**
This morning was a great one. I’m not going to lie, as I left my house and drove to the gym to teach my first indoor cycling class, I felt nervous and a bit anxious. Anytime I teach a group exercise class that’s new to me, I get butterflies, so I knew to expect them, but I didn’t expect them to be quite as strong as they were this morning!
I think my nervousness kicked in pretty hard because the class I taught this morning is the first indoor cycling class I’ll be in charge of regularly teaching. I am used to primarily teaching classes where I do not do the workout with the class and stick to instructing, demonstrating, coaching and correcting form like I did with many of the classes I taught at the YMCA (boot camp, TRX, strength circuits, etc.).
The indoor cycling class I taught today took me out of my comfort zone, but once the warm up was done, I felt comfortable and confident and started to really have fun.
I also enjoyed meeting some of our members and appreciated their welcoming attitude toward the new kid in town!
Of course I am sure I have a lot of improvements I can make from here, but I already feel like teaching indoor cycling may become my favorite group exercise class to teach. I truly had the best time and left the class in a pool of sweat. It was a blast! (And per your requests, I’ll be sure to share today’s playlist with you guys soon.)
Once I was done teaching, I ate an apple and the small packet of almond butter I packed in my bag and worked at the gym for a little while longer. I left in the early afternoon with a grumbling stomach.
Lunch
I ate today’s lunch while paging through my Girls On The Run manual.
I brushed up on the lesson I’ll be leading this afternoon and dug into some leftover Pad Thai and chicken.
Hunger = Satisfied!
Off to Girls On The Run! Have a great evening!
**
A quick note: It looks like a bunch of the items from Nordstrom’s Clearance Sale are selling out fast, so if the two giveaway winners select something from today’s giveaway post that ends up selling out before tomorrow morning, I’ll mail the two winners Nordstrom gift cards!
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I’d be so nervous to teach a class where I actually do the exercises with them, in fear that I would get tired/need rest and wouldn’t look like the pro!
I can’t remember if you’ve done a post about this or not yet, but it would be great to know how you prepared to teach the class – like the kinds of things you write down on your notes for yourself, how you came up with the sequence, etc!
love that idea! i don’t think i’ve done anything like that before– thanks for the suggestion, cassy!
Love spin! Favourite class! I take 5 classes a week! Well done for getting through the nerves, bet you were awesome!
Spin is so fun! I always bring a large towel to spin classes because I’m drenched when I’m done! Looking forward to seeing the play list 🙂
Yessss! I get sooo sweaty, too!
woohoo! always feels good to conquer nerves!!
I’m so glad to hear your first class went so well!
I’m curious… do you need to be certified in specific group exercise classes to teach them or is your NASM certification enough? I recently got my NASM certification and want to start teaching classes at a gym nearby, but dont know if I need to get any further certification. I know California requirements might be different from where you are, but I was just wondering. I’m so happy you enjoyed teaching cycling. It’s one of my favorites to get sweaty!! 🙂
xoxo
Erin
I’m glad your first class went well! Where did you take your spin instructor training class from? I was signed up to take one through AFAA, but they cancelled it at the last minute because not enough people signed up!
Fun class to teach! It is always hard to conquer nerves. Sounds like it went very well!
So cool to see you coaching GOTR! I also coach (this is my first year), and I’m coaching middle schoolers at the school where I teach in DC. Good luck in your 5K in a few weeks! 🙂
So glad it went well! I am always so inspired when spin teachers do the entire class on the bike, while also talking/yelling the whole time. It’s amazing.
I used to teach Spinning classes what feels like a lifetime ago. I loved it! Hopefully I’ll get back to it when the kids get a little older..
Way to go! Starting a new endeavor is so exciton!
So happy it went great! Can’t wait to hear the playlist.
Congrats on your first class! I recently started a job as an indoor cycling instructor (although I’m just a sub) and I LOVE it! It’s so much fun, and it’s great to put people through a good workout!
YAY! so happy the first class went great! 🙂
Congrats Julie 🙂
I’m sure your first spin class went fantastic – bring on the playlist…
I love spinning! I’ve got my own indoor spin bike and after a 2 year absence from exercise, am “back in the saddle” and loving my regular 3 x sessions at home! I improvise most days whether I feel like a hill or seated climb or how many tough hills I complete – so no day is the same. Music makes ALL the difference 🙂
Wishing you & Ryan future success in your new home, new town and your new job 😉
Great job!! I know you are thankful to have the first class behind you!!!
Go Julie! I’m sure those nerves were in full force (hate that feeling!) but it sounds like you rocked it. “Becoming a spin instructor” is something I’ve said I’ve wanted to do for like…. 6 years now. I should really just take the plunge 😉
So glad your class went so well! 😉
I actually have to do everything I teach, which I didn’t realize was odd until I was reading your posts about you just instructing 🙂 There have been a few times when I wish I didn’t have to do them because i’m tired! lol Or if I teach multiple in a day, it gets rough. Unfortunately, all instructors do the workout, and the members quit doing it if I stop. I literally have to say “keep going.. I just need different weights” if I have to put them down for any amount of time! So happy your class went well!
So glad you had a great first class! Love, love, love spin! I’m sure you will just get better from here and be a fabulous instructor 🙂
Julie- I am loving the Michael Kors sweater! Need to get to Nordstrom ASAP!
I would be super nervous too. You are such a wonderful motivator though I am sure that you kicked butt 🙂 Good luck with all the upcoming classes. You are going to rock it!
When you do spin do you have cycle shoes? I’m wondering how big of a difference they make and if you have any ideas on where to get them cheap?
Would also looove to see the notes you write yourself! I am dying to save up enough money to get certified. Can’t wait to one day teach a spin class to “dark Horse” hahah
Yay! Congrats! That is awesome it went so well 🙂
I love teaching fitness classes-it just leaves you with such a high, and it’s amazing. I bet you’re a rockin’ instructor!
I teach a ton of spin classes. I love working out with them, it’s a great way to get them into the class. It’s the one class that takes everything I’ve got because your sweating and keeping everyone pumped up and smiling. Plus I just really like making my own playlists and rides.
The best spinning classes I ever went to were taught by a KD sister of mine in college! She used to have us do the first half of the class without weights and then added weights in during the second half. She used to time our sprints/weight exercises with the most upbeat parts of whatever music we were listening to. It was awesome and totally motivating! I would definitely recommend trying that out!
Did you have to get a separate spinning certification to teach??
No but it’s on my must do list! My gym didn’t require it (and neither did the YMCA where I used to work) but I want to obtain a specialized cert ASAP!