Hello!

[Ashspin]

Hey Everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Ashley and I was certified for Spinning last month. Tomorrow is my first official class:grin:. I'm super excited and a bit nervous, realizing I still have a lot to learn. Any pointers?

[like2bike]

Ashley SO HAPPY you found our forum! WELCOME! First of all, congratulations on your recent certification. How exciting that you are already teaching your first class tomorrow!

The best advice I can give is to be sure and be prepared. Know your profile, know your music. If you have a chance to get into the studio early, I would test the sound system, test the lighting, take a look at the set up of the studio. Be sure everything works properly so there are no surprises! Your FIRST CLASS will ALWAYS be one you will remember, and you ONLY HAVE ONE FIRST CLASS! (A very wise fellow forummite and long-time instructor once told me that). ;)

I'm sure you've practiced your profile plenty of times have become comfortable with your cuing, but try hard NOT to over cue. Sometimes when we are nervous we tend to talk TOO much! So try and be aware to only speak when it's really necessary (this is actually hard to do but once you train yourself to really be AWARE of this, it becomes old hat).

Most of all, BE YOURSELF. Let your personality and your PASSION for your craft shine through. Instructors who are passionate about what they teach stand miles apart from the ordinary. Please check in with us after your class and let us know how it goes! We're all here to learn and to try and help each other. It's a fantastic forum and I do hope you make yourself comfortable here! Looking forward to hearing more from you in the years to come!

KNOCK THEIR SOCKS OFF TOMORROW KIDDO!

[megale3]

Any pointers?
Read this forum! Read and read and read then read some more.
Welcome to the insanity
Meg

[yvonne]

Ashley, welcome to the fold!

i've been teaching for almost 10 years; biggest pointer i can give you is to be true to yourself! Play music that will motivate and energize you, in turn that will motivate your members.

Make sure you arrive early enough to check out the stereo system ..acquaint yourself with the volume controls so adjustments will be easy and familiar, and bring a spare battery for the microphone if one is provided.

most importantly ... have fun!

[SpinBob]

Welcome Ashley,
My only pointer is to underscore what others have said: Be yourself and be prepared. I teach early morning (6 am) and morning classes (9:30 am) and I like to listen to the music I'm going to use on my evening ride home from work, it's just about class length, that way it runs through my head all night. I swear I dream to music and in the morning I'm ready to go. Have a great class and come back and tell us how it went.

[twokeelya]

Howdy Ashley

Welcome. Best advice I could give-relax, breath, smile, enjoy yourself. When you love or have fun with what you do, people will love doing it with you. You will be great. I started teaching before certification, and wish I had certified first, so you are already one step ahead of the game.

[Pink]

Welcome Ashley...to the world of instructing and to the forum. I, too, will say ditto to what my forum friends have already shared. One thing I would add...once you are there early and everything is set, walk around and introduce yourself as the riders wander into the studio. Ask their names, how long they've been riding, make small talk. Make it about them. Be prepared to help any newbies that may wander in (hopefully that won't be the case). Remember the safety speech. After class, thank them for coming and as everyone has said, HAVE FUN!

[monical1]

Being an IDC Instructor has become a huge part of who I am. I love it so much. There are many jobs that people take where they start out and they love it and they feel so pumped because everything is brand new. They try harder than anyone else in that field because they're fresh and new and ready to learn everything they can to become the best! That's how coaching IDC is, too. The great thing about it for me is that it always feels that way to some extent. There is always something more to learn. You will become more comfortable with your coaching but you will never stop learning and that will keep you feeling a little bit fresh and new forever. So don't be worried about a thing, you'll be great and you'll learn so much here. There's still so much I don't know, but man, I'm sure enjoying the journey. I hope you will, too!

[jsejt]

Read this forum! Read and read and read then read some more.
Welcome to the insanity
Meg

My advice as well....welcome.

[like2bike]

There's still so much I don't know, but man, I'm sure enjoying the journey. I hope you will, too!


Holy crap you are so right! Every time I come to the forum I am amazed at how much I don't know yet. That is the fun, exciting part of the journey. To continue learning and growing.

[yogaspinchik]

Welcome Ahley!! I'm a newbie to this forum too! I've been teaching for 2 years. Yes, yes, yes to what everyone has said and (my 2 cents) SMILE, say a little something about yourself & make eye contact with your riders... be genuine and have fun! I think the riders enjoy it when you can relax & be a little silly. Or maybe they've just gotten used to me & have accepted that's just how it is.
Good luck!!

[kszspin]

Hey Ashley! :grin:
Welcome to the forum and to the world of IDC. This place, like I told you, will become addicting and you might need large cups of coffee at night while you read! :o That is after you get off your new MM addiction.

I hope you are having a great class right now as I type!!! I know you're doing great, you are very professional and a sponge for learning.
I am really proud of you too. ;)

(Just so y'all know, Ashley was a student-turn-instructor, and has been team teaching a couple classes with me until her class debut tonight. She's hooked up now to the forum, downloaded MM and is becoming a pro at it, and has almost 4g of new tunes from Kelly's library. :D)

[Pink]

Well, she's obviously in good hands. We'll try not to screw her up to badly. :D

[megale3]

Hey Ashley! :grin:
Welcome to the forum and to the world of IDC. This place, like I told you, will become addicting and you might need large cups of coffee at night while you read! :o That is after you get off your new MM addiction.

I hope you are having a great class right now as I type!!! I know you're doing great, you are very professional and a sponge for learning.
I am really proud of you too. ;)

(Just so y'all know, Ashley was a student-turn-instructor, and has been team teaching a couple classes with me until her class debut tonight. She's hooked up now to the forum, downloaded MM and is becoming a pro at it, and has almost 4g of new tunes from Kelly's library. )
Its great when you give it away and see um start their own coaching experience. Way to go Kell:cool:
M<

[monical1]

WELL, HELLO ASHLEY!! Any friend of the K-girl's is a friend of ours. (Just for the record, I was already considering you a friend.) I wish I was so lucky to be under her wing. Okay, now I'm jealous, darn it. As it turns out, it may be just a bit harder to be your friend now. :p

Just kidding!

[kszspin]

We're going to need to convince Ashley to join me in Miami next year. We have several months to badger, I mean, show her the wonderful WSSC benefits! :D

[Pink]

We're going to need to convince Ashley to join me in Miami next year. We have several months to badger, I mean, show her the wonderful WSSC benefits! :D


Let's point her to the picture threads. That should...scare...I mean, convince (yeah, that's it) her...

[cfoam4me]

Welcome to the playground, great advice here as always!!!

[like2bike]

Let's point her to the picture threads. That should...scare...I mean, convince (yeah, that's it) her...

:D:D:D

[Ashspin]

Thanks Everyone for all of the tips and advice! I've been super busy this past week - working during the evenings which is normally when I'm online - so I didn't get a chance to reply to all of the great advice. Anyway, my first class was great and I didn't feel like a total idot teaching it, so that was a blessing.
Miami does sound like a ton of fun!
Thanks again....see ya around the site.
Ash

[like2bike]

Way to go Ashley, on a successful first class! It gets to be better each time as you build your confidence and get to know your riders. Always remember to just have FUN!