA) to raise the volume a little. That song requires it!
I’ll share my playlist in another post soon. For now, I’m just winding down from the nervousness and thinking about all the ways I could have been better. I’m glad the first class is done because I think I’ll be more comfortable from here, more myself. I also think I was working a little too hard to speak and think well – I was more out of breath than I’d have liked to be when I spoke to the class.I also thought of jokes and things I wish I had said to the class – but really, how could I have known EVERYTHING I wanted to do as it happened?
I went to my gym to practice at around 5 pm last night. Once I was there I realized that all the work I did at home was practically useless. I needed to be ON the bike to realize what exactly I wanted to do and how I wanted to communicate this. I got really tired there after an hour though and went home, totally exhausted and unable to do anything more. Next time, I will plan my entire ride in the spin room at my gym on the bike. I know my next class will be better if I approach it the right way (for me).
This was all very much a learning experience. I did not expect to get a subbing job so quickly, so this was very much a whirlwind weekend. I am not an awesome instructor yet, but I hope I can become one. I also hope the six people who took the class won’t see my name the next time and say, “Meh. Not going to bother.” I hope I can get better, more relaxed and more “me.”
I am so hard on myself.
How’d you do with your workouts last week? Anything fun planned this week? I’m excited about my Rip Ride with Kira Stokes at Revolve!