Finding My Confidence: From CycleBar Rider to Instructor
May 2018- the beginning of it all…
The reality and honest truth about this time in my life was that I was fumbling my way around post undergraduate. Let’s talk about that staggering transition that’s often brushed under the rug- the leap from college to the real world. A big yikes for many of us. For me, there was so much change occurring- I felt like I was sinking while everyone around me was swimming. I look back on this time in life with grace for myself and gratitude for the season- I was making things happen in my professional life pretty well, however, I was struggling in figuring out how to manage a full-time job, pay bills, not run myself into credit card debt, manage a long-distance relationship, all while living in what I like to describe as college 2.0 [a house with 4-5 other girls].
My friend Rachel* was buzzing about a new workout class she had tried- CycleBar. She raved about the instructors and how much fun her weekly spin class she was attending. I had never heard of it before she mentioned it, and never had tried a spin class before. I was in the mindset that spin classes were exclusive, intimidating, and not affordable. Rachel was so encouraging in trying to get me to take a class although it did take some consistent convincing mixed with my own subliminal research- I finally mustered up the courage to show up to a class. I remember looking up the CycleBar schedule online and seeing energetic looking instructors all over the schedule. I managed to drag one of my roommates with me at the time too. I was not suffering alone. Having two friends there with me was the comfort blanket I needed to physically get in the class.
I was just riding the wave through my first class physically. I remember thinking “I have no idea how people are doing this and how the heck is the instructor doing this or talking right now?!” Although I was shocked by the sheer amount of athleticism exhibited- I was drawn into the instructors energy, incredible music choices, and the cycle theatre experience. It was without a doubt a challenging workout, but I found myself so energized and excited by the end- I definitely did not feel the same way after my workouts at the gym.
I’m so grateful for walking into that first class, for trying something new, because I had NO idea what was to come from the choice to show up.
Honestly, I wasn’t planning to sign up for a membership that day- I walked out of the theatre into the community room hesitant to talk to the front desk knowing I had a tight budget with my salary at the time coupled with my mindset that spin classes were unaffordable- but the front desk associate made it hard to say no. They hooked me with an incredibly priced unlimited package deal and I looked at the money spent as an investment. It was the nearly perfect step in the right direction to re-spark some motivation into getting back into a workout routine and healthier lifestyle I so desperately wanted and needed.
2018- The Early Riding Days
I decided to start going 2 CycleBar classes a week. Usually a Monday evening ride & Saturday morning ride remained consistent for me. I knew 2 classes a week would “get me my moneys worth” and 2018 Lindsay was the kind of girl who wanted to make sure my purchase was going to full use.
When I was a rider, I was so quiet, minded my business, would get in and get out in the studio and would truly try to dodge conversations with anyone. I would fight to book that back row corner bike every single class for quite some time. It’s funny writing this now, because if you know me now and my energy in the studio- this is a complete 180.
When I think more deeply about this- there were many outside factors that were contributing to my lowered self-confidence during this season- I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was at one of the lowest points of my life when it came to self confidence and security. There were so many factors, which I’d love to write about one day when I feel ready to share.
2019- Progress Loading
I started to notice myself getting stronger as rider. I was using my Cyclebar app to religiously track my stats every class. I LOVED seeing the green arrows- it was a reminder that I was getting stronger, and started to see some physical changes that I was looking for. I stayed extremely consistent with showing up to classes. Once I built the foundations of riding, I started to try to incorporate small progressions and 1% changes to the ride. I started to get more comfortable in the studio, on the bike, and with myself.
After some time of consistently showing up something magical started to happen for me. Those stats were reminding me of the confidence that I knew I once had. I was about 50 classes or so in when I made the bold decision to move up to that middle row. On paper, it sounds like a simple move, but if you have been in a CycleBar class or resonate with not feeling confident or wanting to be seen- you KNOW what an accomplishment it feels to confidently move yourself into a bike that has more visibility.
Late 2019- The Rides That Changed My Motivation
I was rocking the front row in classes and feeling confident with my riding abilities. I had lost about 20 pounds doing so and honestly was feeling the most confident I have felt about myself for the first time in what I could remember. Growing my confidence as a rider was such a critical foundation to lay to be able to have the motivation to change over to instructor. Everyone has their unique reasons for wanting to be on the podium and I started to feel like after I was leaving classes I was craving more connection and unique song choices that felt more like me. Do not get me wrong, I rode under incredibly strong instructors who have now gone onto other brands, or remained top fitness leaders in the DMV area. But, when it comes to fitness instruction, I do believe there is room for everyone, and I do believe everyone brings a personal style to the table. I knew I could be on the podium and teach a killer class and curate diverse playlists that weren’t the status quo typical spin playlist all while spreading my message which is creating connection, building confidence and spreading authenticity.
I started thinking about the possibility of what being on the podium would look like for me. I started treating my classes differently in my head- I would go into classes thinking to myself “I’m going to ride this class and keep up with everything the instructor does.” Or, I would think “I’m going to practice my breathing patterns to try to see if I could talk while doing this”. I’m a huge advocate for manifesting with action and speaking things into the universe. I even went next level and created a private playlist that I named “Future CycleStar” and would add all of the songs I wanted to play in classes as instructor.
Execution Is Key
How would anyone know the quiet girl in the front row had any intention of instructing? I knew I needed to act on it or else my dream would go unspoken. I had kept to myself for mostly the whole time as a rider, so who would I connect with that would support what I wanted to do and help me? I decided to send an Instagram DM to the CycleBar Studio Manager who was also an Instructor that I had chatted with a few times in-studio. Here’s the actual DM I sent her below from December 2019.
I am always grateful for the exchange of messages I had with the studio manager- she explained the process and luckily, I found out that instructor auditions were happening about a month later. She gave me the contact information of the lead instructor and I Immediately sent an email of my interest.
Going for it…
I’m excited to be able to share what my process looked like about getting on the podium and officially becoming an instructor. The detail, time, and investment that went into being an instructor is something I am so grateful for and am more than willing to help others get there too.
I think many people have misconceptions that the process is simple, not-rigorous, or comes easy to most- when in fact it’s probably one of the more challenging fitness roles to get into in the industry- getting into a boutique fitness space is challenging, but it’s absolutely doable.
I’m so excited to continue to share with you more blog posts like this one. If you liked this one, please make sure to subscribe below- you’ll get notified when I post new blog posts!
If you’re thinking about taking that leap and need some advice or encouragement- I would love to connect with you if you need any resources or advice on how to make it happen for yourself. Sometimes talking about it can make the world of a difference in the execution process. Please reach out to me at lindsaybishopblog@gmail.com or send me a direct message on my Instagram account at: @lindsay_bishop. Can’t wait to connect!
*named changed for privacy
