Schwinn Cycling Class Profile: Shift to a Higher Gear

In everyone’s life there once comes a time to “shift to a higher gear”. So did it in Corrine’s. Keep reading for Corrine’s inspirational story and her cycling class profile (in Schwinn class format) and playlist she shared with Lean Lena’s readers today.

Hey guys! How is your week going?

I wanted to introduce Corrine to you today.

I first got to know Corrine during our ICI-PRO 28 Day Instructor Challenge and she absolutely won my heart with her bubbly personality and endless optimism. She was one of the instructors participating in the challenge who ran close to winning it and kept amazing me with her creativity and “can do” attitude.

So I asked Corrine to share her story of becoming an indoor cycling instructor and a Schwinn cycling class plan she used to teach one of her classes.

Take it away, Corrine!

And I will talk to you guys later this week 🙂

Hello everyone!! My name is Corrine. I teach indoor cycle class here at my local university. I totally love it. I started just over a year ago at this time.  I shifted my gears last year and tried something I had never tried before. I knew that it was going to be hard and take a lot of work but I knew if I just kept going I could make it and at the end I would be stronger and better.

Let me explain. You see in March of 2012 I got the worst phone call of my life. My dad, my hero, had lost his battle with depression and he had taken his own life.

My earth shattered!!! I was broken. I was sad!  I didn’t know how to deal with these deep feelings that I was having. It was hard. VERY HARD!!  My brother shared a story at the funeral about how he was beating my dad in a race one time but not for very long. My dad quickly caught my brother on his bike and hollered out, “Jason shift to a higher gear!!”  Why would he yell this to my brother?  Well you see on a bike if you can push a bigger gear and keep you cadence up you will actually travel faster down the road than if you sit in that smaller easier gear. If you can train your body to push a bigger gear you will be faster and stronger.

My dad riding the Triple bypass in Colorado. Top of Vail Pass

These words resonated with me and I felt like I needed to do something with them. I wanted to help someone else out with this theme.  What? How?   It took me awhile but I finally figured it out. I first had to “shift to a higher gear” in my own life before I could truly help someone else do the same. I needed to do something that I had always wanted to do. It was going to be really hard and require me to push outside of my comfort zone.  I told my husband of my plans on my birthday in December of 2013.I am pretty sure he thought I was crazy but he was very supportive.

I started down my path not really knowing how this was going to work out.  I got certified as a group fitness instructor. (That is another great story that I should share sometime) I certified then to be an indoor cycling instructor. I talked with other group instructors and sought out their advice. I talked to people that I didn’t even know and asked for their help.

Then one day I saw it. It was in the newspaper of all places. HELP WANTED!! Indoor cycle instructor University of Oregon.

I thought about this for a week. Should I answer the ad?  They would never call me back. I am not qualified.

I did it anyways. I typed up a resume and cover letter and sent it in. I got a phone call. I got an interview. I got an audition.

I got an audition???? Holy crap now what?  I have never even taught a single class EVER!!!  I worked hard for a week then I showed up and gave it my all.

I GOT THE JOB!!

They offered me more classes the next term and it is now my one year anniversary and they have given me more classes!!! In my first term I am happy to say I saw people pushing out of their comfort zones and making changes.

So this ride I designed with all of that in mind. I call it my “Shift to a Higher Gear” ride. I encourage them to push out of their comfort zones on this ride. I teach my class about trying to push a higher gear and that is the theme for the whole ride.  I also share my story with them and encourage them to find some way to shift gears in their own lives and then ask them to see how they might do that in other areas of their lives.

Schwinn Cycling Class Profile – Shift to a Higher Gear

Download the cycling class plan in MS Word format: Shift to a Higher Gear – Cycling Class Plan

Note: if you’re MDA certified instructor, you will notice the terminology “conflict” towards the end of the class. Corrine uses two terms – “run” and “jog” that might be confusing. Here’s what she explained to me when I asked what was the difference between the two: “When I say “Run” I just ask my members to pick up their pace for a short time. A “jog” is standing and a quick pace but not as fast as when I say “Run”.

Need more ideas for your Spinning® Class / Indoor Cycling Class? Check out my other cycling class profiles and playlists.

New to teaching? I have a whole page with resources just for new instructors!

Ready to go to the next level?

DISCLAIMER:

Please note that while I make every effort to capture and present these indoor cycling class / Spinning class profiles accurately, the class profiles and class descriptions posted on this blog do not constitute complete instruction for teaching the indoor cycling class  / Spinning class.

No statement is made to the suitability or otherwise of the indoor cycling profiles presented on this blog. Care must always be taken when riding an indoor cycle. Please, consult your physician before starting an exercise program.

The indoor cycling class / Spinning class profiles presented are not meant to be exercise and/or personal recommendations, but only examples of workouts that the author completed in the past. The owner and authors of these cycling class profiles will not be responsible or liable for any injury, illness or death resulting from the use of the information contained in this article.