So Spinning® is where this journey all started for me. As a part of paying it forward, I decided to go after my Spinning certification. And here I am.
Officially certified as a Spinning Instructor.
Awesome!
Oh. Wait.
Now what?!?
Teaching a class!?
Oh my lawd.
While I wonder if I will ever have the true confidence to get in front of a class and make it happen, I so want to. I want to so bad that I have dreams about it. Because I know that class instructors can absolutely make or break — not just a class — but a person. I was fortunate to have been introduced to Spinning through some of the best – Monster and McBlessings – and their classes actually projected me into this whole amazing journey. The very first class I attended with the Monster sent me reeling.
I don’t know if I can possibly be half the instructor(s) that they are—-but I would love the opportunity to try. I would love to lock eyes with a new beginner and tell her “yes you can” and spin her into believing it.
Because that’s what happened to me.
During the certification, I sent the Coach-Formerly-Known as Monster a quick email, telling him that I was a #LittleMonsterInTraining. And thanking him once again for being a Spinning instructor–because he changed my life.
Spinning can change lives. [I guess anything can change your life–depending on the context.] But I believe in this program–the Spinning program–because of the intense mind-body connection associated with it. And I want to be a part of it.
Hence, begins the application process of finding a fitness club to let me teach. (Insert scary music here.)
So I wrote a new resume today, striking all the things that someone at a fitness club would not care about (e.g, legal shenanigan)… and adding things that they would.
Turned out to be quite the fun resume. It sure as heck beats my professional one, in the jovial department. It almost sounded happy. How cool. I mean, it’s not like law firms care about this line:
Moonlights as Swim Bike Mom
No road with a finish worth having is easy. Working two three four jobs and raising kiddos and cleaning the house is impossible to do easily (so I don’t clean my house), not to mention training (which right now… training, who???)…
Regardless, I think I am on the right path. Because coaching and teaching and reaching out to new, baby triathletes—that’s what warms my heart. Almost to the point of combusting. And even if not, I’m gonna just keep trucking moving forward.
Because the pressure of trying to accomplish a half Iron in a mere 12 weeks was weighing on me, I decided to drop out of Florida 70.3 and let the Expert have his time to shine. I will still be there, cheering him on and as part of the Race Tour, so I am sure I will see you all there. 2014 is a growth year. I feel big changes and good things in store–and I don’t want to cloud anything with my excess self-imposed crazy stresses.
Also, I feel an overwhelming need to spend some serious Saturday mornings on the couch with my kiddos, watching cartoons… I spent so many Saturdays on the bike in 2013. I want some things to shift a little… In the meantime, here’s a cute kid picture of the day.
Way to go! Can’t wait to take one of your classes….at Lifetime, please:) Thanks for inspiring all of us moms!
I don’t spin (yet) but I do yoga. And it changed my life like spinning did yours. The person who changed my life was a brand new teacher. We connected because she believed in me and I felt comfortable because she made mistakes and wasn’t perfect. So – be you! Classes are way more fun that way.
Oh my goodness, I wanted to weep when I started to read this! I too know the power of Spinning and the way a coach can change your life. I’ve been slowly revamping my life over the last few years . . . started by being brave and bold and terrified and going back to school. I left that school with my credentials as a Substance Abuse Counselor and a passion for the mind, body, spirit connection, which started me on my own healthy living journey. Over the last few weeks I came to a firm decision to get my Spin certification to add to my growing list of jobs, and also came up with a thousand reasons why I would never be able to be brave enough to do that. Today I sent up what I decided would be the last of my prayers on this subject, for direction or encouragement or a few extra hours in the day or just bravery maybe. And then I opened my Facebook and this was at the top of my newsfeed. And so it seems that YOU have to be added to the ever growing list of people who have changed my life. If there is ever a moment that you wonder if you’re making any difference, please remember me as the one to assure you that you are.
I want to teach as well. You have inspired me in more ways than one. I always wanted to be a personal trainer and do a tri. I really think that is what I am going for in my total journey.
I teach spinning and I remember my first (FEW!) classes were absolutely nerve wracking. I was so nervous! I wrote a cheat sheet for myself.. it was actually when cassette players were what we used so the cheat showed me each song and what the plan was for it! That helped me a lot if my mind went blank when I looked around the room and had a panic attack at all the faces looking at ME for leadership! As an avid participant before i started teaching I tried to remember all the things that bugged the heck out of me from instructors and tried NOT to do them. Being late is annoying.. we all bust butt to fit it in to our schedule so if the instructor is consistently late that bugs me. Instructors that thought they were so much better than everyone in the class.. or gave off that air! As you said I think to me one of the best things about teaching classes is knowing that you can really improve someones like by taking the time to encourage them and notice when they have some improvement… whether it is making it thru the entire class.. or doing all of the hills without quitting etc. and I also remember one instructor who helped me certify said, to make sure you think of the class as THEIR workout and not your own. Everyone has their own different style.. some people will love it and some people will not! I used to HATE if someone left my class early as I was convinced that they hated my class but sometimes people just have to go to work and sometimes people don’t love your class but you cannot please all of the people all of the time 🙂
Anyways sorry for the long rambling post. I really 1000% believe that for me it probably was the 1 single thing i did in my life that really made a big difference to my overall fitness and passion for working out and getting other people on the wagon. I am sure you will be great! 😀
So exciting! Spinning was a pretty big eye opener for me and huge reason why I got into triathlon. Getting spin certified is on my to-do list for the spring! Congrats!!
Spinning started it for me too. I have left the life since thanksgiving …..this and a post on FB about vegetarianism today(where I felt awesome) has brought me back…..spin in the morning…5:45am! (vegan self again tomorrow too) Thanks so much SBM!
YES.YOU.CAN.!!! Congrats on your SPIN cert!! What a fun and exciting journey for you!
I did it a year and a half ago – and it’s been awesome. Leading a class can be scary but it’s amazing. You’ve got this!!!
I am soooo scared of spinning. That seat looks really little and I have no idea where to begin adjusting the bike. How in the world did you do it that very first day?
Slowing down with racing isn’t a bad thing…
Do you think you could ever totally leave your law career to pursue something totally fitness-health related?! Obviously, money is a factor, but I was just wondering if you’d ever thought about it. Professional bloggers are all the rage now 🙂 I would love the opportunity to have a running/fitness related career, even though I am slow as a snail and don’t look like a “runner”.
I started spinning in ’98 and finally got certified 5 years ago. it took me 2 years (my cert was just about needing to be renewed) before I finally got a spot. But I love it! so much fun! You can do it! my tip – I use a ipod/iphone/ipad app called “Class builder” It’s $20, but great! I import my playlist and then program all my cues. it counts down for you and tells you your choreography. I love it because I can relax and not worry about timing. It’s a great app!
Your life is like a fictional book to me. I have 6 minutes left of your audiobook and am desperate to stretch it out as long as I can — don’t want it to end (I’ll probably just reread it. Hahaha). Anyway, I’m a big, despicable lover of spoilers and so as I’ve been reading/listening to your book I’ve been enjoying the ability to hop on your blog and see how things in the “future” would turn out for you. Example: you mentioned having signed up for the Coeur d’Alene Ironman 2013. It’s not covered in your book but I just hopped online and read your race report. It was great. But now I’m all freaked out because I don’t know what’s going to happen! I don’t like it! hahaha. I guess what I’m saying is: I’m officially here for the ride.
After failing my first triathlon (I crashed on the bike and hurt my ankle and thought that meant I had to stop… yeah… I’m a sissy) I am coming up on my “confidence building goal” sprint triathlon in May. Then I have my main goal which is the same one I DNF last year in Aspen, CO in August. Lastly my crazy goal is a 70.3. Someday I think I’ll do a full but my sister and training partner REFUSES to do anything more than a half so, for now, that’s my crazy goal.
I know this is kind of more than a mere “comment” but I just wanted to get this out there. In writing. It feels good to be accountable to this community! 🙂
Thanks!