The Biggest Takeaway From My 2011 SoulCycle Instructor Training

Last Thursday, Alice, who is my client Bambu's cycle studio manager/lead instructor for the forthcoming studio add-on here in Bali & I joined 2 group fitness classes at 2 different companies in another part of the island from the gym. 

The coaching in 1 class was hands down, some of the most bizarre I've ever witnessed in my lifetime of joining group fitness classes

(My life in a group x room started with the Jane Fonda-inspired aerobics my mother taught in the 1980s )

Alice's first comment to me once we were safely in our Grab car & away from rogue ears was “well…that was, for me, great examples of what never to do in a class or say on a mic.”

I was reminded immediately of something the former head of instructor training for SoulCycle told our instructor training cohort back in 2011, which I wanted to share with you, Noel Nocciolo: 

There is a teacher and studio for everyone.

That class was not for neither Alice nor I, but it 100% resonated with other clients in the room & ultimately, that is GREAT.

We exchanged a few puzzled glances in the dark, but mostly kept a positive attitude about the experience (I firmly believe we can learn from every experience, good or bad) and did our best to be gracious. 

Our odd experience had NOTHING to do with the format they taught & EVERYTHING to do with what was being said, out loud on a mic in a ladies-only class:

• that we were there to reverse aging

• that we needed to burn calories

• and that life began once we were married.

I wonder what Jane Fonda would have thought in 2025.

I hope you have a great rest of your week!

Noël 

P.S. Remote ways to work together are here.