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Looking (and Feeling) Great is Good for Every Body
We've
all experienced it: the fantastically hard-bodied instructor who
conducts every class as a frenzied race to outrun his or her own body
fat. I fondly recall one instructor who took more pride in showcasing
her victory at keeping fat at bay (even with three kids) than she did
on using any Energy Zone™ other than Race Day, without warm-up or
cool-down. But keeping our heart rates maxed out for the entire class
wasn't enough—we would do push-ups on the handlebar while climbing, or
contort ourselves with elastic bands while riding the flats. She talked
about burning off Twinkies so much that I was practically salivating
for a case of them by the end of class.
I
don't mean to trivialize the emphasis that we all place on good health;
on the contrary, Spinning is a wonderful foundation for health and
vitality and we as instructors would be remiss if we did not encourage
students to be the best they can be. We are also role models for health
and it is our charge to look healthy and fit, especially when
appearance drives so many people's motivation to exercise. It is
essential, however, to understand that you have the power to send your
students off either feeling amazing about themselves, their bodies and
their accomplishments, or hanging their heads in discouragement for not
being able to punish their body into single-digit body fat. Which will
you choose?
Focus on Function. I
eventually stopped going to the body fat victor's classes, not because
they were dull, but because I got sick of hearing about body fat. Sure,
what brings many folks into the Spinning room is a desire to shed
pounds, but let them leave that image of themselves at the door.
Instead, fill their minds with functional ideals—increased energy
throughout the day, razor-sharp mental clarity, a sense of well being,
strong muscles for any task that faces them and aerobic conditioning,
which is beneficial for everything from walking the dog to romantic
encounters.
Promote the Goals of the Ride. As
Spinning Instructor Orientation tells us, one of the most difficult
things to do is to give people what they need (balanced, fitness
goal-driven rides) rather than what they might want (constant
high-intensity rides to burn more fat). One of the best ways to give
people what they need is to "sell" riders on the benefits of the
profile you've chosen for that particular ride. And don't assume a
quick sentence—"Endurance rides are good for building a base of
fitness"—at the beginning of class will suffice. You need to reiterate
the goals and benefits of the profile throughout class. Doing an
endurance ride? Repeat a phrase such as, "right now you're building the
foundation of a sturdy house. Each pedal stroke makes your house
stronger and stronger" several times through the course of the ride.
Keep everyone's minds focused on the goal of the ride and that
automatically keeps the focus off any negative self-images that may
creep into consciousness.
Celebrate All Bodies. A
major culprit of students' (and often instructors') obsession with
getting and remaining thin is the type of images we're presented with
in the media. For the most part, mainstream American culture is
unilateral in the type of body that is appealing. Why not celebrate the
diversity of body types instead? It's your class, after all.
Rather
than chatter endlessly about fat and muscle, I'll target a specific
body part—for example, a cavernous midsection to suck in air during a
challenging flat into the wind. I might picture track-racing champion
Gideon Massie's awe-inspiring quadriceps and use words to describe the
strength and power riders should feel as they muscle their way up a
steep climb.
Sometimes
it can be fun to choose non-human body types to exaggerate the
importance of certain physical attributes for a given terrain. For
instance, when we do criterium-style races in class, I'll ask
participants to imagine that they are cheetahs or greyhounds.
Channeling the fleet-footed elegance of these creatures can help riders
remain light on their feet. Envisioning themselves as lions, whose
explosive speed is directly related to their success in hunting, may
help riders explode through the thick resistance of a hill interval.
Highlight Accomplishment. Spinning
class has so many opportunities for accomplishment. Concentrating on
making the biggest, roundest pedal strokes you can make for 100
revolutions is quite an accomplishment. So is blocking out all thoughts
during a five-minute climb, except for pulling up and over with your
hamstrings.
During
the holidays, I reinforce what an accomplishment it is to make time for
exercise. Congratulate participants for showing up during busy times of
the year. Call attention to their good form or mental fortitude. Give
them a pat on the back for a job well done. Don't underestimate the
power of simple comments to support positive body image.
To
sum it up, remember that all student in your classes are unique,
special human beings. If they engage you to talk about how to reduce
their body fat, discuss it with them, but make sure you also help them
feel wonderful just the way they are and remind them that they are more
than just a collection of fat cells. Compliment them on their ride. Be
a role model and encourage them to feel happy about the splendid body
they inhabit. Let them see they are capable of taking on any challenge
that arises. Make them want to come back to your class again and again,
because for reasons they are probably not even aware of, your classes
make them feel awesome.
Jesse
Piersol has been telling people how great they look on a bike at Level
5 Fitness and Conditioning since 2005. When she's not busy telling her
public speaking students how to look great in front of an audience, you
can find her cruising the neighborhood on her pink beach cruiser, soy
latte in hand. You can reach her at chameleongrey@verizon.net.
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