On the Schedule

It happened.  After over a year of grueling ups and downs, it happened. I got on the  SYNCSTUDIO schedule! I'll be seeing you every Sunday at 5pm!

This is what happened. I finally emailed Ashley after hmmming and hawwwing for weeks.  What if she doesn't respond? What if I don't get a class? What if she hates me? Yes, I'm aware that I sound close to crazy.  It took close to a week for an answer. Longest week of my life.  She gave me options and sounded excited. I'm in!!!

Nervous heart palpitations followed. I have a class! What do I do? Command. Luckily, I was asked to sub some classes before my first official class. Phew! Get ready for a crazy ride, kids.

Daily Struggle

Quick recap: I made it! I taught an amazing class to an even more amazing group of people in May. Ashley, my cycling guru, named me an instructor! FINALLY! BUuuuuut being an instructor did not mean getting a class.

Next step. I panicked. I'm an instructor with no students. What do I do? I went to get my Schwinn certification in hopes of finding inspiration. $250 later, I was inspired, but still without a class. What if I never teach again?

June. A subbing opportunity arrives. I jump on it. I'm psyched to debut my new playlist. Game on. June 17th, I walk into a dark studio full of students. They're here for me. My name is on the schedule, and people show up. Awesome. Music on, lights out, we ride. Forty-five minutes later, a sweaty group of people emerge. I exhale a sigh of relief. Class is over. No injuries. No hiccups. Happy people. Success. I made it.

Before every class I teach, I get ridiculously nervous. After every class I teach I get a satisfying high. People say the nerves get easier. I like the nerves, it keeps me honest.

Will I Ever Become an Instructor?

Sixth class.  What am I doing?

Fifth Class Fail

I've had quite the roller coaster ride with these instructor in training rides.  My third class turned out to be mediocre.  I did some great things and I did some awful things.  My fourth class was epic.  I had a snafu pre-class with the L train.  I sprinted to class.  Awful thoughts were spinning in my head.  They're going to hate me.  Ashley is going to kill me.  BUT, I turned the music on, apologized to the room and everything felt right.  The beats were awesome.  The class was amazing.  The students were feeding off my energy.  It felt right.  Ashley's post class review was a sigh of relief.  I FINALLY did something good!  Yes, I still had things I needed to work on, but she said she'd let me teach a class!  One catch, I needed to teach one more class as awesome as this one first.

Fifth class.  Fail.  Well, half fail.  My first five songs, horrendous.  My last five songs, amazing.  What does that equal?  Never teach a class like that again.  That was my feedback.  I agreed.  I felt like a disappointment.  I have trouble letting myself go.  To be a good instructor, I should be able to lead a class to do what I want, to do what they want, to give my students a great workout and show them a good time.  To be a GREAT instructor, I should be able to lead a class, engage my students in a great workout and to show compassion.  I did not show compassion.  For the first five songs, I was distracted and drill sergeant like.  I found myself on a hill during the sixth song.  I somehow collected myself and connected with the music.  However, I may have lost a few students...maybe all of them.

I was lucky to have my boyfriend and a good friend riding behind me.  No matter how good or bad the ride was, they were there to hoot and holler and to support me in any way possible.  To have them present was more than enough to make me not want to get off that bike and run.  I could not disappoint them.  I could not disappoint the class.  I could not disappoint myself.

So now, onto my sixth teacher in training class.  I was instructed to teach the same playlist (which Ashley said was awesome, by the way), but with enthusiasm, and passion and compassion. March 24th @8:15pm.  See you at SYNCSTUDIO!

Teaching My Third Class

It has been a loooong time since my last post.  I was going to teach my THIRD class Monday night but snowmagedon got in the way.  #EPICFAIL.  A little update on my previous classes:

FIRST CLASS:

Endorphins were pumping.  The music was loud.  People were bike dancing.  The room was magical.  When I was done, I felt like I was on top of the world.  There was nothing I'd rather do than command a class of bike dancers.  WEEEEE!

SECOND CLASS:

Not so awesome.  I walked into the class feeling super anxious.  I've done this before, WHY AM I SO NERVOUS?!  I was and it showed.  My energy was off.  It was only when I heard the magical voice of Tove Lo that I got comfortable.  There's something about hearing Habits that puts me at ease.  Unclear if the second half of my class would redeem my.  My actor friend tells me that the second show is always the worst one.  Check.

THIRD CLASS:

I have big things ready for this class. Stay tuned.